Helping Readers Rightsize Their Lives for a Better Tomorrow with ...

The Editor of Savoir Faire Magazine interviewed me last week — and put up with my horrible laryngitis — then wrote this lovely article and posted this podcast. Thank you Robert White and Savoir Faire!

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

In a world obsessed with more—more square footage, more stuff, more storage—it’s Marni Jameson who offers a refreshing and much-needed counterpoint: less, but better. One of America’s most beloved home and lifestyle columnists, Jameson has made a name for herself by helping others simplify not just their homes, but their lives. Her newest book, Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow (HCI, 2024), is a timely, transformative guide for those looking to declutter with purpose and step confidently into the next chapter.

“People evolve,” Jameson says. “Where and how we live should evolve with us.”

It’s a message she knows firsthand. Her journey into the world of rightsizing began with personal experience: clearing out her childhood home after her elderly parents moved into assisted living. The process was emotional, overwhelming, and ultimately, eye-opening. That experience birthed her bestseller Downsizing the Family Home, and she’s been on a mission ever since—writing seven books (five of which focus on downsizing), speaking across the country, and penning a nationally syndicated column that offers practical, narrative-driven advice with wit and warmth.

With Rightsize Today, Jameson shifts the conversation from downsizing (which often feels reactive and rooted in loss) to rightsizing—an empowering, intentional approach that puts the individual’s goals, lifestyle, and wellbeing front and center.

“This isn’t about getting rid of everything,” Jameson explains. “It’s about getting rid of what’s standing between you and the life you want to live next.”

In the book, she offers readers a framework for identifying what truly matters and aligning their home environment with their evolving needs. Whether you’re facing an empty nest, thinking about retirement, or blending households after a later-in-life relationship, her advice is as relatable as it is actionable.

Jameson’s approach is as practical as it is philosophical. She recommends starting small—tackle a shelf, a drawer, a single closet. “Don’t overwhelm yourself,” she says. “Build momentum. Make it a lifestyle, not a one-and-done project.” Her mantra? Keep the few, cherish the few, and keep it small. “Save the pearls, not the piano.”

What makes her work resonate so deeply is her understanding of the emotional weight possessions can carry. Jameson doesn’t minimize the memories, but she does challenge readers to rethink their purpose. “Everything you own should either serve you today or support your future. If not, why are you hanging on to it?”

In Downsizing the Blended Home, another standout title, she tackled the delicate dance of merging two households—emotionally, aesthetically, and logistically. With humor and wisdom, she walked readers through the often chaotic process of combining lives, honoring each partner’s history, and creating a new home that reflects their shared future.

Now, with Rightsize Today, she’s inviting readers to dream again. To ask where they’d live if they could live anywhere. To imagine how they’d design a home that truly serves their lifestyle—not their past. “Don’t let your stuff hold you back,” she says. “You could be living by the water. You could be in a home that’s easier to care for, more reflective of who you are now.”

The book includes practical tools—from comparison charts that help evaluate potential new cities to room-by-room checklists—and real-life stories of people who made the leap and never looked back. Jameson also explores how to buy with intention, offering expert advice on curating a home filled only with what you use, love, and truly need. “Don’t drag your clutter into your new life,” she writes. “Surround yourself with quality, not quantity.”

Through all of her work—columns, books, and public talks—Jameson’s voice remains steady, smart, and endlessly human. She speaks from experience, not just expertise. And in doing so, she empowers others to live lighter, freer, and with more joy.

“Being nimble is the goal,” she says. “When you’re not weighed down by stuff, you’re ready for anything.”

Listen to the entire interview here.