Get It Together!: An Interior Designer's Guide to Creating Your Best Life

by Orlando Soria

From the host of HGTV's Unspouse My House comes a laugh-out-loud, quote-to-your-friends hilarious book about interior decorating peppered with life advice.

Move aside, Martha. Out of the way, Oprah. Pack your bags, Amy Sedaris. There's a new lifestyle guru in town!

After getting his start years ago on HGTV, Orlando Soria has made his way to the upper strata of the blogosphere with Hommemaker, his blog about home décor, art, style, and life. His distinctive voice--funny, confessional, and honest--has made him the Dan Savage of millennial homemaking. Now he brings together his most original, endearing, and irreverent advice in one gorgeous book that will help readers out of all kinds of tight spots--whether it's throwing a dinner party when you're broke, hanging art like a gallery owner, or preparing your home for an unwanted guest. In sections on interior style, design, "Homme Life," DIY, and general life lessons, Orlando offers advice on topics such as "How to Make Non-Garbagey Flower Arrangements" and "How to Deal with a Soul-Sucking Breakup." He helps readers problem solve, avoid rookie mistakes, and choose a wall color that won't make them puke. Photographer Zeke Ruelas's stunning images accompany Orlando's tips on designing for dudes, making your own coffee table, and decorating a kid's room. Whether you're short on cash or have money to burn, Orlando's unique and highly contagious take on life will inspire, comfort, and reassure you that anyone can Get It Together!

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Interior Design, Humor, Self Help

240 pages, Hardcover

Published April 17, 2018

About the author

Orlando Soria is an interior designer, writer, and artist living in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[Meredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get that the humour was supposed to be witty and snarky, but it read as negative and bitter. A few lines bothered me such as "A basic tray to impress your friends who are also basic." wow that's nice! OR "I hate your wedding, advice on how to handle when someone awful invites you to their wedding." Jeepers dude then don't frigging go and ruin everyone else's good time, how's that for advice. 1 star for the photographer.

[Nora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was eager to start reading what seemed to be a promising mix of juicy design tips and a good sense of humor. Instead, I found full pages dedicated to non-sensical jokes that stopped being funny after a while as they offered little to no advice on the intricacies of interior design. The section dedicated to "design tips-n'-tricks" was quite disappointing, as I found very few actually useful ideas and hopeless phrases like "if you can't do it yourself, hire a designer"...I liked the bits where the author encourages readers to take risks while designing their own space, but there is not much great content to back these up. The pictures (of interiors, not the author's enactings of "life advice") are gorgeous, though.

[Ms. Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't so much a book about home design as it is a funny, snarky. self-help lite, with a little design inspiration thrown in. It made me laugh out loud regularly and I appreciated the author's sense of humor.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny interior design book (really!) that also gives great life advice. Reminded me of the spirit of Amy Sedaris’ “I Like You” - sweet, hilarious, and clearly made with love.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I really learned anything about design, but I laughed so hard.

[Jennifer McAfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my kind of design book! There are great photographs of beautiful and interesting rooms and solid design advice. But the part I loved most were all the quips, both personal and artistic, such as: "Modern lighting (to remind everyone that you're cooler than them) and "Look at what artists do and then do that, because artists are better than you and you know it."

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this book is for you, you will love it like I did. I found myself guffawing on the library's silent study floor reading it and took it home for more laughs. If you don't like snarky and honest humor, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, pass this one by, but I feel it's your loss.

[Laura Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think my expectations were off, I had thought this book would be more about interior design, tips and tricks, and party planning ideas mixed with some humor. While parts were hilarious, I actually really felt for the guy and all he'd been through and could feel him taking it out on this book. The photography I loved, love his designs, and even the parts about failure - because that's life right?! But I felt entirely too sad reading this book, tons of sarcasm. Funny but overdone.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot like me. It swore a lot in all caps.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard to rate this book, because I am not the intended audience by any stretch of the imagination. But I like Orlando's honestly and transparency and humor ... to a certain point. The book for me became too much personal, not enough design. The tips are probably great for young people going out on their own and trying to have a pulled together home. I'm old and established and too far gone for this book to have meaning for me. I need something meatier! But it was worth it for the chapter about the DIY Orlando was ashamed of but left in the book anyway. Hilarious!

[Christopher Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! Seriously, this should be required reading for everyone looking to make a house into a home. Orlando Soria is the fabulous design wizard we all want in our lives, but most of us are sorely lacking. This book is not only a fantastic resource design, but it is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. This is wonderful for fans or Queer Eye, or those who wish HGTV was a little more fun.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found it stupid and not funny at all. Maybe its my age.. lol

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about Orlando Soria is how honest and transparent he is on social media - he’s on Instagram as @mrorlandosoria and the captions he writes are amazing - covering both the ups and downs of life instead of a perfect version of only good moments. The beauty that can be found in moments that are not going as planned is really the essence of this book - which he wrote after losing his job, being dumped, and having to find a new place to live at the same time. That pain comes through clearly but his vision as an artist and designer makes it very compelling.

