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The Complete Book of Home Organization: 200+ Tips and Projects
From storage solutions and cleaning tips to secret space-saving methods and expert strategies, The Complete Book of Home Organization is packed with the tips and shortcuts you need to effectively organize your home. Learn how to purge, sort, and "containerize," with simple, easy-to-use systems for improving and revitalizing any living space.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2016
1331 people are currently reading
1808 people want to read
About the author
Toni Hammersley
5 books41 followersToni Hammersley is the creator and writer of www.abowlfulloflemons.net, an organizing website that inspires thousands of people around the world to get their lives in order. She hosts a popular 14-week organizing challenge each year, aimed at helping others conquer clutter. She is also a registered nurse and photographer. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
June 13, 2016
Disappointed. I'm pretty organized but like to read new books on the topic. The rooms they chose for the photos were much larger than the average family home. How many people have walk-in kitchen pantries or closets and rooms filled with built-in shelving systems? It's not very practical for people who live in average size homes or apartments.
March 24, 2016
This book is pretty and filled with many before and after shots, but I found it overall a blah organizing book. I didn't agree with a lot of it-for instance the author suggests color coding your books. Maybe your 9 year old daughter will like the rainbow effect on your bookshelf, but I have never heard the librarian tell me to go look in the teal section to find a book I needed. Also in the before and after shots, many times the after involves a custom closet overhaul. Most of my clients don't want to (or need to) call an expensive closet company to purge the clutter. You just need a system that works for you. And ps, the biggest message in this book is look at your room, you have too much stuff in it, clean it out. But you knew that already, which is why you are reading this book.
November 5, 2017
The Complete Book of Home Organization is a magazine-style approach to home organization.
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was mainly because of the design (I don't love the number-format). At the beginning I thought it would be a 3-star book (like her cleaning one), but there were some super good ideas that brought it up a star.
This review took me soo long to write because there were so many good ideas!! Generally, I think that is Tori Hammersley’s strength; for certain things she is REALLY great, but in some areas her approaches are just mediocre.
Below: I will go over good ideas, what I disagreed with, and what I didn't like.
Highlights
"019: Focus On Your Fridge"
Step 1: Scrub
Step 2: Place washable lining on the shelves/in drawers
Step 3: Use organizing bins on shelves
Step 5: Use containers inside the drawers for like items
>> Her fridge area is great! Her fridge looks gorgeous and I was impressed with this.
"030: Organize Under the Sink"
- Uses 3M's Command Hooks (looks really good!)
"046: Pack Your Snacks
Keep A List of Snack Ideas
(Nuts (all kinds), Dried fruit, Fresh fruits or veggies and dips, yogurt or cheese, dark chocolate, air popped popcorn, healthy crackers or chips, granola or protein bars)" (Hammersley, ?).
Good ideas there, and this page set was STUNNING (paired with "Create a School Lunch Station".)
"058: Throw a Casual Party
- Don't Overbuy
- Plan the Flow
There's a reason cruise ship and fancy hotel buffets are set up the way they are. Learn from these experts, and create a natural flow for your guests. A stack of plates at one end of the table signifies that it's the starting point. It would seem logical to place cutlery there... but trying to juggle a plate, cutlery and serving spoons is awkward. Instead, put the utensils at the end of the buffet, where they're easy to grab with a free hand once all the serving and ladling is done." (Hammersley, ?).
"059: Be Ready To Party
It's always a good idea to keep party supplies on hand for impromptu celebrations or those times when you forgot to pick up candles because you were so busy making the cake! Label a large shoebox "Party Box" and fill it with the necessities. ...candles, balloons, streamers, cake decorating items, and any festive banners... Next time you throw a surprise party, you'll have peace of mind knowing that you're well prepared. The only things left to do will be to cook the food and enjoy the fun. When stocking your party supply box, remember to shop sales and clearance sections after the holidays. Prices for party supplies hit rock bottom during these times." (Hammersley, ?).
Loved this next section:
"086: Prepare the Guest Bedroom
Comfort Items: Add a throw blanket, extra robe, and slippers to the bedside. If you have space, add a reading chair, desk and lamp.
Snack Station: On the dresser you can set up a self-serve snack station... and a small basket of snacks (chocolate, crackers, granola bars) for late-night hunger pangs.
Miscellaneous Items: Make sure your guests have helpful items like an alarm clock, TV channel guide, and the guest Wifi password." (Hammersley, ?).
"087: Stock Your Bathroom for Guests
Clean Towels: Consider keeping a separate set of white bath towels, hand towels and washcloths specifically for guests. It's always nice to get a matching set.
Toiletries: ...You never know what your guests may have forgotten, so include everything! ...Toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, feminine products, first aid kit..." (Hammersley, ?).
"088: Make Your Guests Feel Welcome
Menu Planning: ...find out if they have any food or environmental allergies. Also ask what their favourite snacks, foods and drinks are. Keep a basket of snacks and fruit on the counter so they can grab and go... Plan out the dinner menu ahead of time and go shopping before your guests arrive... display the weekly menu on the refrigerator door for all to see. You'll head off unforeseen issues this way, or your guests can make alternate plans without feeling awkward. The more organized you are, the more smoothly your [week of] hosting will go.
