The Marie Kondo method, also known as the KonMari method, is a decluttering and organising approach developed by Marie Kondo, a Japanese organising consultant. The method emphasizes the idea of keeping only the items that spark joy and letting go of everything else.
Key Principles of the KonMari Method
- Tidying by category: Rather than tidying room by room, the method suggests organizing belongings by category. The categories include clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items.
- Sparking joy: The central concept of the method is to keep only those items that bring joy or happiness to your life. When decluttering, you are encouraged to hold each item and ask yourself if it sparks joy. If it does, you keep it. If it doesn’t, you thank it for its service and let it go.
- Discarding before organizing: Before you start organizing, it is important to declutter and discard items that no longer spark joy. This helps create a fresh start and reduces the amount of stuff you need to organize.
- Vertical folding: The method introduces a specific folding technique for clothing items, allowing them to be stored vertically in drawers. This makes it easier to see and access each item, minimizing clutter and maximizing space.
- Designated storage spaces: The Marie Kondo method emphasizes the importance of assigning a designated home for each item. This promotes organization and ensures that everything has its place.
- Gratitude: The method encourages expressing gratitude towards the items you choose to discard. By thanking them for their past usefulness, you can let go of them with a sense of appreciation.
Overall, the Marie Kondo method is a mindful and intentional approach to decluttering and organising. It focuses on surrounding yourself with items that bring joy and creating a harmonious living environment.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean Using the KonMari Method
- Commit to tidying up: Make a commitment to declutter and organize your space using the KonMari method. Recognize that this process may take time and effort, but the results will lead to a more organized and joyful living environment.
- Start with categories: Marie Kondo recommends tidying by category, not by location. Begin with the following order: clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items. This allows you to focus on one type of item at a time and prevents you from getting overwhelmed.
- Gather all items in the category: Take all the items from the category you’re working on and gather them in one place. For example, if you’re starting with clothing, collect all your clothes from every part of your home and place them in a pile on the floor.
- Hold each item and ask if it sparks joy: Take each item from the pile and hold it in your hands. Ask yourself if it sparks joy or happiness within you. Pay attention to your emotional response. If an item brings you joy, keep it. If it doesn’t, thank it for its service and consider letting it go.
- Discard before organising: Once you have sorted through all the items in a category, focus on discarding the items that no longer spark joy. Separate them into piles for donation, sale, or disposal. Remember to express gratitude for these items before letting them go.
- Organise what remains: After decluttering, it’s time to organise the items you have chosen to keep. Find a designated home for each item, ensuring it is easily accessible and visible. The KonMari method often recommends using storage containers that you already have rather than buying new ones.
- Respect your belongings: Throughout the tidying process, remember to treat your belongings with respect. Handle them gently, and try to keep them clean and well-maintained. By showing gratitude for the items you own, you can develop a deeper appreciation for your living space.
- Maintain the tidiness: After completing the KonMari method, make an effort to maintain the organization and cleanliness of your space. Put things back in their designated places after using them, and regularly assess if any new items entering your home spark joy.
KonMari Categories
The KonMari method categorises belongings into several main categories. These categories, as outlined by Marie Kondo, are:
- Clothing: This category includes all types of clothing items, including tops, bottoms, dresses, coats, shoes, accessories, and so on.
- Books: This category covers all types of books, including novels, non-fiction, magazines, and any other reading materials you have.
- Papers: This category consists of documents, letters, receipts, bills, and any other paper-based items that you need to organize.
- Miscellaneous items: This category encompasses a wide range of items that don’t fit into the other categories. It includes kitchen utensils, household supplies, electronics, hobby items, and miscellaneous belongings.
- Sentimental items: This category includes items that hold emotional value, such as photographs, letters, keepsakes, heirlooms, and mementos.
These main categories cover a majority of belongings found in a typical household. However, Marie Kondo also emphasizes that you can further break down these categories into subcategories if it helps you manage the decluttering process more effectively. For example, within the clothing category, you can create subcategories for tops, bottoms, accessories, and so on.
Remember that the order of tackling these categories is important in the KonMari method. Marie Kondo suggests starting with clothing, as it tends to be less emotionally charged, and gradually progressing through the other categories, culminating in sentimental items, which can be the most challenging to sort through.