20 Best Decluttering Books To win the battle Against stuff in 2024
Every time I walk into my kitchen, I see a new pile of stuff on the counter.
And let’s not even mention my kids’ rooms.
Where is it all coming from and what do I do with it?
If you are ready to start a new week, a new month, or a new year with less clutter and more space, start by reading this list of the best decluttering books. Find the right book for you to use to win the battle against stuff. Once and for all!
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Books on decluttering your Home
Decluttering = items you don’t need leaving your home.
This sounds pretty awesome, right?
Amazing decluttering benefits include:
- Increasing confidence in your decision-making skills.
- Reduced anxiety
- Less relationship and family tension. (Psychology Today)
- Increased financial savings
There are many different approaches and ideas to declutter your home. Choose from a variety of decluttering books written by experts to get started on your journey today!
1. decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff by Dana k. white
*#1 Bestseller
“You don’t have to live overwhelmed by stuff-you can get rid of clutter for good!
In her book, decluttering expert Dana White identifies the emotional challenges that make it difficult to declutter and provides workable solutions to break through and make progress.
The good news is that by following Dana’s advice, decluttering will get easier, become more natural, and require significantly fewer hours, less emotional bandwidth, and little to no sweat to keep going”- Amazon
Why This Book Is Useful: With a humorous approach, this book provides strategies, how to implement them, and how to make progress with the challenge of decluttering.
2. Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White
*Creator of a popular podcast downloaded 9 million times- “A Slob Comes Clean”
This entertaining author is back with another book of practical ideas to help us get rid of clutter.
“When it comes to organizing and decluttering, Dana White keeps it real. As someone who audibly groans at the promises of quick fixes for a lifetime of messiness, Dana is here to arm you with real, actionable strategies for organizing your home and keeping it that way.”- Thomas Nelson, Publisher
Why This Book Is Useful: With 100 organizing tips, readers learn how to help organize every room of their house with minimal effort.
3. The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything by Clea Shearer
*#1 New York Times Bestseller
*Look for the Netflix series Get Organized with the Home Edit
“Clea and Joanna are here to remind you that “it’s okay to own things” in the quest for pretty and smart spaces. With The Home Edit Life, you’ll soon be corralling phone cords, archiving old photos, arranging your phone apps by color, and packing your suitcase like a pro.”- Amazon
Why This Book Is Useful: This is a book for anyone who wants to live life without feeling bad about the things you own.
4. Keep the memories, lose the stuff: declutter, downsize, and move forward with your life by matt paxton
*Featured cleaner on Hoarders and host of the Emmy-nominated Legacy List with Matt Paxton on PBS
“Whether you’re tired of living with clutter, making space for a loved one, or moving to a smaller home or retirement community, this book is for you. Paxton’s unique, step-by-step process gives you the tools you need to get the job done.”- Amazon
Why This Book Is Useful: With over 20 years of experience, Matt Paxton uses stories from thousands of families he has worked with to declutter and downsize.
5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up: the japanese art of decluttering and organizing by marie kondo
*#1 New York Times Bestselling Book and author and star of a hit Netflix show
“Kondo challenges you to ask yourself whether each object you have is achieving a purpose. Is it propelling you forward or holding you in the past?”- USA Today
“One of the most influential books of the decade”- CNN
Why This Book Is Useful: Using the KonMari Method from this book will lead to lasting results when determining which items in your house “spark joy”.
6. High-Vibe Feng Shui: 11 Steps to Achieving Your Best Life by Ashley Cantley
*Featured on Bravo TV and in Real Simple magazine
“At its core, Feng Shui is really about creating balance and elevating your space to heal your home and yourself.
In High-Vibe Feng Shui, Ashley Cantley’s modernized, customizable approach to Feng Shui makes it fun and easy for anyone looking to transform their space and their life to do so.”- Heather Askinosie, cofounder of Energy Muse
Why This Book Is Useful: This book features an 11-step program and includes guided exercises that are adaptable for any lifestyle.
7. Real Life Organizing: Clean and Clutter-free in 15 minutes a day by cassandra aarssen
*#1 Best Seller in Do-It-Yourself Improvements, Small Spaces, and Decorating & Furnishings
“Real Life Organizing is a real solution to the clutter challenges we all face.