Entertainment: ...collect all of the fliers about activities that your area has to offer." (Hammersley, ?).
"089: Create a Guest Haven
If you live in a small home or don’t have a designated bedroom for your guests, you can still pamper them by putting together a guest basket. They’ll feel just as pampered on the pull-out sofabed if they can tell you’ve prepared and are eager to have them… Offer freshly laundered blankets and sheets, a set of travel-size toiletries, and an extra toothbrush… ” (Hammersley, ?).
“121: Organize Your Files // 122: Follow the System
Bills & Banking: Green | Taxes & Income: Orange | Medical, Dental & Pets: Red | House & Auto: Yellow | Memberships, School, Vacations & Other: Blue” (Hammersley, ?).
>> I like the colour-coding system here! Her file organization is great, she’s a pro at it. I think she has indepth posts on her blog about it so I’ll check it out later (it’s worth checking out!)
“124: Create a Homework Center
You’ll Need: Desk and chair, lamp, computer and printer, calculator, ruler, hanging calendar, crafting supplies (keep in a separate box), school supplies (highlighters, pens and pencils, paper stored in a desktop file box…, markers, coloured pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, protractor.” (Hammersley, ?).
“Quick Tip: Binder It
Take ten minutes to create a parent’s school binder to keep track of important paperwork throughout the year. Make a separate tab for each of the following: Yearly School Calendar, School information (address, phone number, principal, etc.), Teacher information (name/contact info, phone number, email, etc.), Lunch/bell schedules, Bus schedules, Sick notes, Handbook and policies” (Hammersley, ?).
“128: Build a Gift-Wrapping Station
…Ribbons and bows, tape, scissors and glue, pens and markers, greeting cards (sort by occasion…), gift bags, tissue paper” (Hammersley, ?).
“131: Enforce a Nightly Cleanup
Children need to be reminded that cleaning up isn’t a chore—Instead, it’s another way to make playing more fun. Put on a favourite song and have the kids gather and put away toys until it’s over… Turning cleanup into an enjoyable activity will give children pride in their space and establish a routine.” (Hammersley, ?).
“135: Net a Zoo”
Use a hanging hammock to store stuffed animals – it’s like a home/bed for them to go to sleep at night!
“Week 12: Playroom Challenge”
Idea: Put toys out of sight for a month and see if the kids ask for it during that time. If they don’t, they probably never will (and you can donate it).
“143: Set up a Home Gym
…Towels, Yoga supplies, weights, resistance bands, videos, whiteboard (to jot down your workout schedule), tv/tablet/speakers (workout videos), machinery (if you have space).” (Hammersley, ?)
“163: Create a Goodbye Station
Set up a donation or goodbye station in your garage for any items from your home that are on their way out. This will help you keep track of these items, and remind you to take them to their assigned new (or old) homes. Separate them by category: Donate (any items you are donating to charity), Return (Any store-bought items that need to be returned- make it a mission to return them all within a week!), Sell (anything you will be selling in your upcoming garage sale), Borrowed (items that you’ve borrowed and need to return…). Get that stuff out of there, and enjoy your newly reclaimed space!” (Hammersley, ?).
“165: Stock the Car for Emergencies: Emergency Kits
Personal care kit (hand sanitizer, tissues, feminine products, lip balm,… sunscreen, trash bag, water bottle, blanket, extra money, non-perishable snacks)
First-aid kit…” (Hammersley, ?).
Didn’t like:
"008: Group Your Utensils" (Hammersley, ?). Really? Do people actually not group like-utensils together?!
"[083: Divide Your Dresser] Divide Drawers
...The trick is to fold them all in the same manner and into similar sizes, and then put them away in neat rows, standing up. This is the Konmari method..." (Hammersley, ?).
>> Unless you're really disciplined, this method will fall to pieces in about 0.05 seconds. I think it's a really bad idea.
“122: Follow the System
Bills & Banking: Green | Taxes & Income: Orange | Medical, Dental & Pets: Red | House & Auto: Yellow | Memberships, School, Vacations & Other: Blue” (Hammersley, ?). I like the system but I don’t like how “Memberships, School, Vacations & Other” fall under ONE category!! There should be a separate one for other.
“Quick Tip: Learn Your ABCs
…Label each bin with a letter of the alphabet and sort toys accordingly. It’s a learning tool and organizational system in one!” (Hammersley, ?).
“[146: Attack Your Attic]: Embrace Plastic”
No, don’t embrace plastic. It’s bad for the environment. Use cardboard whenever you can; yes, it’s not as durable but it can look really attractive and you’re not supporting plastic and oil.
There are no page numbers! 😱🙄
In conclusion, I would recommend this to:
a) People new to organizing;
b) People who already have motivation to be organized;
c) People looking for great ideas to do with Guests & Guest Rooms, Kids, Paper organization;
d) Fans of A Bowl Full of Lemons (that's me--partially why I read the book!);
e) People looking for a simpler approach (a lot of the ideas are more simple/obvious and don't have that WOW factor).
