Have you Joined the KonMari Bandwagon?

I have decluttering on the mind and I know I’m not alone! My 5 Week Organization and Decluttering Challenge has been a pretty big hit. This must mean we are all tired of clutter taking over our homes!

Something that is also a pretty big hit right now is “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix. Familiar? Read on to see if you should jump on the KonMari Bandwagon!

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So what is the KonMari Method?

I was first introduced to Marie Kondo when her book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” came out several years ago.

The book was an inspiration for certain, but I didn’t fall head over heels with her entire approach. What I do love is a space that feels calm and relaxing and the end result of her technique will definitely give you that!

Here is the basic premise of her organizational method:

1. Organize by Category, not Location

Marie suggests starting with clothing, then books, paper, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally sentimental items.

This is very different than many organization projects that recommend decluttering / organizing one room or space at a time.

For example, when you start with clothing you are requested to get ALL of your clothing and put in one pile. Eek.

I did this and I can tell you it was beyond daunting to see all of the clothing stacked so high. How could I possibly ever say “I have nothing to wear”!

BUT – because it is so shocking, it’s easier to see how out-of-control we let ourselves get with accumulating things.

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2. Pick up Each Item and determine if it Sparks Joy

”  Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.  -Marie Kondo

Kondo asks you to determine what you love and keep only those items. This is a bit different than simply getting rid of what you don’t like.

As you are holding each item, if you feel love/joy for that item, keep it! If not, thank the item and say goodbye.

While I love the idea of having a home filled only with items I deeply love, I must say, I am practical to a fault. There are many items I need and use daily, however I can’t imagine feeling overly joyful about them.

For example, I need my sports bras when I exercise. Practical, functional, and necessary.

Do my bras bring me joy? Not really. But you better believe I won’t be getting rid of them anytime soon.

3. Be Intentional about What you keep and how it is stored

Be mindful about what you keep and designate a place for everything. One thing I was struck by is how she suggests clothes should be folded.

She stacks nearly all clothing items, standing so you can see and access them better.

To get a visual, you really need to watch a video of her folding skills in action:

On her website, Marie Kondo lists 6 rules to tidying:

• Commit to tidying up
• Imagine your ideal lifestyle
• Finish discarding first
• Tidy by category, not location
• Follow the right order
• Ask yourself if it sparks joy

To learn more about the KonMari method for organization, I highly recommend reading the book!

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

So, should you join the KonMari Bandwagon?

I’ll leave that up to you!

I am really enjoying her new Netflix series as it is very inspiring for decluttering and organizing. I’m doubtful that I will adopt ALL of her methods into my organizing processes, but to sum it up, I definitely think there are several take-aways that are worth considering!

What do you think? I’d love your feedback on the KonMari method. Leave a comment below!

Thanks for stopping by and best of luck with your decluttering and organization!

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If you want more inspiration to get rid of your junk (because we all have junk!), take a look at these posts:

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