4 Books to Inspire Home Organization with Foreign Concepts
Organizing your space takes time and patience. But it’s often hard to know where to begin.
We have a little secret: Inspiration can get you started. And we know just where to find it.
Where? It’s all in the good books. Forget articles on organization tips and look to the true published experts for decluttering and organizing.
Creating peace and balance at home through a well thought out design is rewarding. Start with age-old concepts like wabi sabi and hygge. They’re known around the world today but owe their roots to different cultures.
However, there are just too many books on interior design and home organization to know them all. So, we’ll save you some time with our top picks. Read on for our favorite four books to inspire home organization with foreign concepts.
First up, it’s all about the hygge life.
Inspire with Hygge: The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Who is The Little Book of Hygge Good For?
Hygge is more than interior design and home organization.
So, what is Hygge? Engrained in Danish culture, hygge comes from a Danish word meaning to give courage, comfort, and joy. More recently, it’s been described as feelings of coziness and happiness. But how does it all work?
Whether or not you’re a believer, people who’ve experienced hygge say you’ll know when you feel it. And it’s often cited as the reason Denmark is ranked one of the happiest countries in the world.
Meik Wiking’s The Little Book of Hygge takes you on a journey, albeit a short one, on how to find hygge through atmosphere, to comfort, to gratitude. It’s an easy, informational read. Best part? You’ll get actionable tips to inspire philosophy and improve your life.
This book isn’t just for people looking to improve their home. But we have to say, it will help you create the right atmosphere to feel all warm and fuzzy.
Before you dive into the book, read more about hygge from a westerner practicing the concept.
Key Takeaways from The Little Book of Hygge
- Easy, informational read
- Learn the principles of hygge
- Practical, actionable tips to improve your space
Inspire with Wabi Sabi: Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton
Who is Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life Good For?
In the opening chapter of Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life, author Beth Kempton describes wabi sabi as a concept that lives in the hearts and minds of people from Japan. She says it’s rarely spoken out loud and in turn is hard to clearly define.
An attempt at simplifying the concept, wabi sabi is a way of embracing imperfections.
Embrace them in your life. Embrace them in your home.
Behind the cover, you’ll find lessons to learn how to design your space with wabi sabi in mind.
This is a must read for those who want to get away from changing things up regularly, following trends, and obsessing over the ideal.
Find the things you love, surround yourself with them at home, and accept imperfections.
Key Takeaways from Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life
- Find beauty in imperfections
- Surround yourself with things you love
- Bring calm, meaning, and authenticity to your home
Inspire with Design Principles: The Interior Design Handbook by Frida Ramstedt
Who is The Interior Design Handbook Good For?
Building from her successful, leading Scandinavian interior design blog, Trendenser, Frida Ramstedt’s The Interior Design Handbook teaches you to organize, furnish, and decorate using basic design principles.
It’s less about what you fill your space with and focused instead on how you do it.
It’s a great book for those looking to elevate their space with the furniture they already own. Learn how to create focal points, redesign your home office, and organize like an expert. Plus, it’s a good starting point to learn interior design fundamentals and exactly how they work.
In favor of technicalities, there are no photos. But instead, illustrations help you see just what Ramstedt is talking about.
If you’re downsizing in the process, have you considered self-storage? It’s often hard to know where to start when looking for storage. But with this handy size calculator, tell us what you’re storing and get personal suggestions on storage unit size.
Key Takeaways from The Interior Design Handbook
- Learn how to design vs what with
- A starting point to the fundamentals of interior design
- Useful to help rearrange your space without buying new furniture
Inspire with KonMari: Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
Who is Spark Joy Good For?
It’d be missing something if our best home organizing books didn’t include one from Japanese ‘decluttering guru’ and organization expert, Marie Kondo.
The second book in Kondo’s Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up series, first published in 2016, is still all about creating a joy-filled home. Dig deep into the details of Kondo’s proven KonMari Method. And declutter with inspiration and guidance on sorting kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, and digital photos, amongst others.
Learn easily from step-by-step instructional illustrations and even easier-to-digest concepts, like how to fold shirts and socks to keep drawers and dressers organized.
Want to organize your space into your ideal home? This’ll help declutter your home and keep your storage space neat and tidy. However, it’s worth knowing Kondo’s methods are centered around a do-it-all-at-once tidy. So, expect to put in the work.
Plus, if you’ve got loads of clothes you don’t wear, this is the book to help you take back your wardrobe.
But maybe too much is sparking joy for you. Like if you’re a collector of some sort, imagine having to categorize your vinyl records, rare novels, or DVD library. No sweat, it’s easy to downsize and hold onto your treasures. Learn how easy it is to pack and store vinyl records or disc-based media to prolong lifespan for future use.
Key Takeaways from Spark Joy
- Instructional and easy-to-follow
- Tidy by category in a specific order
- Helps organize clothes, books, sentimental items
While some concepts may be new to you, they’ve been trending over the past decade. Spend time learning and we bet you feel the reward. Now go explore inspiration, live the hygge life, and find enjoyment in the process (as well as the imperfections, of course).
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