The reason I didn't give it 5 stars was mainly because of the design (I don't love the number-format). At the beginning I thought it would be a 3-star book (like her cleaning one), but there were some super good ideas that brought it up a star.
This review took me soo long to write because there were so many good ideas!! Generally, I think that is Tori Hammersley’s strength; for certain things she is REALLY great, but in some areas her approaches are just mediocre.
Below: I will go over good ideas, what I disagreed with, and what I didn't like.
Highlights
"019: Focus On Your Fridge"
Step 1: Scrub
Step 2: Place washable lining on the shelves/in drawers
Step 3: Use organizing bins on shelves
Step 5: Use containers inside the drawers for like items
>> Her fridge area is great! Her fridge looks gorgeous and I was impressed with this.
"030: Organize Under the Sink"
- Uses 3M's Command Hooks (looks really good!)
"046: Pack Your Snacks
Keep A List of Snack Ideas
(Nuts (all kinds), Dried fruit, Fresh fruits or veggies and dips, yogurt or cheese, dark chocolate, air popped popcorn, healthy crackers or chips, granola or protein bars)" (Hammersley, ?).
Good ideas there, and this page set was STUNNING (paired with "Create a School Lunch Station".)
"058: Throw a Casual Party
- Don't Overbuy
- Plan the Flow
There's a reason cruise ship and fancy hotel buffets are set up the way they are. Learn from these experts, and create a natural flow for your guests. A stack of plates at one end of the table signifies that it's the starting point. It would seem logical to place cutlery there... but trying to juggle a plate, cutlery and serving spoons is awkward. Instead, put the utensils at the end of the buffet, where they're easy to grab with a free hand once all the serving and ladling is done." (Hammersley, ?).
"059: Be Ready To Party
It's always a good idea to keep party supplies on hand for impromptu celebrations or those times when you forgot to pick up candles because you were so busy making the cake! Label a large shoebox "Party Box" and fill it with the necessities. ...candles, balloons, streamers, cake decorating items, and any festive banners... Next time you throw a surprise party, you'll have peace of mind knowing that you're well prepared. The only things left to do will be to cook the food and enjoy the fun. When stocking your party supply box, remember to shop sales and clearance sections after the holidays. Prices for party supplies hit rock bottom during these times." (Hammersley, ?).
Loved this next section:
"086: Prepare the Guest Bedroom
Comfort Items: Add a throw blanket, extra robe, and slippers to the bedside. If you have space, add a reading chair, desk and lamp.
Snack Station: On the dresser you can set up a self-serve snack station... and a small basket of snacks (chocolate, crackers, granola bars) for late-night hunger pangs.
Miscellaneous Items: Make sure your guests have helpful items like an alarm clock, TV channel guide, and the guest Wifi password." (Hammersley, ?).
"087: Stock Your Bathroom for Guests
Clean Towels: Consider keeping a separate set of white bath towels, hand towels and washcloths specifically for guests. It's always nice to get a matching set.
Toiletries: ...You never know what your guests may have forgotten, so include everything! ...Toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, feminine products, first aid kit..." (Hammersley, ?).
"088: Make Your Guests Feel Welcome
Menu Planning: ...find out if they have any food or environmental allergies. Also ask what their favourite snacks, foods and drinks are. Keep a basket of snacks and fruit on the counter so they can grab and go... Plan out the dinner menu ahead of time and go shopping before your guests arrive... display the weekly menu on the refrigerator door for all to see. You'll head off unforeseen issues this way, or your guests can make alternate plans without feeling awkward. The more organized you are, the more smoothly your [week of] hosting will go.
Entertainment: ...collect all of the fliers about activities that your area has to offer." (Hammersley, ?).
"089: Create a Guest Haven
If you live in a small home or don’t have a designated bedroom for your guests, you can still pamper them by putting together a guest basket. They’ll feel just as pampered on the pull-out sofabed if they can tell you’ve prepared and are eager to have them… Offer freshly laundered blankets and sheets, a set of travel-size toiletries, and an extra toothbrush… ” (Hammersley, ?).
“121: Organize Your Files // 122: Follow the System
Bills & Banking: Green | Taxes & Income: Orange | Medical, Dental & Pets: Red | House & Auto: Yellow | Memberships, School, Vacations & Other: Blue” (Hammersley, ?).
>> I like the colour-coding system here! Her file organization is great, she’s a pro at it. I think she has indepth posts on her blog about it so I’ll check it out later (it’s worth checking out!)
“124: Create a Homework Center
You’ll Need: Desk and chair, lamp, computer and printer, calculator, ruler, hanging calendar, crafting supplies (keep in a separate box), school supplies (highlighters, pens and pencils, paper stored in a desktop file box…, markers, coloured pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, protractor.” (Hammersley, ?).
