Inspiring way to begin decluttering
596579
I've read tons of decluttering/organization books and articles, and this one by far did the trick! I didn't follow everything to the letter but used her method to go room-by-room and it's working great! Her philosophy and viewpoint makes getting rid of stuff much easier, and some of the organizational ideas are priceless. Before I even began getting rid of anything  I was able to clear out some drawers with her methods of storing and reorganization. Excellent book to read if you are overwhelmed and feel like you don't know where to start.
3951416
I'm purging all my belongings and paring it down to what supports the life I want. Peter Walsh does a great job of motivating the reader and giving specific steps to reach your clutter-free goals. I recommend it.
4620339
This book has some really good ideas and suggestions for getting you motivated to start cleaning and how to organize yourself.  I'd recommend it to anybody who has a hoarding tendency.
1613354
I have been reading a lot of books about how to organize and how to clean this year. My takeway from this book is that minimalism is always a journey, not a destination.

Certainly I have found it so.

The days when I can throw a box of books and my sports shoes in the trunk of my car and move to a new apartment are decades gone. My first downsize was from a three-bedroom apartment and an office to one-bedroom and no office.

Even after giving away a garage full of stuff, my apartment had narrow rows between the boxes at first.

Now, eight years later, I'm re-organizing and simplifying. I am doing my best to learn new tricks. I heave a sigh of relief every time I give away or throw away another box of stuff I am not using.

I recommend this whether you are just getting started with organizing or simplifying or need some maintenance motivation along the way.
1877063
I was given this book as a gift yesterday, spent last night combing through it, and have already implemented several ideas like organizing the area around my sink and kitchen drawers. Even better, I am about to move to a home with much less storage space than I currently have, and The Organized Home is helping me visualize where everything can go, and how to do it. Thanks for all the wonderful tips!
1693254
I really enjoyed this book.  It is a fairly quick read, but gave me just the right amount of inspiration mixed with practical tips for organizing and tidying your home.  Her method of piling everything in the center of the room seems a little drastic, but it definitely make the process of determining what to save easier.  I loved all the tips about folding clothes!  I must admit I am starting to appreciate some of my things in a way I never did before after reading this.
3656613
I chose this book as a challenge from a friend. I'm in the process of moving so what better time to declutter. I can't wait to put these methods into practice!
410191
I didn't know what "clutter" was, much less how to get rid of it. The Declutter Code showed me how to identify it, however, and then how to work on freeing myself from it- clarity. The author lays out simple steps to follow, experiments to work on over weeks of decluttering and then encourages you along the way, never making you feel like there is something wrong with you. She really cares about her readers. I love that about the book.

There are a lot of reasons we hang onto our "crap" and refuse to let it go. This could be from a meaning or event it represents or from us trying to avoid letting something bad happen again. We carry it around like an over-filled backpack. It weighs us down. The Declutter Codes gives you clear directions on how to lighten and eventually ditch that backpack altogether.

Wouldn't that be nice too? Instead of constantly comparing ourselves to our past self or what we had hoped for, we just accept ourself as perfect "where we are" and focus on "our role in the story" as the author states. I want that so bad. I have grown really tired of tearing myself down, verbally abusing myself because I just wasn't happy and satisfied with who I am.... or who my loved ones were. This book helped to change that in just a few days. I finished it within a week and never once felt like something didn't apply to me. Even yoga seems like a great way to slow my mind and, even better, slow down to accept me for me. I had only been going for a workout. Wow, has that changed.

Why you should read the book? Well, I think you cannot afford to not read it. There are books out there that change the way thousands or millions of people think about themselves, their environment and those around them. The Declutter Code is one of those books! It doesn't take too long to read but I would bet my bank account you get something from it really early on and start doing the experiments as well.

I started with meditation first. I look forward to adding time there and setting my mind for the day. For once in my life I get up looking forward to getting up and have a plan in place.  You can get there too.

Happy reading!
- Jay
3363374
Love this book. Mindfulness is very important to me so I love how the author shows me how to take it into my home environment. Im looking forward to putting all the wonderful ideas to use so I can declutter my home, which I believe will help me declutter my mind. Its a beautiful book to display on my new minimalist style coffee table!!!
1927402
Two years ago, I moved into a new apartment and tried to unpack as quickly as possible. As a result, my house never felt right. Similar things were in different places, everything was semi-organized, and I kept on accumulating clutter. Cleaning was a real chore because I never really knew where anything belonged. This book changed all that. The KonMari method is simple and incredibly effective. It has two basic parts: (1) Getting rid of things that don't bring you joy and (2) Figuring out where to put the things that remain.

