Kerri Sackville wants you to embrace mess. Here’s why!

Kerri Sackville is an Australian author and columnist. She lives in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney with her kids and a cat, and enjoys clutter, eating takeout and taking long naps on the couch. She is the author of three books, Out There (2018), When My Husband Does the Dishes: He Usually Wants Sex! (2012) and The Little Book of Anxiety (2012). Her latest book is called The Life-changing Magic of a Little Bit of Mess — and it’s the only domestic guide you’ll ever need.

Today, Kerri Sackville is on the blog to tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind The Life-changing Magic of a Little Bit of Mess. Read on!

Kerri Sackville

Throw Out Everything You Own

Back in lockdown, I was sent a book to read. One of the few perks of being a writer is all the free books! (Actually, on reflection, that’s probably the only perk.)

This book was in the ‘Cleaning and Tidying’ genre and contained advice and instructions for how to keep my home pristine. It was reminiscent of those other classic tomes: Why You Should Throw Out All Your Things, Get Organised or be Shunned by Your Friends Forever, and Your Bathroom Is Seriously Shameful, Do Better. (Okay, so those aren’t the real titles, but they should be.)

Now, I usually try to avoid books about home management. Actually doing my housework is torturous enough. I certainly don’t need to read about it too.

But this was lockdown and I needed distraction. And, more importantly, my daughter needed help with her maths lesson.

‘Mum, what is a differential equation?’ she was asking.

‘So sorry, darling, I’m doing important research,’ I said, opening the book at a random page and furrowing my brow. ‘You’ll have to ask your brother!’

My daughter sighed and I began reading the book. I had landed on a chapter about housework schedules, which, the author promised, would make my life a great deal easier. She had outlined daily tasks, weekly tasks, and even monthly tasks to complete! Some of them were very obscure (apparently I have to dust my light fittings?) and many seemed utterly unnecessary (people polish their toasters?).

‘Is there a person in the world who gets to their death bed and wishes they’d spent more time dusting their light fittings?’ I thought.

‘I seriously doubt it,’ my daughter said. Apparently, I had spoken out loud. And apparently, she wasn’t doing her maths work.

Over the next few days I took a deep dive into the #homeinspo industry. There were books and podcasts and Instagram accounts and TikTok videos and endless inspirational memes. There was a tribe of influencers with massive followings who told me to colour-code my bookshelf, declutter my wardrobe, make my own cleaning products out of vinegar and bi-carb, and turn my pantry into a wonderland of mason jars and calligraphic labels.
It was deeply fascinating to me. Why did I need to throw out my clothes? What was the obsession with aspirational pantries? What was a Three-In-One Cordless Crosswave? And why did I need a perfect home in the first place?

Will I have a happier life if my skirting boards are gleaming? Has anybody fallen in love with someone because of the spotlessness of their grouting? Will my kids look back and remember their childhoods fondly because I polished the toaster every weekend?

Someone needs to write an antidote to the #homeinspo industry, I thought. Someone needs to validate people who are too busy to clean, people who don’t prioritise cleaning, or people who prefer to self-actualise while eating bonbons on the couch to steam-mopping their floors of an evening.
Someone needs to champion the joys of mess!

And, I decided, that person should be me! Firstly, I am a living, breathing epitome of mess. My house is messy, my brain is messy, and I once destroyed my own oven in my only attempt to clean it.

Secondly, I really like to make people laugh, and the #homeinspo industry is ripe with topics to laugh at.

Thirdly, I love to inspire and motivate people, even if it is just to lie down and take a nap.

And fourthly, it sounded far more fun than helping my daughter with maths.

With that, The Life-Changing Magic of a Little Bit of Mess was born. (Well, the concept was born. It took a few more months to actually write it.)

I genuinely loved writing this book. I sat at my computer surrounded by piles of laundry and crumpled tissues and chuckled to myself as I tapped away. Occasionally, I’d read lines out to my poor locked-down kids, who wanted nothing less than to be Beta readers for their mum.

‘That’s actually a good one, Mum,’ my son said once, as incredulous as if I’d grown an extra set of legs. It was the proudest moment of my life. Who knew that middle-aged mothers could be funny?

I am making people laugh but I am also doing important work. If I can help just one person living bravely with neatness, my efforts would have been worth it.

When you laugh, the world laughs with you. But when you clean, you clean alone.

—The Life-changing Magic of a Little Bit of Mess by Kerri Sackville (HarperCollins Australia) is out now. Limited signed copies are available while stocks last!

The Life-changing Magic of a Little Bit of Mess

Limited Signed Copies Available!

by Kerri Sackville

The only domestic bible you'll need.

There is nothing more satisfying than a beautifully organised home! say the #homeinspo influencers. In an era of decluttering gurus, cleaning bloggers and aspirational pantries, Kerri Sackville has studied the evidence and declared, 'Nah, way too much trouble.' Instead, she has embraced domestic imperfection and discovered the life-changing magic of letting your standards slip...

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