“Quick Tip: Binder It
Take ten minutes to create a parent’s school binder to keep track of important paperwork throughout the year. Make a separate tab for each of the following: Yearly School Calendar, School information (address, phone number, principal, etc.), Teacher information (name/contact info, phone number, email, etc.), Lunch/bell schedules, Bus schedules, Sick notes, Handbook and policies” (Hammersley, ?).
“128: Build a Gift-Wrapping Station
…Ribbons and bows, tape, scissors and glue, pens and markers, greeting cards (sort by occasion…), gift bags, tissue paper” (Hammersley, ?).
“131: Enforce a Nightly Cleanup
Children need to be reminded that cleaning up isn’t a chore—Instead, it’s another way to make playing more fun. Put on a favourite song and have the kids gather and put away toys until it’s over… Turning cleanup into an enjoyable activity will give children pride in their space and establish a routine.” (Hammersley, ?).
“135: Net a Zoo”
Use a hanging hammock to store stuffed animals – it’s like a home/bed for them to go to sleep at night!
“Week 12: Playroom Challenge”
Idea: Put toys out of sight for a month and see if the kids ask for it during that time. If they don’t, they probably never will (and you can donate it).
“143: Set up a Home Gym
…Towels, Yoga supplies, weights, resistance bands, videos, whiteboard (to jot down your workout schedule), tv/tablet/speakers (workout videos), machinery (if you have space).” (Hammersley, ?)
“163: Create a Goodbye Station
Set up a donation or goodbye station in your garage for any items from your home that are on their way out. This will help you keep track of these items, and remind you to take them to their assigned new (or old) homes. Separate them by category: Donate (any items you are donating to charity), Return (Any store-bought items that need to be returned- make it a mission to return them all within a week!), Sell (anything you will be selling in your upcoming garage sale), Borrowed (items that you’ve borrowed and need to return…). Get that stuff out of there, and enjoy your newly reclaimed space!” (Hammersley, ?).
“165: Stock the Car for Emergencies: Emergency Kits
Personal care kit (hand sanitizer, tissues, feminine products, lip balm,… sunscreen, trash bag, water bottle, blanket, extra money, non-perishable snacks)
First-aid kit…” (Hammersley, ?).
Didn’t like:
"008: Group Your Utensils" (Hammersley, ?). Really? Do people actually not group like-utensils together?!
"[083: Divide Your Dresser] Divide Drawers
...The trick is to fold them all in the same manner and into similar sizes, and then put them away in neat rows, standing up. This is the Konmari method..." (Hammersley, ?).
>> Unless you're really disciplined, this method will fall to pieces in about 0.05 seconds. I think it's a really bad idea.
“122: Follow the System
Bills & Banking: Green | Taxes & Income: Orange | Medical, Dental & Pets: Red | House & Auto: Yellow | Memberships, School, Vacations & Other: Blue” (Hammersley, ?). I like the system but I don’t like how “Memberships, School, Vacations & Other” fall under ONE category!! There should be a separate one for other.
“Quick Tip: Learn Your ABCs
…Label each bin with a letter of the alphabet and sort toys accordingly. It’s a learning tool and organizational system in one!” (Hammersley, ?).
“[146: Attack Your Attic]: Embrace Plastic”
No, don’t embrace plastic. It’s bad for the environment. Use cardboard whenever you can; yes, it’s not as durable but it can look really attractive and you’re not supporting plastic and oil.
There are no page numbers! 😱🙄
In conclusion, I would recommend this to:
a) People new to organizing;
b) People who already have motivation to be organized;
c) People looking for great ideas to do with Guests & Guest Rooms, Kids, Paper organization;
d) Fans of A Bowl Full of Lemons (that's me--partially why I read the book!);
e) People looking for a simpler approach (a lot of the ideas are more simple/obvious and don't have that WOW factor).
July 25, 2017
If you need some inspiration and motivation to organize your home and your life, then this book is a must have. When I have a space that is cluttered, I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed. This book helps to break down the organizing process with weekly challenges, checklists, and solutions to making the most of whatever space you may have. Not only does it offer many ideas on how to tackle large areas such as the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, and garage, but also smaller spaces such as your pantry, closets, entryway, and laundry room. This book is filled with great DIYs and tips such as how to make your own natural cleansers, how to fold a fitted sheet, and even how to meal prep. This book also helps to guide you on where things should be placed so that your home not only looks clean, but makes your life easier by teaching you that creating a balanced home helps to create a balanced life. Not only for you, but for anyone else who enters your home. The book itself is well made with rounded corners and a high quality paperback soft cover with gorgeous photography.
August 6, 2016
Thank goodness my public library had this book, and I didn't waste my money on a pretty but useless book. You know that Kate Hudson book, "Pretty Happy"? This book could be called "Pretty Useless."
The book is like a magazine in its layout, which is not a good thing in this case. You'd think that a book on home organization would be organized well. Nope.
I think the author could probably take this content, rearrange it, and have a much better book.
If you are looking for books on how to organize your home, look elsewhere. There are far better books out there.
From one of the reviews I read, this book is by a blogger. It seems that many of the bloggers who try to write a book often fail to make the transition successfully.
