The KonMari method has taken the United States by storm as residents are tidying up and deciding if their possessions spark joy.
The KonMari method made waves a few years with a bestseller book and recently a new Netflix special was released. Even if you haven’t read the book or seen the show, the KonMari method can help you gain control over your possessions and your life.
Read on to learn about the KonMari method and spark joy in your life.
What is the KonMari Method?
The KonMari method is copyrighted by Marie Kondo’s as her minimalism-approach to organizing your life.
The movement began in 2014 with the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. This book outlined her method and went on to be a New York Times Bestseller with over 11 million copies sold in 40 countries.
But the joy didn’t stop there. The hit Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” launched early this year. Viewers get to watch Marie Kondo meet with cluttered clients and help them spark joy in their homes and lives.
Since then, the interest in the KonMari method has only grown. So how does the KonMari method work?
The Six KonMari Rules
Before you start using the KonMari method, you need to learn the six basic rules.
The rules are as follows:
- Commit to tidying up.
- Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
- Before getting rid of items, sincerely thank them for serving its purpose.
- Tidy by category, not room.
- Follow the category order.
- Ask if each item sparks joy.
Before you start you need to make sure that you are fully committed to the method. For inspiration, watch the show or read the book. Then understand that the KonMari method isn’t a quick fix, it will take a lot of time and effort.
Marie Kondo also suggests that you imagine your ideal lifestyle before you start the process.
What is the ideal purpose for each room in your home? How do you foresee yourself using the space? How do you want your life to function after your tidying up process?
Once you can picture your ideal lifestyle, write down what this looks like to you. This way, you can revisit this ideal lifestyle during a tough step of the KonMarie method.
Tidy by Category
The number one rule of the KonMari method is to tidy by category.
Marie Kondo separates clutter into the five following categories:
- Clothes
- Books
- Papers
- Komono (miscellaneous items)
- Sentimental items
In her book and her show, she stresses the importance of tackling these categories in order. It’s best to start with your closet and move up to the tougher items, like your junk drawer or large family photo collection.
Decide If Items Spark Joy
Once you know the categories, you’re ready to start tidying up. If you’re wondering how to declutter, don’t worry. It’s easy with the KonMari method.
The key is to hold every single item in your hands. So when you start with your closet, Marie Kondo encourages you to pile up all of your clothing items into a large pile. This allows you to get a full picture of exactly how much you own.
Then, hold each item in your hand and ask if it sparks joy. To understand what “sparking joy” feels like, Marie Kondo suggests you start with an item that you know you love before moving onto the tougher items.
Then use this method with every single item. Yes, every single item. You should only move onto the next category when you’ve completely finished your current category.
Thank Items That Don’t Spark Joy
When you find an item that doesn’t spark joy, it’s important to thank the item.
This may sound or feel silly, but it’s important to thank the item for how it has served you before just throwing it aside.
Once you decide that an item doesn’t spark joy and you’ve thanked it, then you can get rid of it. Consider donating or selling items that are in great condition.
Old and heavily-used items should be thrown away or recycled. Obtain more information here on rubbish removal situations to make the process easier.
Make Items Visible
Once you’ve separated your items that do and don’t spark joy, then you can work on organizing them. Marie Kondo’s main organization advice is that you make all items visible so you know what you have.
Folding Clothes
Marie Kondo has an unusual, genius method for folding clothes.
Instead of folding clothes and stacking them on top of each other, she folds clothes so that they stand up. You then organize the articles of clothing like you would with files in a filing cabinet. This way, when you open a drawer you can see each article of clothing without having to dig.
Watch this video for a visual explanation.
Use Organizing Tools
For drawers in your kitchen, office, or other spaces that hold a lot of items, you need to embrace organizing tools.
Find small bins or boxes to place inside your drawers. These tools allow you to separate items by their purpose and allows every item to have its own place. It’s also useful when multiple people use one drawer to give each person their own bin.
When you are storing seasonal or seldom used items, make sure you are using clear bins. This way, you can easily see exactly what you have and don’t end up buying duplicates.
Find More Ways to Spark Joy
Know that you know all about the KonMari method, use it to spark joy in your life.
One last helpful tip about the KonMari is that everyone in your house should be on board before you begin. The tidying process can only be successful if everyone works together in your house toward the end goal.
Check out the happiness section of our blog to spark more joy in your life!