Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need

by Tracy McCubbin

Discover the freedom of a beautiful home, personal purpose, and joyful inner confidence

Decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin offers revolutionary help to anyone who has repeatedly tried to break their clutter's mysterious hold. Her powerful answer lies in the 7 Emotional Clutter Blocks, unconscious obstacles that stood between thousands of her clients and financial freedom, healthy relationships, and positive outlooks.

Once a Clutter Block is revealed--and healed--true transformation of home and life is possible. Her empowering techniques and strategies help you:

-Recognize and overcome your Clutter Block(s) to liberate your home.
-Lighten and purge without the rigidity of the other methods.
-Use your home to attain life goals like health, wealth and love.

It's time to break through your Clutter Blocks and discover the lasting happiness waiting for you on the other side!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology, Reference, Adult, Personal Development

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2019

About the author

Tracy has always referred to herself as “obsessive compulsive delightful,” but who knew she could turn that trait into a booming business? While working for a major television director in Los Angeles, Tracy discovered she had the ability to see through any mess and clearly envision a clutter-free space. Coupled with keen time-management and organizational skills, Tracy soon found more and more people were asking her for help. Before she knew it, dClutterfly was born.
Twelve years and thousands of decluttered homes later, Tracy knew it was time to take what she had learned working with her clients and write a book to help others dealing with clutter. She is author of the newly published book Making Space, Clutter-Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need and is a regularly featured expert in the media, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, goop, Home & Family, Real Simple, mindbodygreen, NBC, The Doctors, KTLA Morning Show, KCAL9, and more.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Making Space Clutter Free, I believe the subtitle is right on the money— The Last Book on Decluttering You’ll Ever Need! I really believe it’s the last one for me!

It’s one thing to go through all of your things and determine whether each one is worthwhile enough to keep. But McCubbin goes beyond this and helps us to understand the reason that there is clutter. Without that insight into the WHY, chances are that after you have removed all the clutter, it’s only a matter of time before it collects once again. Basically, there are 7 clutter blocks and sometimes more than one block will pertain to specific clutter. She goes through the blocks in detail and describes what kind of clutter usually accompanies each one of them, why and what to do about them.

McCubbin goes through each room and details the common type of clutter/problems and illustrates them with anecdotes of former clients. Next its time to evaluate each item with five basic questions and if the item is to go, determine if it’s to sell, donate, recycle or throw away. Finally, McCubbin speaks to strategies to organize what’s left and again, goes through each room separately.

This book was an eye-opener for me because it helped me to understand my clutter, something I have never achieved before from other decluttering books. Making Space Clutter Free definitely stands out from the others and believe me, it is the very last decluttering book you will ever need!

Thank you to Sourcebooks (Non-Fiction) and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty average offering in the decluttering genre. I usually read a book like this early each year as inspirational literature to help me motivate myself to do the things that need to be done to keep my household under control. I didn’t find this one as motivational as I could have hoped.

Part of the problem for me was a lack of useful advice for my Emotional Clutter Block. I’m correctly diagnosed--I’m an Avoider. However, her hint for dealing with this block was pretty much “Just do it.” Give yourself a reward after. My feeling is “why not reward myself and skip the work part?” It’s a perennial problem for me and I’ll continue to struggle with my avoidance behaviour.

So people with the other Emotional Clutter Blocks may find the book more relevant than I do. Plus people who haven’t read many books in this genre. At least I got started on my worst problem: paper & filing. I’ve done a pile of shredding and I’ve planned my attack on the paper piles, so I guess I have got moving toward my goal. My best trick so far is to leave something out in an annoying location when I’m done for the day, to encourage me to return to the task the next day. (The shredder is still sitting out in my livingroom, asking me to finish the task).

Your mileage may vary.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracy McCubbin, a professional organizer, delves into root causes, e.g. emotional reasons, for clutter. It's a different angle than Dana K. White's books, but they are both helpful.

The main reasons we accumulate clutter (she calls them clutterblocks)
1. My stuff keeps me in the past
2. My stuff tells me who I am.
3. I'm avoiding certain stuff.
4. I have fantasy stuff for my fantasy life.
5. I'm not worth my good stuff.
6. I'm trapped with other people's stuff
7. But I paid a lot for that.