I had high hopes for this book. The reviews on Amazon were good, and the pictures looked gorgeous. The layout looked modern. The content is consistent with what you'd read in "Real Simple" and many shelter publications, but the organization of the book is so poorly layed out that it makes for a hot mess. Pass.
Back to the library I go.
The book is like a magazine in its layout, which is not a good thing in this case. You'd think that a book on home organization would be organized well. Nope.
I think the author could probably take this content, rearrange it, and have a much better book.
If you are looking for books on how to organize your home, look elsewhere. There are far better books out there.
From one of the reviews I read, this book is by a blogger. It seems that many of the bloggers who try to write a book often fail to make the transition successfully.
I had high hopes for this book. The reviews on Amazon were good, and the pictures looked gorgeous. The layout looked modern. The content is consistent with what you'd read in "Real Simple" and many shelter publications, but the organization of the book is so poorly layed out that it makes for a hot mess. Pass.
Back to the library I go.
August 16, 2018
The words "pesky" and "cute" are rife in this book. I don't think dustbunnies are pesky or bathroom scrubbers need to be stored in a cute tote, I just want ideas to keep my house clean and efficient. Not my thing.
January 14, 2019
This book has some good ideas for organizing and includes checklists for a 14 week journey organizing your home. However, I fundamentally disagree with her suggestion that everything be brought out at once before sorting through it. From working with hoarders and many disorganized people, I can verify that this method hardly ever works because it causes too much anxiety and overwhelm. It is best to start with a small section of the chosen room, and work around until back at the start.
July 17, 2017
This is a great book if you are an upper middle class woman living in a sprawling house in the suburbs. Or if you like looking at photos of large rooms beautifully organized through the magic of purchasing things at the container store or having custom made closets built. Not a lot of practical/practicable ideas otherwise =/
February 6, 2017
this book has good ideas for people with GIGANTIC HOMES
November 3, 2018
If you want to know how a bunch of rich, privileged white women organize their homes, this is the book for you.
January 18, 2020
As a visual learner and sometimes scatter-brained thinker, I loved the tips and lots of pictures this book contains!!
August 31, 2017
Filled with pretty (unrealistic) photos. How many of us need to organize around 2 KitchenAid stand mixers? One "after" closet photo that only had 4 pairs of shoes in it! Nothing groundbreaking here. I'm fairly organized but would rather live my life than pour my pantry staples into clear plastic containers so that they would look nice, or spend X minutes a day before bed cleaning X room because it would make such a difference in the morning. (I wanted to add up all those pre-bedtime minutes I'd have to spend - according to the author - but didn't want to waste EVEN MORE time on this madness.) This book reminded me of Real Simple magazine, which I tend to like, but I found the text really inane. Glad I only wasted time and not money on this book - back to the library it goes!
July 16, 2016
Great ideas for everyone/everything. I did notice that they were a bit too label happy... And alot of the before and after photos made me think that those people had WAY TOO MUCH STUFF.
March 25, 2024
I really liked this book! It walks you through every area of the home to declutter, clean and organize it. I love that the reading sections are short, to the point and enjoyable to read. The pictures were fun to flip through and gave me some good ideas of what to do in my own home. I'm planning on going back through this every year or two!
January 13, 2025
Fine if you’re neurotypical with money and a big house I guess. What should you do if a complete bathroom remodel isn’t an option? Merely replace the sink and tub! I laughed out loud when she suggested installing a heated bathroom floor as an easy weekend DIY.
March 3, 2017
A easy to read instruction on decluttering your home - from that junky kitchen drawer to the deep freezer. I took away a few very handy makeover ideas which have literally been quite life changing. Worth a look.
September 18, 2017
There are a lot of tips in this book. I guess I'm not as organized as I thought, because this book made me anxious. It's too organized for me, and that's fine. To each her own.
October 16, 2017
Pretty pictures, some great ideas, mostly just common sense. Still a good book to flip through for inspiration!
November 14, 2022
Enjoyed the pace and setup of the book, overall the information is nothing new or life-altering.
Pictures are beautiful, and the numeric list of recommended “order of operations” were worth the 99 cents I paid for it :)
Pictures are beautiful, and the numeric list of recommended “order of operations” were worth the 99 cents I paid for it :)
February 7, 2019
I impulsively picked this up off a library shelf (one of those early January displays for all your resolutions that tricksy librarian types put out!). It was a good choice!
The advice is essentially Marie Kondo type stuff -- ie, the Kitchen Challenge starts with emptying everything in your cabinets and drawers onto the kitchen table, and doing "sort and purge." It's not breaking new ground, but it's a beautiful book. The photos are gorgeous and I also loved the little watercolor and ink sketches of cocktails, cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, etc. It was just happy to read because it's a visually stunning book.
By breaking the tasks down into small things, it didn't feel incredibly hard to get started on doing something. When I was only partially through the book, I did my freezer, spice drawers and tea area, and felt so much better. I also added several ideas to my to-do list from this book. My teenager got me started using Microsoft's "to do" app this year (also in January) and I added several ideas from this book to my "home organizing" list in To Do. Most of them were really simple things, like "order new deck cushions" (ours are 19 years old!!), but things I need to be reminded to do. As well as this handy advice: "don't save more children's art than you can look through in one sitting." I haven't put that in practice yet, but it did make sense.
