Book Review – It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh

Get Rid of Clutter and Restore Order and Balance to a Home

Sep 26, 2009

Need advice on how to declutter and simply life? Peter Walsh offers tips on how to get rid of the stuff that limits potential and creates a stifling atmosphere in a home.

Proclaimed the ‘Undisputed King of Decluttering’ by the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian author and home organisation guru Peter Walsh offers those overwhelmed by clutter a solution in his book It’s All Too Much (Simon & Schuster, 2009).

Previously released in the US in 2007, It’s All Too Much has been re-released in Australian in 2009, coinciding with its inclusion on the 50 Books You Can’t Put Down recommendation list.

It’s All Too Much – Live a Richer Life with Less Stuff

Unlike many home organisation books that simply advise clearing away clutter and systems for home organisation to sort the things that remain, Peter Walsh begins this guide to decluttering a home with questions designed to assess what kind of life householders want to live.

Walsh advises that until people think about the kind of life they would like to have, they can’t make the tough decisions needed to clear away clutter, the items that are taking up space and not contributing to achieving the lifestyle and home that each person desires.

With disarming humour and insight into the insecurities and habits that lead to a cluttered home and life, Walsh offers real-life examples from his experience as a home organisation expert and advice to suit all lifestyles and situations.

Assessing the Emotional Toll of Clutter

Walsh approaches decluttering with a very pragmatic, no-nonsense attitude. He acknowledges that there is often an emotional attachment to items that crowd a home, but he encourages individuals to resist the temptation to hold on to items that serve no purpose in creating the home atmosphere that they desire.

Walsh does not totally disregard the importance of retaining items of emotional and personal significance, however he comments that unless items are properly cared for and maintained, their perceived significance may be exaggerated and their ongoing importance should be carefully considered. Items that are not treated as important are unlikely to actually play a significant role in creating a comfortable home environment and should be discarded.

Step by Step Guide to Decluttering a Home

Divided into two parts, It’s All Too Much tackles both the psychology of clutter and the practical advice needed clear clutter and make permanent changes in household routines.

Part one focuses attention on what type of atmosphere householders wish to create, leading them through a series of questions to help create a clear idea of what items and activities need to remain part of the home environment and which can be discarded.

Part two offers the practical tips those overwhelmed by their clutter need to create a more peaceful and orderly home environment. After offering quick start tips to deal with the most obvious clutter and advice on how family or household members can create a consistent decluttering plan, Walsh moves through the house room by room with detailed tips for organising all rooms in the home.

Walsh also includes tips for maintaining an orderly home and an annual checklist to ensure that rooms are regularly reviewed and reassessed.

Advice from Home Organisation Guru Peter Walsh

A regular on the Oprah Winfrey Show and author of previous home organisation bestsellers, Peter Walsh holds a master’s degree with a specialty in educational psychology.

His interest in the psychology behind household clutter is evident in his approach to home organisation. He offers readers a holistic approach to achieving the home environment that will best suit their family and lifestyle.

It’s All Too Much invites readers to “dump your physical and emotional clutter and reclaim your life” and it certainly follows through with this goal by offering a direct and easy to read writing style sharing practical advice and achievable home organisation goals.

The copyright of the article Book Review – It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh in Home Decor/Cookbooks is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Book Review – It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.