I found her references to these reasons by number ("Clutterblock #3") annoying, but that's a small criticism.

But, wow, did they resonate. I once returned from a cross-country trip to find my husband had organized a space in our garage along with a pile he thought we should donate/toss. ALL my canning equipment. True, I hadn't canned since 2009. (I believe, right or wrong, that freezing food retains more nutrition.)

Nevertheless. I went emotionally ballistic. My husband was removing one of my most treasured identity cards: I am Nellie Harper's daughter. I fed three strapping sons with all those jars. The canning paraphernalia told me that I was frugal, and, though I trend lazy, I *could* work hard occasionally. It took time for me to calm down and be reasonable.

Favorite quotes:

Action instead of acquisition.

Clutter usually starts three steps back. (ex: dining room table is stacked because closet has no room)

This is a great listen while decluttering. I'm sure I will revisit it in the future.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

borrowed on KU.

I am anticipating moving next year so this seemed like a good book to peruse...but I found this was aimed more at those individuals whose homes are massively overcluttered (hoarders) and are incapable of decluttering without professional help.......I was really hoping more for hints and tricks to help streamline my home and organize my possessions.....some good stories though ....and I made it to the end....finally!!!! (almost 2 months later)

My favorite quote and YES...guilty!!!!!
“Use the good stuff! Today is worth celebrating!” I want you to believe that about your life. Today is worthy of the good soap, the good towels, the tube of truffle paste. Because you deserve them, and if you don’t use them, you will waste them. And both are a huge shame...

[Lukas Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely had helpful tips, and the clutter blocks concept makes a lot of sense. Sadly it taught me that I'm more likely to read about how to best clear clutter than to actually attempt to do so.

[Shiny5711 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good ideas about WHY you are holding onto things to help you work out of continuing the pattern of holding on.

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

People tend to have possessions. The main problem is keeping these possesions in check or else they will possess you. My issue is with books. I look around my room and see books piled on every conceivable surface. It is the knowledge in the pages that draws me in, I suppose.

Tracy McCubbin is a decluttering expert that has seen it all. In her book Making Space, Clutter Free, she discusses seven emotional blocks that can prevent you from getting the most out of your home. McCubbin describes all of this with wit and understanding. She realizes that people have lives to live.

Since my main issue is with books, I possess far more than I can read. So I sift through them and attempt to keep up, but it is a losing battle. In my case, I have a bit of the second block and a tad of the fourth block. Thankfully, only my room has this issue. I don't want to post images, so just take my word for it.

Finally, the book discusses techniques for tackling the clutter and taking back your home.

I took this book out from the library and was not disappointed.

[Natasha Kareeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Вообще гуд! Но разбор хлама это конечно тяжко…

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/5 stars!

Positives

If you’re looking for a book to read after reading Marie Kondo’s books about tidying up, this is the way to go!

Imagine Marie Kondo’s book as enticing introduction to the art of tidying up; her books really are the whimsical, aesthetic side of what it means to live clutter free. Making Space, Clutter Free however is a different story.

It contains strategies, real-world information, thorough step-by-step instruction as to how to get rid of your clutter for long time. If Marie Kondo’s book is an enticing intro, this is the real deal—the handbook of living clutter free.

Every chapter gave so much information and insightful affirmations that I just had to write them down and keep with me long after I have finished reading this book. Although there was a lot of information given, it never felt overwhelming—the writer’s helpful voice in her paragraphs definitely made me feel like she was talking directly to me and walking me through step by step.

What sets her apart from other decluttering books is the content. There are what she calls Clutter Blocks—emotional blocks that let us resort to clutter because we don’t want to deal with them. She then proceeds to give us more strategies and info about how to identify and solve our own Clutter Blocks. To me, that’s a pretty great distinction.