The advice is essentially Marie Kondo type stuff -- ie, the Kitchen Challenge starts with emptying everything in your cabinets and drawers onto the kitchen table, and doing "sort and purge." It's not breaking new ground, but it's a beautiful book. The photos are gorgeous and I also loved the little watercolor and ink sketches of cocktails, cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, etc. It was just happy to read because it's a visually stunning book.
By breaking the tasks down into small things, it didn't feel incredibly hard to get started on doing something. When I was only partially through the book, I did my freezer, spice drawers and tea area, and felt so much better. I also added several ideas to my to-do list from this book. My teenager got me started using Microsoft's "to do" app this year (also in January) and I added several ideas from this book to my "home organizing" list in To Do. Most of them were really simple things, like "order new deck cushions" (ours are 19 years old!!), but things I need to be reminded to do. As well as this handy advice: "don't save more children's art than you can look through in one sitting." I haven't put that in practice yet, but it did make sense.
March 7, 2020
Lots of great ideas. It is a resource I go back to frequently.
September 15, 2022
Can be very helpful for many. Gives details instructions for each room of the house but I don't think it will work for me. I need quick-fix solutions
August 28, 2018
A very thorough book on home organization.
I would recommend this book for people who have q house or large apartment. Any place smaller wouldn't be able to utilize the suggestions and there's better books out there that address smaller spaces better.
With that said, I learned at least two or three new tricks per chapter. I loved the pictures and really wished they included more. I gave this book 5 stars because I felt it gave me a lot of options like putting areas into zones and a lot of solutions to specific problems like ways to organize your closet without having to spend an arm and leg in a simple doable plan.
I would recommend this book for people who have q house or large apartment. Any place smaller wouldn't be able to utilize the suggestions and there's better books out there that address smaller spaces better.
With that said, I learned at least two or three new tricks per chapter. I loved the pictures and really wished they included more. I gave this book 5 stars because I felt it gave me a lot of options like putting areas into zones and a lot of solutions to specific problems like ways to organize your closet without having to spend an arm and leg in a simple doable plan.
June 15, 2021
Many of the ideas I am already doing or can't do (organizing basement). But a good read for January and thinking about cleaning and improving rooms.
November 10, 2020
Wenn es um das Thema Ordnung und Sortierung geht, ist mein Sinn dafür eher weniger gut ausgeprägt. Dabei ist es bei mir ordentlich, aber wirklich sortiert wirkt es trotzdem nie. Ein kleines Ärgernis, denn gerade als Person mit vielen kreativen Hobbys und einer Leidenschaft für das Backen braucht es eine gewisse Ordnung um schnell und ergiebig arbeiten zu können.
Um so gespannter war ich auf den Inhalt des Buches, welches nicht nur eine bessere Sortierung versprach, sondern daraus auch eine Challenge machte. Somit gab es einen enormen Anreiz um das Abenteuer „Platz schaffen“ anzugehen. Aber auch sonst freute ich mich sehr auf den Inhalt, welcher schon bim Durchblättern eine Vielzahl an Bildern offenbarte.
Mit viel Freude begann ich zu lesen und war recht schnell davon überrascht, auf welche Sortierungsmöglichkeiten ich selbst überhaupt nicht kam. Zwar waren viele Optionen auf moderne Möbel und Küchen bezogen, doch das machte mir recht wenig aus. Für mich war es eher eine Möglichkeit bei späteren Möbelkäufen auf bestimmte Funktionen zu achten. Für meine aktuelle Wohnsituation fand ich jedoch auch so einige Ideen, welche zum Teil sogar umgesetzt wurden.
Der Spaß an der Sache ging auf jeden Fall nie verloren. Die schrittweise Auseinandersetzung mit den einzelnen Wohnbereichen sorgte zusammen mit der Challenge-Option für mehr Anreize. Dies bedeutete zwar trotzdem ein wenig Durchhaltevermögen, aber belohnte auch mit einer ungeahnten Ordnung. Dies war jedoch nur möglich, da die Autorin dem Ganzen wirklich etwas Spaßiges verlieh. Wer wirklich etwas Ordnung und Platz in sein Leben bringen will, der bekommt hier nicht nur gute Ideen, sondern lernt dazu auch noch, zu was die eigenen Wohnbereiche alles möglich sein können.
Selten war das Platz schaffen so spannend. Die Autorin schaffte es mit ihrem Buch dem Thema Ordnung und Sortierung völlig neuen Atem einzuhauchen. Dies lag vor allem an der sehr frischen und kreativen Art an das Thema heranzugehen. Mithilfe einer 15-Wochen-Challenge gab es dazu noch eine stufenweise Herangehensweise für alle, welche Schritt für Schritt lernen wollen, was es heißt in der eigenen Wohnung oder dem Arbeitsraum Platz zu schaffen.
