Mission: Organization : strategies and solutions to clear your clutter

by HGTV (Sponsor)

HGTV

Trusted pros show how to bring order to the chaos of real living spaces.Achievable, money-saving strategies for kitchens, bedrooms, baths, basements, garages, and more.

Three steps everyone should follow when clearing the clutter, along with specific tips for different areas of the home.

Case studies including before-and-after photography.

Learn to shop for and personalize the right ready-made storage units.

Easy-to-use worksheets help track goals, set budgets, and design well-organized spaces.

Tips to store seasonal clothing, quilts and bedding, dishware, holiday decor, and more.

Also available at Internet Archives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2004

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a one-size fits all organization tip book. I found a few things helpful but felt it only scraped the surface of organization.

[Lauren Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library thrift shop find. Had to. Overcome by the onslaught of nostalgia. The TV show Mission: Organization kept me company when I was home with my then-newborn son.  The startling and pleasing surprise is that the book hasn't aged. Despite its 2004 publication date, the home decor was timeless, although I wouldn't want to set my heart on certain colors or a particular lamp model after 15 years! And since every episode featured a Professional Organizer, the techniques for decluttering and storing stuff are as relevant today as waaaaaaay back when. Funny thing though - honesty as the best policy, I never had a thought in my head to become a Professional Organizer as I watched, never mind Founder and Owner of Casual Uncluttering LLC, or Certified Professional Organizer. It was just a show that appealed to the nesting instincts of a first-time Mom.

I had a good laugh at seeing "When in doubt, throw it out" burst from page 179: I've counseled it many times. When Genevieve Snyder, Fine Art and Consulting (I couldn't find a website for her, she may have moved on to other activities) solemnly "reassured" her clients that "it's probably going to get uglier before it gets better--it's always darkest before the dawn," (page 112), echoed by Crystal Sabalaske, Cluttershrink, "I don't want you to panic, because it's going to look worse in there before it gets better," (page 167), my head might have fallen off my shoulders as I nodded agreement. If I had a penny for every time I've offered that encouragement to clients...

Tribute to the pioneers on this show, colleagues who demonstrated that organizing can be taught to all sorts of different personalities, people of myriad different backgrounds and preferences. It is awe-inspiring and heartening to see that many of the masters featured on this show are still active. Diane Albright, DianeAlbright.com; Mela Catanzaro, MCAT Design; Vicki Norris, Restoring Order; Amy Rehkemper, Simplify Organizing, LLC; Maxwell Ryan, Apartment Therapy; Crystal Sabalaske, Cluttershrink; Janet Taylor, Totally Organized, LLC

I will continue following their path with gratitude.

Lauren Williams, Certified Professional Organizer(R), Casual Uncluttering LLC, Woodinville, WA USA

[Kathy KS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5*

I upped the stars a bit because I did actually find some ideas here that might help me in my own household project. This is a slim and quickly read volume, but between the text and photos there are some useful ideas and tips.

Much of the information is geared more towards young singles and families with children; not so much for those of us that now have creaky knees and need more light in the room! Attic rooms are no longer a "haven" for many older householders; neither are basement rooms, often. But the ideas are sound, especially since those areas ARE still used for times when the kids and grandkids come, as well as other overnight visitors.

Worth a look for those attempting to de-clutter and organize their homes. If you can't find a copy to borrow locally, it's available to check out an hour at a time at https://archive.org/details/missionor...

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a media tie-in, and it makes me want to view the episodes it was based on, to compare and contrast.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrible! I was looking to organize, only to find out, I need an entire home renovation... Very upsetting and disappointing actually.

[SallyStenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really find this book all that useful. It starts out with giving some general tips on how to handle clutter, most of which you can find anywhere, then give specific examples of makeovers of cluttered space, bedroom, garage, etc. I thought the most interesting one was the home office. The pictures are nice but I didn't feel there was very much that was substantive. Okay to look through if you've nothing else to do, or perhaps as a morale booster, if you're trying to psych yourself up to declutter.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an alright book. It is a pretty quick read if you don't read it in spurts like I did. But it might digest better that way. It did have some good pointers for organizing, but mostly it was things you would already know about getting organized. Like sort everything first. The rest of it was before and afters in houses from the show. I enjoy before and afters, but they work better on TV and showing them in a book doesn't really help me with my organization needs.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book motivates you to "GET RID OF ALL THE CLUTTER!!" I loved it. If you need motivation, this is the book to read. It is a quick read too!

[Shatanna]

Love the show, love the book

[Kassel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ideas and details on how to create a plan to get organized. It's more intensive reading than I expect from most organizational books but the tidbits were helpful.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-Fiction; Home Improvement
3 stars