The New York Times: Right at Home: How to Buy, Decorate, Organize and Maintain Your Space

by Ronda Kaysen, Michelle Higgins

New York Times Real Estate columnists and home experts Ronda Kaysen and Michelle Higgins share their insider knowledge in this essential, all-in-one resource for how to buy, decorate, organize and maintain your space.

Whether you are shopping for a first home, renting a new apartment or are searching for smart and affordable ways to redecorate or reorganize, Right at Home is the book for you.

Kaysen and Higgins have spent more than two decades interviewing experts and demystifying all aspects of home buying and care. This guide, drawn from their work, will be with you at every turn, whether you're unpacking the kitchen for the first time, moving in with your significant other, or figuring out what to do with all those baby bottles and sippy cups now that the last child is out of diapers and the cabinets are bursting. Including pro tips from experts such as Marie Kondo, Bunny Williams and Justina Blakeney, and a removable annual home maintenance checklist, Right at Home is the indispensable guide that you will return to again and again.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2020

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well organized book covering everything about owning a home, from finances before buying, decor and organizing, to maintaining. Not all sections will be relevant at the same time, and decor and organizing have gotten plenty of coverage elsewhere, but it’s nice to have all the basics in one place. It covers those basics without advertising any certain style or trend, like minimalism or cottage or artsy, etc. I can see that owning this would come in handy to refer back to. This would be best for people new to buying or owning a home, or those looking to prepare for that in their future.

[Eli · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly I didn’t finish this book cuz I wanted tips on like, home maintenance schedules and organizational systems, and it wanted to tell me that fake plants can liven up a room. There were a few good suggestions for how to set up specific spaces but mostly it was a combo of tasteless decorating advice and Marie Kondo rip-off.

[Jessica Brazeal Slaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Snowmageddon of last week, I am even more grateful for this book. I am always realizing there are things about home ownership that I don’t know and should, so when I saw this book it seemed like a great place to start to integrate the basics, especially around the maintenance and organization of your home. With helpful photos and diagrams, I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to better understand how to care for this large investment.

[Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is undeniably cute. It has a ton of pictures in it and the cover is nice, which makes this the perfect coffee table book. But the information in it isn't really as helpful. And I know I just said it has a ton of pictures in it, but not in the right places. There's still there is a lot of information that could use some pictures to help us understand it better. If you're tight on space, this isn't a book you want on the shelves.

[Mary Lynn]

A quick read for young people just starting out on their own in a new apartment or house. Nothing new here but okay for first-time home owners. I’d check out from the library, not worth buying. Some nice illustrations.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has two great functions: a way to skim pretty houses without subscribing to a magazine or browsing the social media and it would be a great gift for someone who is looking for a first house.

Some of the advice skews too "readers of the *New York Times*" in the costs and style (I'm thinking of the way they recommend never having particle board is you can avoid it at all and the section on books recommends getting rid of books you can get at the library or digitally), but it starts with buying a house, goes through decor suggestions, and ends up with a calendar of maintenance. Sort of a nice reference book with some tips from interior decorators. Some of the advice, like making at least 25% of your furniture thrifted or antique or having one "up high" and one "down low" thing in every room, has really made me think. Good tips on things like how to fold a fitted sheet and choose a rug that fits your room. All-in-all sort of curated, print Pinterest.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, pretty terrible. I didn't read every word, but I kept coming up against bad advice, like transferring your eggs to a specialty plastic bin (they keep fresher in the carton that is designed for them!). A picture would show some ugly tchotkes on a dresser, but the caption would advise keeping surfaces clear. Etc. So much better advice is available online and in other books.
March 2024

[superawesomekt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is pretty basic stuff and the book can't decide what it is. It's a decorating /organizing book with home buying and maintenance information. But it's all so high level that you could easily find this information on a blog. If you have never read a book or article on any of these topics then you would probably find this book useful.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly readable book for anyone looking to make their space more homey, or buy a home, or sell a home, or organize their space ... you get the idea. This is a great book to dip into and read as needed: how to set up a space is different in an apartment versus a home, and so on. Some sections were more relevant to me (at the moment), but all enjoyable.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of articles about home cleverly linked together with photos, infographics, and prose. As we are repurposing some rooms in our house now, this was a timely read. Purpose is the key word to remember.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book promotes working with an agent that deals with Pocket Listings?! This is unethical, considered against fair housing regulations and promotes a discriminatory practice. The housing market is already deeply, embedded in systemic racism and I’m appalled that this book is written by the NYT.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First day on earth ass book.
Jk, I suppose it's handy to have the basics for your space all in one place, but this was too surface-level to be useful, and not really relevant to anyone on a budget or living outside of a major city (let's face it, outside of Brooklyn, NY).

[Andrei Barbu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tries to pack in too much and consequently ends up saying too little. Bland generic advice without context and depth.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great gift idea for new homeowners

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started with a good idea, but it lacked any depth. So much of it was basic common sense.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Common sense stuff about choosing, decorating and organizing a house.

[Bill Sleeman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay - not great - not a lot new here. On the plus side, it was a breezy read and I did not have to exert a lot of effort with this one.

[Tyler Hoffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointed, too much common sense. Tries to be a jack of all trades but fails to have meaningful depth in any area. Wouldn’t even recommend as a gift.

[Valerie Wyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some beautiful room designs and good information on furniture spacing

[JennLynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information, but decidedly lacking in pictures/illustrations. They could have added a lot to the book.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good home basics book. Exactly what I was looking for. Definitely not a DIY home maintenance book. This is more a “how to have a home for people who may not have had one before” book.

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, and an easy, detailed read.