Um so gespannter war ich auf den Inhalt des Buches, welches nicht nur eine bessere Sortierung versprach, sondern daraus auch eine Challenge machte. Somit gab es einen enormen Anreiz um das Abenteuer „Platz schaffen“ anzugehen. Aber auch sonst freute ich mich sehr auf den Inhalt, welcher schon bim Durchblättern eine Vielzahl an Bildern offenbarte.
Mit viel Freude begann ich zu lesen und war recht schnell davon überrascht, auf welche Sortierungsmöglichkeiten ich selbst überhaupt nicht kam. Zwar waren viele Optionen auf moderne Möbel und Küchen bezogen, doch das machte mir recht wenig aus. Für mich war es eher eine Möglichkeit bei späteren Möbelkäufen auf bestimmte Funktionen zu achten. Für meine aktuelle Wohnsituation fand ich jedoch auch so einige Ideen, welche zum Teil sogar umgesetzt wurden.
Der Spaß an der Sache ging auf jeden Fall nie verloren. Die schrittweise Auseinandersetzung mit den einzelnen Wohnbereichen sorgte zusammen mit der Challenge-Option für mehr Anreize. Dies bedeutete zwar trotzdem ein wenig Durchhaltevermögen, aber belohnte auch mit einer ungeahnten Ordnung. Dies war jedoch nur möglich, da die Autorin dem Ganzen wirklich etwas Spaßiges verlieh. Wer wirklich etwas Ordnung und Platz in sein Leben bringen will, der bekommt hier nicht nur gute Ideen, sondern lernt dazu auch noch, zu was die eigenen Wohnbereiche alles möglich sein können.
Selten war das Platz schaffen so spannend. Die Autorin schaffte es mit ihrem Buch dem Thema Ordnung und Sortierung völlig neuen Atem einzuhauchen. Dies lag vor allem an der sehr frischen und kreativen Art an das Thema heranzugehen. Mithilfe einer 15-Wochen-Challenge gab es dazu noch eine stufenweise Herangehensweise für alle, welche Schritt für Schritt lernen wollen, was es heißt in der eigenen Wohnung oder dem Arbeitsraum Platz zu schaffen.
February 9, 2018
Ich habe schon einige Bücher zu dem Thema gelesen. Bei den meisten ging es vordergründig ums Ausmisten. In diesem legt die Autorin dem Leser schon nahe, vorher gründlich auszumisten, aber es geht vorrangig darum, wie man sein zu Hause und seine Besitztümer gut organisiert.
Die Autorin nimmt sich ein Zimmer nach dem anderen vor und gibt zu jedem Raum Tipps, wie man alles organisieren und ordnen kann.
Am Ende des Kapitels gibt es die Wochenaufgabe. Hier erklärt die Autorin kurz und knapp, wie man das Zimmer am besten angeht. Die Wochenaufgabe hätte etwas ausführlicher gestaltet werden können.
Toni Hammersley erklärt leicht verständlich und die Tipps sind auch umsetzbar.
Die Gestaltung des Buches fand ich sehr schön. Anhand von vielen Bildern veranschaulicht die Autorin ihre Tipps.
Nicht alle Tipps sind für jeden brauchbar. Das Buch ist doch sehr auf amerikanische Verhältnisse ausgelegt, z.B. kenne ich niemanden, der einen Picknick-Korb besitzt und seine Picknick-Utensilien ordnen müsste.
Außerdem schalte ich auch nicht jeden Abend den Geschirrspüler ein. Das wäre Wasserverschwendung. Bei einer großen Familie mag das schon Sinn machen, aber zu zweit brauchen wir schon ein paar Tage, bis er voll ist.
Es gibt aber jede Menge Tipps, die auch für uns umsetzbar sind, und es kann sicher jeder etwas für sich mitnehmen. Vor allem gut gefallen haben mir die Reinigungstipps. Es gibt auch immer Tipps, wie man kleine Räume organisieren und besser nutzen kann.
Ich empfehle auf jeden Fall das Buch zu kaufen. Der Preisunterschied zum Ebook ist nicht so groß und da es in dem Buch auch viele Bilder gibt, ist es schöner das Buch in der Hand zu halten.
Ich konnte mir in diesem Buch jede Menge Tipps und auch Motivation holen, um mal wieder auszumisten und alles schön aufzuräumen und zu organisieren.
Besonders für Leute geeignet, die keine Minimalisten sind!
Fazit:
Für alle, die ihr zu Hause gerne mehr organisieren und ordnen wollen!
Die Autorin nimmt sich ein Zimmer nach dem anderen vor und gibt zu jedem Raum Tipps, wie man alles organisieren und ordnen kann.
Am Ende des Kapitels gibt es die Wochenaufgabe. Hier erklärt die Autorin kurz und knapp, wie man das Zimmer am besten angeht. Die Wochenaufgabe hätte etwas ausführlicher gestaltet werden können.
Toni Hammersley erklärt leicht verständlich und die Tipps sind auch umsetzbar.