Negatives

The only misgivings I have with this book is that it’s structured in a weird way (the images are all over the place, the content needs further grammatical editing, etc.) that indicates the fact that it needs more editing, especially with grammar. All in all, a 4/5 stars for a great, informative book.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Marie Kondo's Konmari method didn't work for you, consider this book by Tracy McCubbin, which also gets into some of the reasons we get buried in clutter (she calls them "blocks"), but has more flexibility in what gets cleared out, where to start, and how to organize your things and space once you've cleaned up. She includes a lot of client stories as well as personal anecdotes. There are chapters specifically geared toward cleaning/decluttering after a death or divorce and the particular challenges of those situations. Also offered are resources for donating and/or recycling items that are no longer needed. If folding your underwear so that it stands up is not sparking joy, try this book.

[Bice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books on organizing and decluttering. The author is a professional organizer. This ranks as one of the best I have read. What I liked was the “realness”. It gave real reasons behind our clutter and great doable advice. Talked about 7 emotional Blocks that people have regarding letting go of clutter. I liked the real life stories about real “clients.” I especially liked the advice that if an object gives you bad memories or causes you pain let it go immediately.
Highly recommend!
Bice pronounced (Bee-chay)

[Marissa Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a gabillion books about decluttering/organization. This is hands-down the best.

[Mickey Vo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll admit, I didn't finish this book. I didn't even make it past 50 pages. But I just couldn't. I found the author so judgmental of people's life choices and was quick to label people as such. For example, she describes one of her clients as "morbidly obese" and although the point of sharing this client's story was to say "Once she got rid of her kitchen clutter, she was able to cook at home more and lose weight," I thought the description of the client was insensitive. Perhaps the author could have described her as "someone who wanted to lose weight," or even omit that part entirely and just say "Once she got rid of her kitchen clutter, she was able to cook more at home." Why mention that she was "morbidly obese"?? Another example: The author shares a story about how a family struggled to get rid of their Victorian antiques that had been in the family for generations. She states that the market for Victorian antiques is no longer relevant, "so when some hipster wants to take it off your hands, paint it Day-Glo pink, and give it a whole next life, let them." Why is there a need to label this person as "some hipster"?? Why not say "so when someone wants to take it off your hands..." The author assumes too much of the reader, like we're supposed to be on the same page with her about "morbidly obese" people and "hipsters." So judgy, I would not let Tracy McCubbin into my house and wonder what she's thinking about me behind my back!

[Diah · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

I've read numerous decluttering/minimalism books although not because I needed them but more because I need a reminder in some days when my bedroom falls out of order due to business and or sickness (like today). I always recommended The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up to friends and colleagues because that book changed my life in one way and another. And I thought, that maybe that book is the only way to go in terms of decluttering since no other book could come closer to it, IMO.

I stand corrected.
For some, the Konmari method might be to woo woo (what sparks joy, thanking the clutters, etc.); and for them, I'll rec Making Space, Clutter Free as the more 'rational' way to declutter your belongings.

At first glance, I reckoned this book would be filled with exercises (complete with bulleted tasks on how to) and becomes an easy read. However, I ended up reading it all night and through yesterday's morning. MSCF offered not only how to tackle your physical clutter but also served as a light therapy. I might not be able to remember all 7 Clutter Blocks but I could easily identify myself to some. Reading it felt like having a friend came offer and listened and talked and gave their advice.

Worth to read.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a practical book on de-cluttering (not minimalism) that helps you work through some common blocks. McCubbin focuses on a home that works FOR you without worrying about Pintrest or Instagram-worthy pictures.
I appreciated the sections on helping someone downsize after a loss. It can be a difficult time and she has some helpful suggestions.

2022 A self-improvement book

Quotes:
"Your home is your greatest tool. It has to work for you. It has to make your life easier and make you happy to be in it. What it doesn’t need to be is color-coded, labeled, stacked, symmetrical, and monochrome.
Life is messy. Life is chaotic. And all the manufacturers of groceries didn’t get together and coordinate their labels to make your cabinets look pretty."

"Clients have crammed their garages full of file cabinets, old toys, old clothes, and inherited items they don’t really want. They park their cars in the street or in their driveway and live next to a teeny, tiny enclosed landfill. This is not a storage locker. This is not where you get to shove everything you can’t deal with."

"Just because you have storage space does not mean you have to fill it."

"Storage units - do not fork over money every month to store what you don’t use and are avoiding making decisions about. The cost is too high."

