It’s a New Year! And you’ve resolved to finally get organized. What better time to revisit one of the most successful organizational methods around: the Konmari Method of decluttering? Believe me, I had tried so many organization methods before Konmari. Over the years I have done everything from tidying under pressure to getting rid of one item per day. Each with limited success. I have purchased countless organizational systems, just to have them work for awhile and then fall out of usefulness or favor. But then I was introduced to the Konmari Method. And of all the things I’ve tried, I have had the most success with this decluttering method. Developed by home-organization guru, Marie Kondo and outlined in her book (link below), this four-step method is easy to follow and can deliver great, decluttering results.
4 Steps To The Konmari Method of Decluttering
1st: Picture The Ideal Lifestyle That You Want to Lead – It’s An A+ Decluttering Secret
OK, so you’re loaded down with clutter and not well organized, but something in you says that you want to leave this way of living behind and finally get organized. Why? Is it because you want to live differently? Of course it is! A great place to start is to ask yourself the question: What does my ideal life look like? This question will help to motivate you for the event that is decluttering and organizing and is one of the primary secrets to The Konmari Method of decluttering.
For example, when I got divorced and was moving from a large home into my own, small, 2-bedroom condo, I had to eliminate a lot of things that I owned because they just would not fit. I was starting a new single life and I thought long-and-hard about what that life would be like. What I wanted was a relaxed living space that I and my guests would find comfortable. I wanted to be able to keep it clean and organized. I wanted to have more time to take a class, enjoy a good book or maybe even go out on a few dates.
The things I chose to bring into my new home would be judged against this new definition of life. Having a clear picture in my head made this process a lot easier. Perhaps you want a more relaxed environment too? Or maybe you want your home to inspire your creativity? Or maybe you want a place for more entertaining than your home allows now. Whatever your ideal life looks like – go for it – and use it as a guide as you work to organize. It’s a great secret to decluttering.
2nd: Organizing and Decluttering is a Special Event
Marie Kondo believes in tidying in one fell-swoop and within a short period of time. It’s one of her primary secrets in the Konmari Method of decluttering. I think this way really does work. You organize all your things within a few days or a week and then you’re done – for good. Other methods have you going on-and-on with the organizing. That not only limits the satisfaction you will get out of a completely organized home, but it also allows a lot more wiggle room for giving up when you’re only half done. Schedule your organizing over a long weekend or every evening for a week and then just be done with it. Once your home is set, the only things you’ll need to be tidying are what you use daily and need to put back where they belong.
3rd: Go Through Items by Category Not By Place – It’s a Secret to Decluttering
If you tidy by place (bedroom closet, chest of drawers, kitchen cupboards, hall closet) instead of by categories (clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous and memorabilia), you will not be as successful. For example, when you organize the entire category of clothing you should gather all of it in one place. You will gather it from all the closets and drawers, and go through it all at the same time. It is the only way to get a clear picture of what you actually have. When you finish clothing you will do this same gathering and assessing thing with books, looking at them all together. And then you will move down the line to the other categories. If you don’t do this by category you will more than likely be stuck with things that you really don’t need as you discover them in different places.
Finally: Spark Joy – It’s The BEST Secret to Decluttering
OK, so you know what your ideal life looks like and how clearing the clutter and tidying up is going to help you get to that place where you can live that ideal life. So, starting with ALL your clothing (this includes hats, belts, shoes, scarves, underwear, socks, etc.) in a pile on the bed or floor you will pick up each item, take a really good look at it and ask yourself: Does this item give me joy? Am I happy when I wear it? Does it make me feel good? Or is it just something I bought on sale, haven’t worn in years, makes me feel fat, etc. No joy means no keeping. This way you are focusing on what you want to keep as opposed to what you should throw away.
My Results Have Been Astounding:
When I did this the first time, I filled 23 bags with un-joyful clothing and shoes. Yup – 23 bags. It’s embarrassing but true. I was left with about 1/3 of what I had when I started and it felt great. I only kept the things that make me happy and the rest went out of my life and into donation. Then I did the same thing with books (14 boxes gone to a local book sale). I kept only my favorites that I knew I’d want to re-read. Then I did the same with papers (down to one, two-drawer file cabinet). Then all the miscellaneous items (the balance of which I brought to my consignment shop, Consignments Ltd.) and ended it with memorabilia (which was the hardest, I’ll admit).
I probably kept more clutter than I should have, but… it goes that way sometimes. As I finished each category over the long weekend, I decided where and how all that was left should be stored. This became fairly easy to determine with so much less stuff. It’s been nearly six years since I employed the Konmari method, so now, at the beginning of 2025 I’m definitely up for a revisit. Let me know if you decide to try it? I’d love to know what you think.
If You Want to Score The Book
Marie Kondo’ s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, is available on Amazon. It’s a good read and a great resource.
For more information on organizing and decluttering, check out my previous blogs: Thoughts on the Move-Out Method of Decluttering and What’s The Didn’t Know Rule of Decluttering.
And Now For A Little Music Before We Go…
Have a lovely day, my friends. Marianne
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