Simplify Your Space: Create Order and Reduce Stress

by Marcia Ramsland

Practical tips for organizing the spaces in your home help meet the needs for order in life. Would you like to clear out some of the clutter in your home? Do you ever wonder where all this stuff has come from feeling like things have maybe gotten a bit out of control? Join Marcia Ramsland, the organizing pro, as she leads you in a room-by-room approach to simplifying your home and office. Simplifying your space is the process of organizing your belongings and letting go of the excess until your surroundings are peaceful and in order. Using the CALM approach; C=Create a Plan, A=Approach it by Sections, L=Lighten up and Let Go, and M=Manage it Simply; Marcia guides readers in creating a more stress-free life. Includes 52 space saving tips, checklists, helpful diagrams, and even decorating ideas!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2007

Reviews

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very practical book outlining ways to declutter and redesign each room of the house. I thought the way the author tackled the garage was quite different and refreshing! This is a helpful book to ease someone into the art of minimalist living and a bit less confronting than the Marie Kondo method!

[Lauren Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might be useful in an unusual way

This book annoys me. I unfortunately find it an “Of course you can” book. “Of course you can” books always work on a premise of “this is simple, there’s no reason on Earth why you can’t do this.” They also tend to be one-size-fits-all. So they too often don’t help their readers figure out why it isn’t simple. That often makes it harder to use the book’s techniques. Some of her tips might suit you, it can’t hurt to try. Perhaps more important, Ms. Ramsland has very persuasive, everyday-ordinary, entirely nonjudgmental, examples and observations to share about the negative impact which clutter can have on peoples’ mindsets. This might be a terrific book to share with a loved one who needs to be persuaded to declutter.

Ms. Ramsland is undeniably sympathetic to people with clutter issues. She is an outstanding Organizer. I would be thrilled to work with her one-on-one, for her mentorship or as a client.

Lauren Williams, Owner, Casual Uncluttering, Woodinville, WA, USA

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not helpful. Nothing here that isn't common sense.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought there might be some useful tips and tricks mentioned, but for someone who is fairly organized already, there's really nothing new here.

[Annburnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good basic book to guide you through decluttering your living space in a timely and orderly fashion. It gives you a time frame for how long each thing should take.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up one day last month while perusing the library shelves and I am so glad I did. It was just the impetus I needed to get my kitchen clutter under control. I now have a beautiful countertop devoid of a mail pile. It is a beautiful thing. I just recently implemented her laundry plan and am happy to report that I no longer have piles of washed and folded laundry sitting atop my washer and dryer. Theya re all away! She has easy, practical tips that really work. Even if you do not need to be dug out from under piles of things, this is still a good book to get you organized. I cannot wait to try out her other books.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of information was repeated from chapter to chapter, maybe that would be helpful to folks who are looking for a workbook-style approach.

The same overall ideas were covered in the author's previous book, Simplify Your Life. That one also included a wider range of organizational tips, so I'd recommend checking it out instead.

[Bookwyrmgyrl]

Mostly text, with some appealing illustrations scattered throughout. Plenty of tips and advice, along with shaded text boxes to break up the pages. This is a nice read with lots of good information.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some repetition from chapter to chapter but the writer mentions in the beginning that you can start by reading the chapter you're more interested in, so maybe that's why. There are some good ideas though.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, pretty good. I liked the very simplistic, list making format. It basically tells you what to do, step by step. Sometimes that helps!

[Sara]

Anyone who knows me knows I need this book! :)

Simple practical guide to reducing clutter.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, practical, easy-to-follow-and-apply advice for getting and maintaining order.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an organizing junkie, so I loved this book.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramsland tries to keep it simple, an approach reflective of the title. Reasonable organizational tips, intended to also keep one “CALM”.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great tips to organizing your home by breaking it all down into small steps. Each room is pretty similar so it's a bit repetitive after a while. I found a few new ideas so it was worth the read.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some ideas are quite common sense, but none the less it was inspiring and worked on Myles' room and now he loves it!

[Kara Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Marcia Ramsland! She has practical ways of getting things done. In this one she has you go room by room-it is great!

[Clarice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blerg, this book was boring even by organization book standards. It could easily have been one chapter long with just the check lists for the other rooms.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical advice for organizing your home. Helpful.