Definitely helpful for planning, and going through this with a notebook helped me make a thorough to-do list for decluttering and planning spaces that will make our move easier. Find your dream home underneath the clutter with this user-friendly tool kit for simplifying our living spaces one room at a time, from the creator of the 15-minute win, Shira Gill.

As a busy working parent myself, I realize that editing and organizing your entire home can be a daunting task. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert,and author with a less-is-more philosophy. Despite their differences, one thing my parents did have in common was an anti-materialistic philosophy that was not uncommon in Berkeley, California, in the late 1970s. Some of her points about what to keep and what to get rid of inspired me that I do not need to hold on to guilt of keeping things (like all of my kids schoolwork or artwork and gifts I no longer use) so that is always encouraging. Before we dive in, I want to acknowledge that suffering caused by the accumulation of clutter is a condition of privilege, as it requires both a home and a budget to accumulate those possessions.As I created my own brand of minimalism and introduced it to my clients, it became evident that elevating one’s style was an inevitable and delightful by-product of curating one’s belongings down to the highest-quality essentials.

She has inspired thousands of people to clear clutter from their homes and lives, and developed a process and toolkit that applies to anyone, regardless of budget, space, or lifestyle. Now I get to carry those teachings forward by showing my clients the benefits and freedom of having LESS in a sea of noise telling us that what we need to be happy is MORE. Overall, it is a good guide for those already onto the organizing path, written in an upbeat casual, perfectly edited style. I was inspired by the leading voices of minimalism, who luxuriated in white space and could fit their belongings in a backpack, but I longed for examples of minimalism that embraced a broader range of styles and aesthetics and was applicable to a reality that included a husband, children, a weak spot for vintage jeans (don’t judge!Natural light-filled rooms and closets are in lovely white and neutral palettes and are not jarring, nor overdone. Indigo Nails product lines are for professional use only and are to be used for the purpose intended by a qualified and insured person of adult age. My court-appointed joint custody schedule was bananas (I traveled back and forth every other day), and I discovered that having my personal space feel under control was essential for my overall sense of well-being. Granted I probably wasn’t supposed to just read the whole book in one go, it’s probably designed to be dipped in and out of, but I like to finish a book once I’ve started it. I can see myself coming back to some of these sections if they become more relevant for me (ie kids toys, entry/mud room, pantry, laundry room etc).