Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff

My review of Cozy Minimalist Home is based on the first chapter, as that's what I've received as part of the launch team. My review is subject to change upon my reading the entire book.

POW! Right in the kisser! I can relate to every.single.word Myquillyn Smith says in the first chapter of this book. I am a Stuff Manager. I have Clutter Anxiety. I want cozy, but I don't want all the mess to clean up around and under and over. I want to read the entire book and put it to use in my own life. Now, I just need to own my own house so I can really make it cozy (and have room in my driveway for folks to park if they want to come take part in my little world).

Kind of obvious stuff, I guess. Could have been a blog post.

A few good ideas, implausibly stretched into a book, when it could easily have been a cover story in Real Simple.

Myquillyn Smith knows what is important in a home: it is important that it is home-y. She takes us through the steps of decorating to achieve that wonderful coziness, that wonderful simplicity, in easy steps. I especially liked how she asks us to first quiet our rooms before beginning anything. A good introduction for first-timers, I think.

What a helpful, practical, and beautifully presented book. Thank you Myquillyn for helping me see I can have style without a lot of stuff. She provides simple and sensible guidance for utilizing the tools of coziness and minimalism to create a space you feel at home in and love. She isn't telling readers to go spend lots of money and in fact promotes an approach that seems to require less money AND space overall. Loved her heart for sharing what she's been able to learn and summarizing the why with this: “You'll know your home is in a good place when you go from thinking about how to make it look better to thinking about how to make it serve better.” (p. 195)

The first book I read and purchased by Myquillyn was The Nesting Place. When I had the opportunity to be part of a launch group for her second book, I couldn't pass up the chance at getting an inside look. After reading the first few chapters, I pre-ordered my own copy! Now that I have received my copy and read it, I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a way to stop managing your stuff but rather enjoy the space you live in. She writes as though you are sitting and discussing your home with a friend. The book is full of ideas and steps to take to create a home you will love. It's not about minimalism, nor simply home decorating. It's about finding a space that is cozy and not packed full of “stuff” that you have to manage. If you are looking for practical solutions, ideas and inspiration for minimizing your decor to become something you adore, then this book is for you. It would make a beautiful coffee table book. I would recommend this for yourself or to give as a gift to a friend, sister, mother-in-law or teacher! Can't wait for the full copy to arrive in the mail!