Find great tips from a mom, homeowner, and career person who knows what it is to struggle and to overcome disorganization in all its forms.”- Peter Walsh, New York Times best-selling author and organization expert
Why This Book Is Useful: This book is written by a professional organizer and host of HGTV’s Hot Mess House. Learn how to organize your home, simplify life and create more time for what you love in just 15 minutes a day!
8. good housekeeping simple organizing wisdom: 500+ quick & easy cures by good housekeeping
The ultimate guide to decluttering! Good Housekeeping helps you organize your home, simplify any task, and tidy up fast.”- Amazon
Why This Book Is Useful: This book contains practical tips for every room of the house along with easy steps to follow to get the organizing job done.
9. unstuffed: decluttering your home, mind, and soul by ruth soukup
*New York Times bestselling author
“As women, we have the tendency to overstuff our lives, our schedules, and our homes with things that really aren’t beneficial. And our souls suffer because of our unwillingness to let go.
In her book, Ruth Soukup tackles this issue head-on and gives practical steps to be purposeful with the stuff we let in our sacred spaces.”- Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times Bestselling Author
Why This Book Is Useful: It is not only a guide to decluttering your home, but it also focuses on the mind and soul aspect of having too much stuff. Gain a true understanding of why our lives are so stuffed and what we can do to bring balance back.
10. the joy of less: a minimalist guide to declutter, organize, and simply by francine jay
*Bestselling decluttering expert
An inspiring read for anyone wanting to downsize, finally park the car in the garage, or just clear out a few closets.”-Rachel Jonat, TheMinimalistMom.com
Why This Book Is Useful: It’s divided into four parts to help you more easily simplify your life.
11. it’s all too much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff by peter walsh
*New York Times Best Selling author, guru of TLC’s Clean Sweep, and regular contributor to The Oprah Winfrey Show
“The best organizing advice we’ve ever heard!”-Woman’s Day
Why This Book Is Useful: This popular author’s unique approach will help you let go of the emotional and psychological clutter overflowing your home with one question: What is the vision for the life you want to live?
<<Get your copy of It’s All Too Much here!>>
12. goodbye, things: The new japanese minimalism by fumio sasaki
*A great gift for the guy in your life!
“In his new book, Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki shares the lessons he learned by going minimalist…
For Sasaki, minimalism isn’t about how little you have, but how it makes you feel. Sasaki credits his minimalist lifestyle with helping him lose weight, become extroverted and proactive, and above all, feel happy and grateful for what he has.”- Heeseung Kim, Cosmopolitan
Why This Book Is Useful: The author of this book shares his personal experience with becoming minimalist while offering specific tips on the process.
13. Stop Buying Bins: & Other Blunt But Practical Advice From A Home Organizer By Bonnie Borromeo Tomlinson
“With wit and tough love, Stop Buying Bins seeks to break down the obstacles that tether us to our possessions.
Why do we hold onto belongings that no longer serve us? How do we change our perspective regarding our things? And once we’ve tackled those questions, how do we go about actually downsizing our clutter?”-Amazon
Why This Book Is Useful: This book is told through individual client stories by an author with a varied work experience in the home organizing and decorating field.
14. the clutter fix: the No-fail, stress-free guide to organizing your home by shannon acheson
“This practical, step-by-step resource will empower you to tackle the task of getting organized so both your home and your mind can finally become calm and chaos-free.”–KAREN EHMAN, author of Reach Out, Gather In and the New York Times bestseller Keep It Shut
Why This Book is Useful: Readers will discover their clutter and organizing personality along with step-by-step instructions to create routines that keep your home decluttered.
15. make space for happiness: how to stop attracting clutter and start magnetizing the life you want by tracy mcCubbin
*5 Stars on Amazon
“If the Dalai Lama wrote a decluttering book, it might read like Make Space for Happiness.
There are no tips on t-shirt folding and closet color-coding here, just Tracy McCubbin’s thoughtful unpacking of what we’re really after when we (over)buy: connection, self-confidence, purpose, respect, love.
