People become famous for a variety of reasons. Some are great at sports, others are talented in the creative arts and others are outspoken members of their political communities. Marie Kondo, host of the popular show Tidying Up, is making headlines for a different reason. She’s exceptionally great at being organized and pioneered konmari decluttering (we shared our konmari method pdf below). We hope that you love this What is the Konmari Method? post. 

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (author of Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up)has been a somewhat controversial topic among certain circles. For example, she angered bookworms and authors alike when she suggested that keeping a large library of books might not be useful when seeking a clutter-free lifestyle. Some love her, and some think her methods are too extreme, but one thing is certain. If an individual is looking for a way to declutter their life and have a more organized home, Marie can help. The Konmari organization method and konmari method steps are designed to make your life easier.

Related: Konmari Method Spring Closet Refresh  |  6 Basic Rules of Tidying Up from the Konmari Method by Marie Kondo

what is the konmari method?

Along with hosting a hit show, Ms. Kondo is also the author of the best-selling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” as well as the founder of KonMari Media, Inc. She discovered her passion for cleaning and organizing as a young student and went on to open a consulting firm that provides experts to help people clean up their homes giving birth to the Konmari organization method. So What is the Konmari Method? 

Now, millions of people are “Konverts”, also known as fans of Marie and the methods she uses to declutter homes. Their passion is understandable when the well-documented benefits of home organization are taken into account.

The Science of Home Organization: The Proven Benefits of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Research from Indiana University discovered that people with clean homes tend to be healthier than those who are highly disorganized. An additional study found that women who described their living spaces as “cluttered” were more likely to suffer from fatigue, depression and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Since stress has been clearly found to be detrimental to our health, it makes sense that using the Konmari method to organize a home would be beneficial to its inhabitants.

All About the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing: The Konmari Method

Konverts already know the power of the Marie Kondo lifestyle, and each day, new people are getting on board. The best thing about the method is that it's easy to follow and understand. It's mostly based on one simple concept. Does a given item that's currently cluttering up a home spark joy? If the answer is no, then the item is most likely not needed.

There are six basic rules in the konmari organizing method: 

1. Commit

It's impossible to engage in the clothing and life organizing process if one does not commit to it. This is especially crucial for those with a tendency to hoard items.

2. Envisioning an Ideal Life

Being able to picture a perfect life is important because it allows the organizer to pinpoint which items in the home are crucial for making that dream life happen. If items don't directly spark joy and promote the ideal life, they can go.

3. Discard Before Organizing

When it comes to the konmari organization method, it's impossible to organize a home without discarding the unwanted items first. Ms. Kondo believes that people should focus on throwing out what they don't need as a first step.

4. Focus on Categories

Ms. Kondo instructs clients to organize by category rather than focusing on particular rooms or spaces within the home. For example, one might focus on throwing out unwanted clothing and then tackling the organization of the rest of the clothing which includes Marie Kondo's method of folding. This would occur before worrying about other items in the home, such as books or kitchen accessories.

5. Follow the Order

It's easy to get distracted and overwhelmed when organizing. Ms. Kondo believes that a certain order is best, starting with clothing and continuing with books, paperwork and miscellaneous items. She believes sentimental items should be saved for last because these tend to be the items people get stuck on.

6. Sparking Joy

The Konmari method involves making joy a priority. If an item isn't filling a person with joy, then what is its purpose? The item doesn't have to create joy directly. For instance, a person wouldn't feel much if they were simply standing there holding an empty blender. However, since the blender can be used to make tasty drinks, it can be considered a joyful item.

How to Begin the KonMari Process

To begin the konmari organizing method, Ms. Kondo recommends taking all items out of the spaces they are stored in and going through them to determine what will be thrown away and what will be kept. This can seem overwhelming in the beginning, but once this first step is done, it will be much easier to remain organized from there on out. Let the rest hang in your closet.

Once the main organization job is completed, Konverts will have the option of exploring some of Ms. Kondo's more advanced organizing techniques. She has specific methods for folding and storing clothing that can be helpful for those operating with limited space.

Those who are interested in learning more about the Konmari cleaning method or possibly hiring a consultant can contact the company through their website. The book and the show both make excellent starting points for general education about cleaning and organizing practices. Marie Kondo and the KonMari Method of Getting Organized.

What is the Konmari Method Sparking Joy Printable Checklist – Konmari Method pdf

Are you ready to start your Marie Kondo project??? Now that you've used the konmari clothes method and the konmari folding method there is nothing you can't organize! Getting rid of what doesn't spark joy? Then you need our checklist: Konmari method pdf right now! We hope that you are inspired by this post and that you adapt the konmari organizing method. Happy organizing!