[Michelle Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a godsend! I am admittedly a person with OCD, but I have fallen into the clutter trap. It started with becoming disabled and in pain which prevented me from putting things away right away, or cleaning before it got out of control. The author states that there are 7 different emotional baggage that cause you to clutter. She goes through each one with examples. The book then lists ways to identify, deal with, and solve. The author is a professional organiser that has led to the book. The book also deals with downsizing. It includes resources for getting rid of the items discarded. This book is very helpful. Once I could figure out why I was blocked, it lead me to making the changes I needed to make.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making Space, Clutter Free is one of those books that sneaks up on you. You think your'e just getting organized..... Hah! Tracy McCubbin takes readers into their own brain space, and helps us realize the whys behind our decisions to keep items. There are 7 psychological reasons that are explored conversationally and easily. I really appreciated that Tracy McCubbin offers practical techniques and solutions based on her years of experience and the reader's realization of their own personal blocks. I went with 5 stars because of stellar content, excellently organized and presented, as well as readability. This is a book I will return to year after year, no judgement, just free space!
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

[Lizakaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike other recent very popular books on organizing our homes and personal spaces, this book offers insight into why we have challenges around our stuff, and how to overcome them. I’ve learned more than how to fold my sweaters, I’ve learned how to think about why i over consume and have habits that keep me from ordering my belongings. I’m going to try thinking a little differently as my day and week progresses....non judgemental approach and relatable examples.

[CynnieRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure that it's a complete coincidence that I finished the book AND have a large mound of clothes to donate on my bed. Really good well organized book with great real life examples.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the most helpful book on organization that I've ever read!

[Brie Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better decluttering books. So far, I've brought 4 bags to donate!

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books I feel a need to own. VERY practical, accurate, and helpful.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combines the best features of similar works, providing a compassionate, flexible approach to decluttering that encourages readers to understand and overcome their personal "clutter blocks" so that they can let go of items that they only keep out fear, misplaced sentiment, or a sense of obligation. McCubbin shares non-judgmental encouragement and anecdotes throughout the book, assuring her readers that once they leave behind their entwined emotional and material baggage, they will be able to pursue what they truly value.

Instead of pushing her own ideas about what items you will or won't use, this author inspires with stories from her former clients, showing how people with a wide range of backgrounds, life experiences, and decluttering catalysts have reorganized their lives by confronting their clutter blocks. I appreciate this respectful subjectivity, which gives readers the opportunity to relate to a range of different stories without presuming anything about their life situation. This is not one of those authors who assumes that all of her readers are married women with multiple children, or that everyone is a senior citizen preparing to downsize.

I have read a variety of different books about decluttering and organization, so I was inclined to roll my eyes at this book's subtitle. Every book brings a unique perspective, and sometimes a particular author can explain something in a unique way that makes it stick for someone who has heard the same thing a million times without really hearing it. However, even though I stand by this general perspective, this subtitle doesn't oversell the contents! This book truly is that thorough, combining almost all of the best practices, explanations, and ideas that I have accumulated from my broad reading on this subject. This book, along with New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living, will be my go-to recommendations on this subject.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Husband saw I was reading this and his reaction was: “Uh-oh.” The truth is that I have two small children and realistically, I’m not going to do any serious decluttering anytime soon. But someday. Someday I will.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable and inspirational book.

[Denise Riehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have problems with getting clutter under control, check out Tracy McCubbin's book Making Space, Clutter Free. This book is written in a way that is not judgemental, and is in fact ready to give you facts on how your personal situation is made up of certain key components, rather than being a result of being lazy or something else that you may be fearing. It's a book filled with helpful information, suggestions and tips for how to take the next step and make space for yourself.

One of the most interesting chapters, in my opinion, was about seven emotional clutter blocks. We all tell ourselves stories so we can give a reason to why we are keeping things. That story allows us to give ourselves an answer, and we can stop thinking about it. These seven emotional clutter blocks speak to the types of stories that we use. After she introduces each block, she gives "The Clues" as examples to determine if this is your reason. Next she gives you "The Bridge" which makes you think though your logic and a new way to think about things and move to the other end. Finally she provides "The Helpful Phrase" which you are encouraged to say to yourself, or think of it often when you are tackling clutter.

