Declutter Your Home by Madeline Crawford

Standard Tips with a Few Unusual Sections

I am one who definitely has always had a clutter issue, so I’m always quick to snap up books like this in hopes of gaining more insight into getting more control of my clutter issue. This book is organized like most books on decluttering, focused on rooms or spaces in a home. There are a few introductory chapters, including an overview of the process and the proper mindset with which to approach decluttering. What follows is then a breakdown of how to declutter each room or space in the house including closets, storage areas, entryways, home office, basement, and even the garage. She even had a few more unusual chapters, like on decluttering books and paper, how to handle things of value to you, and decluttering before moving. I felt that most of the room chapters were far too short to be of much value. Most of the tips scattered throughout, including the introductory section, were ones that you see in just about any other decluttering book. I did like one tip: go into a room and notice what doesn’t belong; take care of that first.

While I found myself nodding along with some stuff that she said in the introduction and I appreciated the chapter on books, I found parts of this book almost laughable. There was a point at which she said something along the lines that you should gather all your clutter into a pile and go through it. As if that could even happen! I found the chapter on books and paper especially interesting, as this is my clutter problem area. But even then, I couldn’t quite imagine myself decluttering my books and papers as she mentioned. The clutter issues she seems to be addressing are more minor ones. If you’ve read other books on the subject, you likely do not need this one.