All that being said - my favorite chapter was on making your own coffee table, because this is exactly what happened (it worked!!) when I met my current boyfriend, who made his own coffee table.

[Renel Ralston · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny! I mean he should consider giving up interior design to go into comedy. I own plenty of design books and this isn't the best one for design content but it is the funniest. If you're bitter, angry and sad... you should read this. If your life is perfect and you want to laugh at bitter, sad people... you should read this. I found this completely entertaining. Sarcastic, snarky, and honest. What's not to like.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get It Together!... a funny exploration of a Residential Interior Designer's approach, focused on millennials. The well-photographed interior rooms and each chapter's subtitles in bold were this book's only redeeming qualities. This book is from a gay perspective, and the author has a way of making everything sound fantastic. There are helpful hints and bits of information along the way, but the majority of the book is his ranting about life and things he dislikes about design.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. So Orlando Soria is entertaining -- his writing is sarcastic and over-the-top and full of cursing (all things that I actually approve of). But in terms of interior design...well, there's not as much of that here as I would've liked. Instead, there's just a lot of everything -- life advice and DIYs and a whole lot of wallowing in his own sadness. Which was amusing until it wasn't. So not bad, but not what I was expecting either.

[Ligaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this from cover to cover and laughed out loud through the whole ordeal. Part of me continued the book because I wanted to support his seeming quest for mental health, part of me wanted to read if he crashed and burned, and then the littlest part was hoping for some new nuggets of interior decor advice. Excellent comedic writing (and editing, I'd imagine), nice photographs of fairly spare rooms, well organized and designed book. HILARIOUS!

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The decorating ideas aren't anything special, but Orlando Soria is funny! He has a blog, which I had never read before seeing this book. I read the dedication, and then read it again. Just from that I started to realize this is not your Mom's decorating book. I don't always agree with his decorating advice, but I enjoyed reading the book so much I forced my sister to read it!

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I’ve already read this entire book, just by following him on Instagram. This book is exactly what you think it is. Less focus on interior design than I would’ve liked, but more than makes up for it with his super distinctive voice. I will say, that my mother was able to get her paint color for her remodel out of this book. Direct application already. I’m surprised but also not really.

[Megan Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hysterical. I read it as part of my library's summer reading challenge and I expected it to be a book purely about interior design and creating spaces that work for you. Instead it was hilarious (laugh out loud funny) and heartwarming and entertaining. I'm not sure I learned a whole lot about interior design but I sure did enjoy reading it!

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part were the last couple of sections, which weren't really about design or entertaining, but about picking yourself back up when everything falls apart. The entire book is written in a humorous and over the top tone, but in my opinion, the first few sections are very skimmable. I really loved the last part of the book, though, so 4 stars overall.

[Sheila Guevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's bright, bold and the pages and ideas POP!

Love how emotionally connected and irreverent the approach is: Blame your parents. If your kids are brats, it is because you didn't make their rooms cute enough. A section on picking wall color that won't make you barf.

Vibrant photos. Totally fun book.

[Lawana Sisam · Rating 1 out of 5]

His language is horrible, disgusting, and offensive. Everything isn't about one's sexuality. I don't care if your gay or straight or bi. I didn't need to know my room's preferences to decorate it! I couldn't get past all the crap to the decor ideas! Pictures were good and some ideas I liked but they weren't worth the garbage. Look somewhere else!

[Barbpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get It Together! is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud yet bittersweet memoir with lovely and useful design tips mixed in. It was such fun to read that I’m sorry I’m done. At least I can get my Orlando fix by watching “Unspouse My House” and reading his “Hommemaker” blog while I wait for his next book!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't put this in a category because it's kind of a decorating book, good advice and tips. A bit autobiographic, he's very deep and thoughtful. And completely hilarious. His use of 'salty' language fits perfectly and I love him for his over the top descriptions and opinions.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, some great ideas and gorgeous rooms but the some of the banter was a little over the top for me. I would have liked a little more of his design ideas and a little less cheekiness but I still got a lot out of this book.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orlando opens his heart about breakups and horrible tragedy in the context of design, a surprising twist. Though the occasional snark made me cringe, I found this entertaining and heart warming at a time when I most needed it.

[Dulcie Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh so many times, Orlando shares great design ideas in the most hilarious way. I really enjoyed his candor and sneakiness- it was unexpectedly amazing.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has lots of helpful advice.