You work category by category (sometimes by subcategory if you have a lot of something), which is part of what makes this method so effective. I felt a sense of achievement each time I finished a category and a definite change to my life that motivated me to do the rest of my house. Kondo recommends starting with clothes and I really think that's a great place to begin, because it's easiest to answer whether a piece of clothing brings you joy and it makes the most striking difference. Now, when I walk into my closet or look into my drawers, I see all my clothing immediately and smile at how perfect it looks. I can literally pull out absolutely anything and be happy to wear it, because the things that didn't bring me joy are gone. One of the really great things about the KonMari method is that you don't need to go and buy a bunch of stuff to 'get organized'. Her method is not about creative storage solutions, which is very refreshing.

One thing some people criticize is the animism in her method. She recommends things like greeting your house or thanking the things you're taking away for their service. As someone who has studied eastern religion, this didn't actually strike me as odd. For people who do find it weird though, I thought it'd be worthwhile to explain why this part is important. One of the reasons people never fully declutter is because it's psychologically difficult to throw out bags and bags of things. By thanking items for their service or for teaching you something, you're freeing yourself from the guilt of throwing things out. This helps you keep going. As for greeting your house, this is part of not dragging the outside world with you when you come into your house. The moment you greet your house, you know you can relax, surrounded by things (and pets, and people) that bring you joy. If you're hesitant about these things, I suggest just trying them for a few days and seeing the difference yourself.

One thing I can't yet comment about is how lasting this method is. If anyone is interested, I would be happy to update this post once I've lived with this method for longer. A big change I've noticed so far is how I shop. When I go to a store, I only buy things that will bring me joy. As a result, I no longer find myself returning things or not wearing things I buy. This is a huge change, because I am finally no longer accumulating 'stuff'. Also, everything having a 'place' has made it much easier to clean up. I know where things belong so I can put them away.

If you're on the fence, just give this book a try. It's a short book, you can buy it as an ebook, and it makes a huge difference.
2211391
This is a really good book for anyone with a disorganized home who doesn't know where to start.  There are many helpful ideas.  Included in the latter part of the book is a personal story about a woman who decluttered her home and the peace and satisfaction she received from her success.  This is an encouraging book and will be an inspiration to many people.
4941528
This book was so great. I have been on a journey to get rid of all of my clutter and this book is such a huge help! I just finished reading it and I am feeling so inspired to keep going because I am on the right track. Joshua Becker provides a fantastic mix of facts, personal stories, and helpful tips to get the job done.

Rational minimalism, as Becker calls it, is exactly what I am aiming for. I don't have to get rid of everything, just the extra things that are bogging us down. Becker also talks about the mental barriers of consumerism that we all deal with and how to get rid of them.

Overall, this book is an easy read and so inspiring! I will be recommending it to my friends and family who are also struggling with clutter.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced copy of The More of Less from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased book review.
4425350
What a wonderfully written book. I immediately fell in love with it. The concept is way to follow and I felt so motivated to declutter and work towards a minimalism that works for me.
4515948
This book has been fantastic in my journey to a clutter-free life. I recommend this book - it offers a new way to look at your "stuff" and let go - leaving only those things that "spark joy" behind.
4633340
This is an excellent approach to paring down the non-essentials in your life.  Well thought out and presented. It  I highly recommend to all whom want to declutter.
705099
I am the product of a long line of hoarders.  Both sets of Grandparents lived through the Great Depression.  They saved EVERYTHING, cause as children, they lived a life where you never knew if you would be able to get things, and even if you had money to get them (which you usually did not), they may not be available at any price.  I remember as a child, my Grandmother's kitchen was full of balls of rubber bands, tins full of wooden thread spools, stacks of paper bags, pencils and erasers going back decades...empty bottles, can, jugs, egg cartons, piled literally to the ceiling.  Needless to say, my parents are the same way, though not to that degree.

I have fought it my whole life, with a great deal of success.  I don't hoard things, and I've moved many times in my adult life, and with each move, have gotten rid of a lot.  But in my home, every thing does not have a place.  I find myself irritated by clutter due to limited closet space and too many things to fit into the ones we have.  About six months ago, I got rid of 75% of my clothing, but still...I know I can do better, cause no, I don't wear everything that's left.  I still have two small hanging closets and two dressers.  No make that three dressers!  AARGH.  My kitchen counters are covered in little groupings of spices and vinegars, herbs and teas, because I don't have enough cupboard space for everything, so the most used items perpetually sit out.  After reading this book, I realize now this can change.  Do I really need TEN rubber spatulas?  Probably not.  Do we really need to save TWELVE thermal coffee cups?  I daresay not.  Husband, are you ever going to eat that chipotle jelly from the gift basket you got two Christmas's ago?

This little book is already changing my view of things as I walk through my house, and I'm not quite done reading it.  I have a plan of attack for the three day Labor Day weekend, and it will involve thanking and saying goodbye to a whole lot of superfluous spatulas and coffee cups.  :)

Yes, there are some quirks to this book, but overall I find it a delightful read that inspires me to action.  That doesn't happen very often, so I'm going to take advantage of it while I can.
1302703
Very practical and easy to follow.  Great ideas for anyone starting to downsize