Organizer Stacey Platt helps people bring order to their lives bit by bit in "What's a Disorganized Person to Do?" (Artisan, $16.95).

The book takes a one-step-at-a-time approach to what otherwise might seem like an overwhelming task. Platt divides her information by room and then breaks it down further by project -- for example, organizing cooking spices or keeping track of invitations. You can scan the book for projects that meet your needs, flag and prioritize them with the stickers Platt includes in the book and then tackle them as time allows.

Even neat freaks can find tips to make their lives easier.

Paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform a home, but using paint artfully can be a challenge.

The folks at Better Homes and Gardens' Do It Yourself magazine provide plenty of guidance in "Do It Yourself: 100+ Paint Projects" (Wiley, $19.99.)

The book provides ideas for painting a variety of surfaces, including furniture, fabrics, glass and ceramics -- and, of course, walls. Instructions and patterns are included, so you don't have to be an artist to achieve professional-looking results.

Architect Duo Dickinson thinks there's a positive fallout from the lackluster housing market: Instead of continually moving up, more people are staying in their homes and forming long-term emotional bonds with the places where they live.

He's encouraging that trend with his new book, "Staying Put: Remodel Your House to Get the Home You Want" (Taunton Press, $24.95).

Dickinson helps homeowners imagine the possibilities and think through the practicalities of remodeling their homes. He addresses such nuts-and-bolts aspects as dealing with professionals and changing bearing walls, but for the most part his book is devoted to the visioning process. He provides floor plans and before-and-after photos for dozens of projects he's designed, explaining the reasons for the changes and the challenges involved.

The projects he features range from simple changes to extensive additions.

There's no shortage of ideas out there for reusing salvaged materials, but Chris Peterson provides the how-tos.

Peterson, an expert in home design, repair and renovation, has written "Building With Secondhand Stuff" (Creative Publishing International, $19.99). It's a practical guide to choosing, salvaging, refreshing and reusing materials such as wood, metal, stone and glass.

The book focuses on working with the materials, but there's plenty of inspiration to spark your creativity, too.

Wish you had more storage space?

"Common Sense Storage" (Creative Publishing International, $24.99) can help you find it.

The book is filled with ideas for stashing your stuff. Some require remodeling; others can be more easily incorporated into a home. They range from simple solutions such as storing bath supplies toward the front of linen-closet shelves so they won't get lost, to more involved suggestions such as replacing your standard TV with a front-projection unit and a retractable screen.

The book also offers decluttering pointers and guidance on building or installing features.

Ready to transform your home? There's a book to help you, whether your task is getting organized, painting a door or deciding whether to remodel or move: