No matter how clean we are or how attached we are to our possessions, we can all feel like clutter in our home is getting the best of us. It can be difficult to determine exactly what we do and do not need, especially if we don’t have a strategy to get rid of our things.
For years, many people have sworn by the KonMari Method, popularized by Japanese author and now Netflix star Marie Kondo. If you’re interested in trying a new and unique method of cleaning up your home, the KonMari Method might be right for you. Read on to learn the basics of the KonMari method and why people love it so much.
Who is Marie Kondo?
Hailing from Japan, Marie Kondo was always fascinated with the idea of keeping a tidy home from a young age; she even wrote her university thesis about tidying up. In 2011, her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Cleaning Up” was released and took the world by storm, leading to her being named one of Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in 2015. She now has a team over 200 consultants trained in the KonMari method and a hit Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”.
The KonMari Method is unique because it is a purposeful and intentional method of clearing clutter. Gone are the days of storming through each room in your house with a garbage bag and feeling overwhelmed afterwards. With KonMari, you can clear your house with a clean mind.
How KonMari Works
There are a few things that set the KonMari method apart from other decluttering methods. The most notable are decluttering by category, keeping things that spark joy, thanking the things that we get rid of, and the infamous KonMari folding method.
Declutter by Category
The first thing that Marie emphasizes is to clear your house by category, not by room. The reason this is recommended is that there are certain things, like photos and books, that we tend to keep in multiple rooms. If you get rid of unneeded books in one room, the clutter still has the potential to accumulate in other locations. Marie recommends starting with your clothes, as clothes tend to be less nostalgic than things such as photographs. After tidying your clothes, you can move on to books, papers, and sentimental objects.
Does It Spark Joy?
When you’ve decided which category to declutter first, the next step is to gather all that category – for example, clothes – in one place. Pick up every single item of clothing, one at a time, and ask: Does this piece of clothing spark joy for me?
This might seem strange but think of it this way: we come up with a lot of reasons for why we should hold onto things. If we boil it down to whether something makes us happy, we are allowing for only happy objects in our home while letting go of the things that do not bring us any joy. According to Marie, recognizing what does and does not spark joy becomes easier the more that we declutter.
Say Thank You
Saying thank you to your possessions might seem bizarre, but this is an integral part of the KonMari method. With each item that you decide to get rid of, you must thank the item for the purpose that it has served in your life. Her theory is that thanking these articles of clothing makes it easier to let them go; you don’t feel as if you are letting go of it without purpose. She also believes that thanking the things you get rid of makes you feel more grateful for the things that you are keeping.
KonMari Folding Method
You may have seen it on Instagram, or perhaps one of your friends has already shown you their new, organized drawers. One of the most notable things about the KonMari method is the specific way in which Marie Kondo recommends clothes to be folded, in order to stand up in drawers. In her opinion, there is nothing wrong with hanging up clothes, but clothing is generally “happier” when it’s standing up.
The KonMari folding method – which you can see how to do here – arranges your clothes in a way that takes up less space. This allows you to see everything in your drawers so you can properly evaluate what you own and pick an outfit that sparks joy for you every day.
Getting rid of clutter can be overwhelming, but many people have found that the KonMari method makes it easier and less stressful. However, if you have a serious amount of clutter within your home that you feel you cannot get rid of, there are people who can help you. Contact us today to learn more about 1st Hoarding’s clutter removal and organization services.
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