Die Gestaltung des Buches fand ich sehr schön. Anhand von vielen Bildern veranschaulicht die Autorin ihre Tipps.
Nicht alle Tipps sind für jeden brauchbar. Das Buch ist doch sehr auf amerikanische Verhältnisse ausgelegt, z.B. kenne ich niemanden, der einen Picknick-Korb besitzt und seine Picknick-Utensilien ordnen müsste.
Außerdem schalte ich auch nicht jeden Abend den Geschirrspüler ein. Das wäre Wasserverschwendung. Bei einer großen Familie mag das schon Sinn machen, aber zu zweit brauchen wir schon ein paar Tage, bis er voll ist.
Es gibt aber jede Menge Tipps, die auch für uns umsetzbar sind, und es kann sicher jeder etwas für sich mitnehmen. Vor allem gut gefallen haben mir die Reinigungstipps. Es gibt auch immer Tipps, wie man kleine Räume organisieren und besser nutzen kann.
Ich empfehle auf jeden Fall das Buch zu kaufen. Der Preisunterschied zum Ebook ist nicht so groß und da es in dem Buch auch viele Bilder gibt, ist es schöner das Buch in der Hand zu halten.
Ich konnte mir in diesem Buch jede Menge Tipps und auch Motivation holen, um mal wieder auszumisten und alles schön aufzuräumen und zu organisieren.
Besonders für Leute geeignet, die keine Minimalisten sind!
Fazit:
Für alle, die ihr zu Hause gerne mehr organisieren und ordnen wollen!
April 7, 2022
Motivating. I’ve read lots of organizing books but I don’t know if the time was right for me this time or what, but I just jumped in and started working during little sections of reading. I purposefully got the book because I wanted to start on spring cleaning, but sites I had Googled didn’t really provide much inspiration. I can’t put my finger on what was different about this book. It was like there was a person behind all the text giving me a push to get up and get to work on it.
The author uses a few techniques and ideas already out there in the cleaning and organizing canon, which I immediately recognized and appreciated. She also included little sections throughout the book from other organizer personalities on ideas for dealing with specific problem areas, furnishing before and after photos. She included lots of sources, with an appendix about 1/3 the size of the whole book. I went to her website and found that she has presided over a weeks-long home organizational challenge for the past 11 years. I was able to download some handy checklists and participate even though the listed dates for the public challenge had already gone by for me.
The author uses a few techniques and ideas already out there in the cleaning and organizing canon, which I immediately recognized and appreciated. She also included little sections throughout the book from other organizer personalities on ideas for dealing with specific problem areas, furnishing before and after photos. She included lots of sources, with an appendix about 1/3 the size of the whole book. I went to her website and found that she has presided over a weeks-long home organizational challenge for the past 11 years. I was able to download some handy checklists and participate even though the listed dates for the public challenge had already gone by for me.
June 17, 2019
This book has a lot of great photos of organization ideas & some basic information on how to sort and clean rooms in the home. It goes more in depth on challenging rooms such as the kitchen, closets, and office spaces which was appreciated, as these rooms typically accumulate large amounts of clutter. There is plenty of checklists in here that are handy and thorough.
Though this book calls itself the “complete” book of home organization, it is definitely more applicable to large homes. It focuses heavily on homes that have large pantries, walk in closets, and separate laundry, office & playrooms. The author also focuses on creating separate zones for separate activities, but in a small space many times rooms have to work for a handful of activities. Someone reading this can look between the lines and transfer the advice to an extent, but more detail in terms of small homes, and rentals would be needed to call this a complete home organization guide.
Though this book calls itself the “complete” book of home organization, it is definitely more applicable to large homes. It focuses heavily on homes that have large pantries, walk in closets, and separate laundry, office & playrooms. The author also focuses on creating separate zones for separate activities, but in a small space many times rooms have to work for a handful of activities. Someone reading this can look between the lines and transfer the advice to an extent, but more detail in terms of small homes, and rentals would be needed to call this a complete home organization guide.
January 11, 2021
This book was a decent fun read. I picked up several ideas for cleaning and purging our home so for those ideas the book was good. It was nice that the author set up weekly challenges for each section of the house.
Overall the book was a little general. So many sections ended with the statement “find what works for you.” But if people are reading an organizing book, they’re often looking for advice and they don’t know what works for them. So this statement was unhelpful as a guide for cleaning out the garage or whatever project was being discussed.
The other piece that was problematic was the unrealistic cleaning expectations. Nobody has time to clean their car weekly, or vacuum their entire house every single day. Or do a purging session every single week. So making unrealistic cleaning plans just isn’t a useful suggestion in many of the sections.
Overall the book was a little general. So many sections ended with the statement “find what works for you.” But if people are reading an organizing book, they’re often looking for advice and they don’t know what works for them. So this statement was unhelpful as a guide for cleaning out the garage or whatever project was being discussed.
The other piece that was problematic was the unrealistic cleaning expectations. Nobody has time to clean their car weekly, or vacuum their entire house every single day. Or do a purging session every single week. So making unrealistic cleaning plans just isn’t a useful suggestion in many of the sections.
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