Are you trying to organize your home and looking for the best decluttering books to help you along the way? You’ve come to the right place!
Decluttering and organizing aren’t just a trend. It’s an easy way to reduce stress because a tidier space is more relaxing than a messy one. Parting with items you don’t need or want also helps you feel calmer, happier, and more in control.
This is why for most people, decluttering increases their productivity. And it improves their mental and physical health as well.
In this article, we’ll go over our favorite books on real-life decluttering for a clutter-free home. But first, let’s discuss the benefits of reading these books!
How will reading the best decluttering books help you?
You’re probably tired of cleaning up and organizing the clutter in your home. You might have attempted to get rid of it so many times but failed.
The struggle with decision fatigue and overwhelm are real! That said, reading books can help in the following two key ways:
Books on decluttering can provide you with motivation
You know what? If you can get rid of all that stuff without difficulty, you would have done so already.
It’s really hard, that’s why there are professional declutterers. You’re not the first one who needed help in this department.
There is so much decluttering advice out there. But one book may be all you need to get motivated and finally get rid of the clutter that’s taking up all that space in your home.
Decluttering books can guidance and direction in getting organized
The process of looking at all your possessions at once can be overwhelming. And only a few people succeeded in getting rid of their clutter that way. This is why reading books on decluttering can help.
A book can provide you with the guidance and direction you need. In addition, following one book from start to finish can be all you need to regain control of your home and stuff.
13 books on decluttering to inspire you!
Below are the books we’ve compiled to help you move forward with your decluttering journey. Let’s dive in!
Note: These books on decluttering are tied to Amazon affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase we may earn a small commission which helps us grow!
1. Minimalista: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life by Shira Gill
Shira Gill is a professional home organizer who knows that clutter is a universal stress trigger. But she doesn’t believe in strict rules and limitations.
Shira defines minimalism as having the perfect amount of everything—for you. That a minimalist home and lifestyle should be based on what you value and what your space allows.
In the book, Minimalista, she shares her signature decluttering and organization process that she created through her work. Shira also teaches that the most important thing you can do is start.
And her method is for everyone. So, whether you’re right at the start of your minimalism journey or you’re pretty far along, this is absolutely one of the best decluttering books to motivate you.
2. The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify
According to Francine Jay, the key to decluttering is clearing out all of your things and adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Many see minimalism as restrictive. But she sees it as a way to be free from the weight of having so much stuff.
The book, The Joy of Less features Francine’s lighthearted approach to simplifying your life. She shares her easy-to-follow streamlined method that works in any space. So, you can work up from a single drawer to a closet, or a room, then your entire house.
3. Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki
Goodbye, Things is a digestible, easy read with clear guidelines that you can refer back to whenever you need. It is truly one of the best decluttering books, it’s even better because Fumio Sasaki is not a professional declutterer.
He was just a regular guy. But he was stressed at work and had a habit of constantly comparing himself to others.
Can you relate? I think most of us do.
Sasaki decided to change his life by saying goodbye to everything he didn’t absolutely need. His newfound minimalist lifestyle has given him true freedom, new focus, and a real sense of gratitude for everything around him. He shares his experience with minimalism and how he did it in this book.
4. The Minimalist Way: Minimalism Strategies to Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy by Erica Layne
The Minimalist Way is packed with questions, exercises, and strategies to help you apply the minimalist mindset to every aspect of your life. Erica Layne wants you to go at your own pace.
So, she shows you how to define your own minimalist lifestyle. She also teaches how minimalism can be applied to your spending, food, clothing, family, leisure time, work, and more.
Doing so helps you cultivate inner calm. This is one of the greatest books on decluttering especially if you’re looking to clear out physical, mental, and emotional clutter.
5. Let It Go: Downsizing Your Way to a Richer, Happier Life by Peter Walsh
The book, Let It Go is one of the best decluttering books if you’re going through a major life event. Such events could be selling your home, blending two households into one, or cleaning out your parent’s home.
The author, Peter Walsh, recently went through the daunting task of cleaning out mementos from his childhood home. The experience also meant dividing heirlooms among his family. And he realized how downsizing triggers overwhelm and strong emotions.
In this book, Peter shares practical tips that prepare you so you can let go of stuff quickly with less pain.
6. Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White
Organizing for the Rest of Us features Dana K. White’s signature lighthearted approach to decluttering and organizing. Dana provides bite-size solutions to break through every organizational struggle you have—for good!
To get started with decluttering, Dana wants you to let go of perfection. Her goal is to show you how to have an organized house with minimal effort.
Along with the 100 organizing tips, it includes colorful photos, a presentation page, and a ribbon marker. If you want to control the chaos, Organizing for the Rest of Us is one of the best books on decluttering to follow.
7. The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin
The Home Edit is a masterclass and lookbook in one from the popular organizing duo, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin. Have you seen their show on Netflix? Their results are downright mouth-watering at times.
Of course, the Home Edit book edition didn’t disappoint. It’s filled with bright photographs and detailed tips. You’ll learn how to arrange plastic dishware in a drawer so little hands can reach. And they also show you how to categorize your pantry items by color.
Above all, flipping through the pages feels like having your best friends at your side to help you turn the chaos into calm. It’s truly one of the best decluttering books to spur you into action.
