Netflix’s hit show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has sparked a de-cluttering phenomenon all around the world. Marie Kondo is a tidying expert that focuses on her method called the KonMari Method that encourages tidying up by category rather than room-by-room. With spring right around the corner, she has inspired us to make an ultimate guide to help you take your spring-cleaning to the next level!
What is the KonMari Method?
The KonMari method is a state of mind and a way of life. This Method is all about going through your items by category, rather than the common room-by-room approach. This method is not just about finding a spot for your millions of precious items, its about getting rid of the things that not longer bring you joy and donating them to bring joy to others.
The order to her method is clothing, books, paper, komono (kitchen, bathroom, garage, misc.) and finally sentimental items. She believes in keeping only the items that spark joy with you, the things that give you warm and positive vibes. She also encourages creating a designated spot for every item in your home. This method not only helps with de-cluttering your house, but it can help you emotionally and spiritually as well. It is also a great way to give to others by donating to Goodwill, Salvation Army, Thrift Stores, etc. Stores like these are seeing a huge spike in donations all around the world since the Marie Kondo series has came out
The KonMari Method has six rules of tidying:
- Commit yourself to tidying.
- Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
- Finish discarding first.
- Tidy by category, not location.
- Follow the right order.
- Ask yourself if it sparks joy
The Ultimate Guide to Tidying up your home!
Step 1 – Clothes:
I think we can all agree that laundry is the WORST! This method will help you get rid of the clothes you no longer need, along with showing you how to organize and fold them.
The Process: Put ALL of your clothes into one big pile, hold each item of clothing in your hands, if the clothing doesn’t spark joy with you, thank the item for its service, and put it in the donate pile.
Once you have gotten your unwanted items out of the way, Marie Kondo shows you an amazing way to fold your clothes into small rectangles placed vertically rather than horizontally, to keep your drawers not only more organized, but helps you actually see all of your clothes in the drawers so you aren’t digging through them searching for things. Check out Tidying Up on Netflix, her website at konmarie.com, or even YouTube to see her amazing folding techniques!
Step 2 – Books:
The Process: To start you must take ALL of the books off the shelves or any areas in your house and spread them out on the floor, touch each book if it sparks joy put them into the keep pile, if it does not spark joy put them into a recycle, trash, or donate pile, and make sure to thank your books for their service!
Step 3 – Papers:
The Process: Gather all of your papers from all the drawers and any other areas in your house. Sort into recycling, trash, and important papers you need/want to keep.
Marie suggests 3 different organization techniques for your papers, (1) needs attention-vertical upright organizer- RSVPS, forms that need filled out, bills that need paid, etc. (2) Frequent-binder style with plastic sleeves -schedules, calendars, appointments, etc., (3) Infrequent- clear envelope like organizer- insurance policies, bank statements, passports etc.
Step 4 – Komono (kitchen, bathroom, garage, misc.)
The Process: Again, we need to pull everything out and start separating into piles, if you find sentimental make a separate pile for those to go through later. Get rid of anything that doesn’t spark joy. Categorize and store the same sized items together, like large utensils with other large utensils or small pots with other small pots. In your garage use see through tubs and stack items vertically, so you can see what is in the box. Put items that you frequently use in the easy to access areas, and vice versa for the items you do not use all the time.
Step 5 – Sentimental
The Process: These items are the ones that you hold dearly to your heart. Go through them, and if they still bring you great joy and memories, keep them. You can find ways to display some of your sentimental possessions. Use boxes that bring you joy to store all of your sentimental items. Photos can go in an album or a box, but Kondo says you want to avoid shoving them somewhere and assuming you’ll look at them later. Marie says that finding a permanent home for your sentimental items will give the joy of completing your organizing.
Hot Tips:
- Put similar items with similar size- for instance in your kitchen, but your large utensils with other large utensils.
- Store on frequency of use – if you use an item often, keep it where you can frequently reach it, use those hard to reach spots for the items you do not use frequently.
3.It will get worse before it gets better- piling things up can make things look disastrous, it is important to realize this is a normal part of the process and there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
- Piling things up from each category puts them into perspective and helps realize what you have and what you don’t need.
- Thank your home- Marie Kondo encourages you to give thanks for the roof over your head and to appreciate what you have, thank your home for always protecting you.
- Give every item a spot in your home-using small boxes for miscellaneous items; every item has a home, according to category.
- Use clear boxes that are easier to see inside- this is great in garages basements, storage rooms, and attics so you can easily find what you’re looking for, not digging through boxes to find things and not buying things you already have.
- Fold clothes with your family, make it a habit.
- Get a box that brings your joy for you sentimental items, keep them all in one place.
- Don’t store anything you want to keep in large plastic bags.
- When possible store things vertically.
- Make sure everything you keep in your home brings you joy. If you don’t love it, why keep it?
