Remodelista: The Organized Home: Simple, Stylish Storage for All Over the House

Who will like it: To avoid going stir-crazy in winter, many people are motivated to rearrange and organize their homes. If you are looking for inspiration and practical tips, this almost pocketsized book provides the straight goods.

Big-picture strategies for tackling problem areas (utility closet), and highly used spaces ( bathrooms), complement simple tricks for every room. The authors interviewed a range of experts from hoteliers to kindergarten teachers. They are guided by a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.”

What’s to like: Simple layout with lots of white space exemplifies the clean, uncluttered mantra. Straightforward instructions are easy to follow. For example, 12 universal storage tips include hang it, label it, tray it, shelve it, stack it, door it, wrangle it and repurpose it. Each is accompanied by a photograph and descriptive paragraph. Seven spaces are given an indepth look: Entryway, kitchen, bathroom, clothes closet, workstation, laundry and utility closet. Preparedness kit ideas address one of the universal storage tips. A favourite is the good-etiquette drawer with a list of essentials (cards, envelopes, pens, stamps, etc.). There are tips to corral cords. Another is the frequent flyer carry-on pack.

Lists organize all the advice in easy-to-find modules.