8. Declutter Like a Mother: A Guilt-Free, No-Stress Way to Transform Your Home and Your Life by Allie Casazza
Declutter Like a Mother includes all of Allie Casazza’s signature methods of purposeful motherhood and minimalist lifestyle that she shares on her blog.
Research studies show a direct link between stress levels and the amount of stuff people have in their homes. Allie saw how that played out in her own life and in the lives of other moms she mentored.
Allie breaks down the areas in the home that cause the most stress, especially for moms. Then, she gives a room-by-room guide to help you make those areas work for you. She helps you see and get rid of anything that isn’t serving a purpose.
Her goal is to show moms that they don’t need a perfect home. They need a home with more space that has room for what matters most of all.
9. The Declutter Challenge: A Guided Journal for Getting Your Home Organized in 30 Quick Steps
The Declutter Challenge is one of three books on decluttering from organizing guru Cassandra Aarssen. It’s a motivational guided journal to help you find the strength or time to tackle the mess in your home.
Cas gives you the tips and tricks she uses to declutter her home. So, you can have a more organized and peaceful life.
The journal includes pages and pages of decluttering and organizational tools. But more than that, it’s designed to help you declutter your home and life through mindfulness and self-motivation.
You’ll be developing inner calm as you organize your home. Cas shares that you can navigate the chaos of clutter if you take the time to understand yourself and the meaning behind it.
10. Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You’ll Ever Need
Making Space, Clutter Free offers the reason why many of us struggle to let go of clutter. In the book, organizing expert Tracy McCubbin presents the seven emotional clutter blocks.
These are unconscious biases running the show that is keeping her clients from having financial freedom, healthy relationships, inner calm, and positive outlooks.
Written with kindness and humor, she explains that we keep stuff because of emotional attachment. Learn her techniques to recognize and overcome your clutter blocks. Not all books on decluttering helps you to finally let go, but this one does.
11. Beautifully Organized: A Guide to Function and Style in Your Home by Nikki Boyd
Nikki Boyd is a professional organizer who shares creative and straightforward ways to organize your home on her blog and YouTube channel. On Beautifully Organized, she shows you how to transform your home into decluttered and calming space.
The book includes gorgeous, inspirational photography on every page. In addition, you’ll learn Nikki’s signature steps on how to create a welcoming home to share with your family and friends.
Beautifully Organized is a room-by-room guide that helps you organize your home beautifully so you can enjoy it. And when you love your home, you have an inner calm.
12. Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave by Joanna Gaines
Homebody may not seem like your usual book on decluttering, but it’s a great room-by-room guide to help you create spaces that feel and look like you. What a beautiful feeling to live in a home that reflects the personalities and stories of the people who live there!
The book has many varied examples to help you pinpoint your likes and dislikes so you can find your authentic design style. It includes insights that will motivate and inspire you to create an inviting home thoughtfully.
13. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Of course, our list won’t be complete without the OG of the books on decluttering, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
Not only is this book an international bestseller, but it will truly help you get rid of the clutter in your home. Marie Kondo and the KonMari Method, have been known worldwide since her hit show on Netflix.
Marie wants you to organize your belongings category by category. Then, use her main technique.
That is to pick up each and every object, consider it, and ask yourself “Does this spark joy?” If it doesn’t, then you know what to do.
Marie says that changing your mindset and using these practices lead to long-lasting results. She herself has a months-long waiting list for her services.
In addition, none of her clients have lapsed back into their old ways. She’s that good!
Expert tip
If you’re thinking, contemplating, or planning how to organize and declutter your home, what experts want you to do is just start.
Start with getting rid of one thing a day. Maybe you can tackle a drawer or one room if you have the capacity for it. But just start!
How do you start decluttering when overwhelmed?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work ahead of you, then start with the end in mind. Picture the kind of home you want, instead of what you have now.
Then, create a step-by-step action plan on how to achieve it. Maybe step one is reading books on decluttering.
What is the first rule of decluttering?
Decluttering is the process of letting go. It involves looking at your belongings and making a decision if they stay or if they go. So, the first rule on decluttering is to have two piles only – keep and donate/toss. Don’t have a MAYBE pile.
Where can you find the best books on decluttering?
Take a look if your local library carries any of the books we have on this list. You can also ask them to order it, many libraries take suggestions for items to be added to their selection.
Many books have an audio version as well that you can check out. Lastly, bookstores and Amazon is always an option.
What’s the best way to read books on decluttering?
First, decluttering isn’t like baking. You don’t need to be so precise. But you do need a plan.
So, one way to do it is to read the book all the way through and take notes. Then, make a roadmap of what you need to do from your notes and reference the book from time to time.
Another way is to follow along with the books as you read. Maybe going chapter by chapter and implementing the steps mentioned.
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Say goodbye to clutter! Get help from the best decluttering books!
If decluttering helps reduce stress, then it doesn’t make sense that you should be stressed doing it. The books listed here are an easy way to get started and know exactly what needs to be done.
Getting rid of belongings can be hard for anyone, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Get the knowledge you need to say goodbye to clutter forever from the best books on decluttering! And while you’re at it, why not declutter your finances? Read some of our other fantastic articles about creating a minimalist budget and more ways to simplify your finances.