The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering [Paperback]

Regina Leeds (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Do you own your stuff—or does it own you?

Whether someone lives in a mansion or a studio, drives an SUV or a MiniCooper—stuff often builds up into an endless stream of clutter, taking over living spaces and complicating lives. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience organizing living and work spaces, renowned organizing expert Regina Leeds has the solution for conquering clutter in every room of one’s house, along with in one’s office, car, and garage.
—Short, easy-to-use format
—Quick and easy steps for evaluating and organizing your possessions
—Unique room-by-room approach
—Tips on maintaining a clutter-free space—forever
—Includes a complete list of resources

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Regina Leeds has been organizing clients and teaching seminars across the U.S. since 1988. She is the author of The Zen of Organizing, and numerous magazine and newspaper features as well as campaigns for major corporations. She is currently the celebrity spokesperson for Microsoft’s Office for Mac Sweepstakes.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592576281
• ISBN-13: 978-1592576289
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #473,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Green Housecleaning

More About the Author

Brooklyn, New York is my hometown. I live most of the year now in Los Angeles, California. There are positive and negative things about both cities but my heart is always in New York City. I've been traveling the world since I was 17. I have my maternal grandmother's wanderlust. I've been to China twice and hope to return in 3 years. I want to take the train from Beijing to Tibet. How's that for an adventure? My favorite country to visit has to be Morocco. It's exotic and timeless. And of course I collect camels so I felt right at home!

When I was five years old, I knew two things for sure: I could write and I wanted to be an actress. I have always loved medicine, however, and had expressed an interest in surgery. Imagine my parents surprise when I announced that acting was more important than surgery to me. I don't think they ever recovered! When my fifth book "One Year to an Organized Life" became a New York Times best seller, I was so sorry my parents weren't alive. At last an accomplishment they would have understood! It wasn't easy having an only child as unconventional as I.

I was a professional actress for many years. I had the time of my life. One day i realized that I wanted to do something that would more fully be my own. As an actor you perform the words that someone else has written. And someone else directs...and someone else produces...it's a collaboration. Organizing was my gift to my clients. When I conducted seminars, I was the producer, writer, director and actor all rolled into one. In a unique way, it was a more fulfilling experience.

In all of my books I tell stories about myself as teaching tools. I hope you'll take some time to learn more about me and the art of getting organized. I call my system 'Zen Organizing.' You don't have to do anything foreign to be Zen Organized. You just have to have a deep desire to fulfill yourself...because that's what an organized environment does for you.

I invite you to read one of my books and learn more about me and Zen Organizing. Write to me...I promise to respond!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just a book-length advertisment for the Container Store, March 13, 2008

By 

NewtonsLawPreserved - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering (Paperback)

This book is the least helpful work on de-cluttering of several I have read and used. It contains 2 or 3 short pages on actually getting rid of stuff; the rest of the book is a long drawn-out pitch for purchasing lots of (mostly pretty expensive) organizing containers. Shamelessly, there are numerous specific references throughout the book to The Container Store with recommendations that the reader run out and go buy more "organizing solutions" from that chain.

The last thing a clutterer needs is bigger containers to hold more and more stuff. And that is, unfortunately, the primary solution of the "Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering".

In contrast, I can recommend some truly helpful and life-changing books including "Apartment Therapy," "Organizing for Creative People," and "The ADD-Friendly Way to Organize Your Life." At the top of my list, though, is "It's All Too Much," which recommends GETTING RID OF THINGS as the best way to deal with clutter.

So if you're looking at buying this book, don't bother. I'm just really glad I borrowed it from the library instead of paying good money for it.

Here's my hint, after a successful 16-month decluttering episode of my own: If you just toss it, recycle it, or give it away, you won't have to organize it, store it, find it, or worry about it -- ever again!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but not great, March 3, 2010

By 

Erica - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering (Paperback)

This book isn't bad, but its not great either. The solutions aren't terribly creative, like lining up clothes by color, but then again the "Idiot's Guide to..." books really are about getting down to brass tacks. I liked how basic this book is, but a little more detail would've been greatly appreciated, not to mention some pictures or even diagrams. The product recommendations, while helpful, are too numberous and assume that the reader has an unlimited budget.

As for the actual writing, I have to say phrases such as "home or apartment" really didn't sit well with me. An apartment cannot be a home? Also, the writing tends to be repetitive. That said it was nice and conversational, which I like in this type of book.

Bottom line: I would recommend it to a friend who is just getting started in decluttering and doesn't know where to begin.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decluttering book, June 27, 2011

By 

Tara Diana Cushing "Retired shrink" (Olympia, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering (Paperback)

Because I constantly fight the battle between order and chaos, I have many "decluttering" books. I thought this one was better than most.