I promise you’ll recognize your own clutter magnets. Take McCubbin’s inspiring guide to heart and you’ll also walk away a better human.” ― Melody Warnick, author of If You Could Live Anywhere and This Is Where You Belong
Why This Book Is Useful: Decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin offers seven steps to decluttering your life to help you manifest self-confidence, free time, purpose, wisdom, love, and more.
16. minimalista: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life by Shira Gill
“Warm, funny, and direct, Shira builds you up while helping you edit down to the best version of yourself.”—Stacy London, New York Times bestselling author of The Truth About Style
Why This Book Is Useful: Organizing expert Shira Gill’s technique for tackling clutter is built around five steps: Clarify, Edit, Organize, Elevate, and Maintain. These steps will give you the tools you need to tackle your personal organizational needs.
Get your copy of Minimalista here!
Books About Decluttering for Busy Moms
As my family has grown, so has the amount of stuff we have. While this is to be expected, I often feel like the only one who tries to keep up with it all.
If you are anything like me, this can be overwhelming.
The following decluttering books address this problem specifically. They offer solutions on what do to with all the things and ideas to help the entire family get on board with decluttering.
17. clutterfree with kids: change your thinking. discover new habits. free your home by joshua becker
*Founder of Becoming Minimalist website
“Clutterfree with Kids is a wonderful guide that any parent will find both practical and inspirational. If reducing clutter, creating more time and raising more aware children are your goals, this book is not to be missed.” —Peter Walsh. Author of It’s All Too Much.
Why This Book Is Useful: Learn through practical application how to live balanced lives with your children AND have less clutter.
18. declutter like a mother: a guilt-free, no-stress way to transform your home and your life by allie casazza
“You don’t need a home that’s perfect. You need a home that’s lighter. Discover less stress, more space. Less chaos, more peace. Less of what doesn’t matter, so you have room for what matters most of all.”-Allie Casazza
<<Find Declutter Like a Mother here!>>
Why This Book Is Useful: As a busy (and tired) mom, this author purged her home of excess and discovered the peace of having less. This book includes discussion questions perfect for book clubs!
19. messy minimalism: realistic strategies for the rest of us by rachelle crawford
“This book is a gift that will bring you guidance, inspiration, and self acceptance. Cheers to an imperfect yet simpler life!”- Denaye Barahona, PhD, creator of Simple Families
Why This Book Is Useful: This author gives you practical strategies for decluttering, reducing waste, and owning less. Her approach inspires everyone in the family to join in.
20. The Sentimental Person’s Guide to Decluttering by Claire Middleton
“Claire will teach you the art of discarding items that trigger your memories without actually losing those memories.
If you’ve been hoarding too much stuff because you fear losing the memories along with the stuff, you need this book.”- Amazon
Why This Book Is Useful: Written by an author with the personal experience of downsizing from a larger family home to a small house and getting rid of over half their possessions through the process.
Related: Best Home Businesses For Moms
book decluttering
This article is focused on finding the best decluttering books for you. But what about the extra clutter that comes with owning books?
Follow these steps for effective book decluttering.
- Determine what books you will keep and what books you will get rid of. Ask: Did I read this book? Will I read this again? Is it still relevant or sentimental? Would I recommend it?
- Pass books on to a friend or family member living outside your house.
- Donate used books. Libraries, homeless shelters, prisons, schools, hospitals, thrifts stores, and bookmobiles are likely to accept book donations.
- Sell your books to a second-hand bookstore in your community or on an online marketplace.
- Download books to your kindle or e-reader instead of buying paper copies.
To Consider With Decluttering Books
The decluttering books on this list will hopefully motivate you to meet the unique goals you have for your home and life and help you win the battle with stuff.
Let me know which life decluttering books are your favorite OR if there is one I should add to the list!
Happy reading and decluttering!
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- Boss Lady Quotes to Motivate You
- 15 Ways: Declutter Motivation
- 30 Day Minimalism Declutter Challenge (with free calendar!)
- Free Decluttering Checklist Pdf
Thank you so much for including my book on this impressive list!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My Best,
Bonnie Borromeo Tomlinson
“Stop Buying Bins”