Seven Emotional Clutter Blocks
My Stuff Keeps Me in the Past
My Stuff Tells Me Who I am
The Stuff I'm Avoiding
My Fantasy Stuff for My Fantasy Life
I'm Not Worth My Good Stuff
Trapped with other People's Stuff
The Stuff I Keep Paying For

You might be thinking that you already know what emotional clutter block that you have, but you will be surprised when you read through the specifics and understand why each one is all about. It's hard to really look at yourself, and be honest, but Tracy McCubbins writing style helps you to get to the heart of the matter so you can make changes that will last.

Making Space, Clutter Free - The Clutter Freedom Quiz

This quiz takes you on a walk through your home and answer a series of Yes or No questions that will help you identify areas that you can work on. The quiz is easy, but it's filled with some questions that will make you really think about your situation and how you feel about it. Here are a few examples of the questions; Do you leave your clean clothes in the laundry basket so you don't have to fight putting them away? Do you eat out or order in just so you don't have to spend too much time in the kitchen? and Do you wish you could redecorate but can't because of what you'd have to clear? Remember, you are doing this quiz for yourself, there is no reason to share your findings, so be honest with yourself.

Starting with part two of this book you will put all of your findings to good use. You'll find out the five questions to ask yourself about what to do with an object. You'll get strategies and systems to organize what is left. She also covers Life's Big Changes (downsizing, death, divorce, etc.) so that when you reach a milestone that may turn your working systems into something that no longer works, you will have suggestions on steps to help you adjust to your new life.

Making Space, Clutter Free. is helpful for getting control of your current situation, and then hold on to the book for future reference. There is no time like the present to take back control of your life, Here is to making your home a joy for you to live in.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I thought this had a lot of helpful insights, but some parts felt as if I was not the right audience. For example, keeping one item of something like a water bottle doesn't work for me as I need at least a second one when the first is in the washer. It seemed a good part of the audience were older people or people cleaning out older people's homes. I did like most of it and found many parts helpful. I learned some things, but there were parts that didn't have anything to do with me or where I thought about things differently. Another example, I have drawers for my everyday clothes, so a lot of what she was saying for closets didn't make sense, as I was not the target audience. I organized my closet by colors back when I was a kid through a teen, but found as an adult I needed to organize more by purpose (work, weekend, going out, casual). It seemed geared towards specific ways of thinking in some areas and more open minded in others. She has a great, not judgy voice, that seems sincere in wanting to help people. I will probably revisit this again.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do I keep reading decluttering book after decluttering book?! I do think it is partly my fascination (anthropology major!) with our culture and our fixation on stuff. I also think it would be a really interesting career to help people declutter. And of course, I have been on my own mission to pare down. When I feel like things are out of my control, I go attempt to declutter a space in my home. It is something I do have control over. I am definitely a pack rat and most of my clutter is based on the memories that the objects hold. This book was definitely one of the better ones I have read because the author digs down to the “why”we keep certain things. She brings up “clutter blocks” and how to move past them. I appreciated her approach to almost every thing in this book and I will revisit it.

[Hannah Holmgren · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’re not a chronic organizer (and re-organizer), then you will likely find this book useful and helpful. I didn’t dislike this book at all and definitely highlighted a few key passages. However, all the tips are things that - I promise you - you already know.

Tracy’s writing style is conversational if not a bit frustratingly pedestrian in that it read like a chat with your too-peppy work friend who just spent a few too many hours at The Container Store.

Again, if you’re at a loss with decluttering, this book is going to be a great resource. But if you’re already someone, like me, who has read The Home Edit and Marie Kondo books, you can sit this one out.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point I thought I had read every book on decluttering or tidying up and there were no new ideas. Actually, this author has some fresh new ways of looking at clutter and ridding oneself of said clutter. She helps her readers (or clients) figure out what crutches or excuses or hang ups they have. With these fresh ideas it is easier to see your space (and stuff) in a new way and figure out what steps to take to clean up your house and change your life. She also has some great ideas for helping a family member or friend clear out their space. Highly recommend this one!