Ask Erin: My Take on the Konmari Method

Maybe you have heard of Marie Kondo and her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, but in case you have not, let me give you a bit more background. Marie Kondo is a Japanese author who has inspired thousands of people to live a more organized and “tidy” life. Her innovations have even been dubbed the “KonMari Method” and are being followed by those who seek a more organized and joyful life.

As a professional organizer, I was drawn to learn more about this method to see if I could use some of Kondo’s ideas to help my clients. After studying her top seven “rules,” I have realized that I agree with her in some ways and disagree with her in others. Below I use over ten years of experience to give my thoughts on the KonMari Method. If you have previously been interested in learning more about how you can get in on the “life-changing magic of tidying up,” I hope this information inspires you to find your own method of getting organized.

Rule #1 – Tidy all at once.

Kondo believes that once you begin tidying (organizing), momentum takes hold and your mindset begins to change. She believes that staying on the path of organization until the project is complete will prevent you from reverting to previous unorganized habits. The KonMari method states that you should not stop the process of organizing until the job is complete.

My Take – I SOMEWHAT agree with this rule of thumb. Sometimes, I find that once you get the organizing process started, a natural momentum begins as you start to see the changes that your effort is making. However, I believe that if you get overwhelmed, tired or uninspired, you definitely need a break. If you want to complete an important task CORRECTLY you must work at your own pace. Listen to your mind, body and spirit and follow what it is asking you to do!

Rule #2- Visualize the end result.

To follow the KonMari method, you must begin by identifying your goal. For instance, what motivated you to begin the organizing process? Kondo believes that you will derail your progress if you do not think in concrete terms about how you want the tidying process to end. You must be able to visualize the end result.

My Take – YES! YES! YES! I am 100% on board with this rule! In fact, this is how I begin each and every organizing process that I am involved in. First I assess the situation and then return to my office and begin to visualize how I want the project to end. I search for pictures that inspire me, and then I can create the steps that it will take to get to my end result. If you don’t know where you are going how will you ever get there?

Rule #3 – Determine if each item sparks joy.

Kondo states that an item must spark joy for it to be a keeper during the sorting and discarding process. In other words, don’t focus on what you are getting rid of; instead, focus on what you want to keep! Hold each item in your hand and ask “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it; If not, discard it. To follow the full intent of this rule, you must hold the item in your hand so that it is close to you and connects with your soul.

My Take – I am completely on board with this rule, too! I believe that you should surround yourself with items that make you happy and “spark joy”; otherwise, why would you want to hang on to them? For instance, does that old t-shirt that your ex-boyfriend purchased for you bring up good memories or bad? Does that stack of depressing books make you happy? My guess is the answer is “no”, so toss them!! You will be happier and feel lighter if you commit to this organizing rule of thumb!

Rule #4 – Tidy by category, not location.

Kondo believes that organizing room by room is a fatal mistake because most people store similar items in different places. Instead, she suggests that you tidy by category instead of location. For example, if you start by organizing your bedroom closet. You complete the task and move onto another room where you find more clothing that should have been in your closet. So to prevent such a duplication of effort, the KonMari method states that you should tidy by category (clothing), instead of the location (closet).

My Take – Although this sounds good, I have found that organizing by location is much more efficient. After all, if you find an item in another room that already has a home in another organized location, you will know right where to put it! And, if there is no more room for the found item, you can use the “Does it spark joy” question to make your final decision on whether to toss it or keep it.

Rule #5 – Tidy in the correct order.

The KonMari method states that you should begin tidying (organizing) in the correct order so you won’t derail yourself. According to Kondo, “the degree of difficulty involved in selecting what to keep and what to discard differs greatly depending on the category. People who get stuck halfway usually do so because they start with the things that are hardest to make decisions about.” Of course, items that hold memories or attachment should be saved for last, when you are stronger.

My Take – I definitely agree that starting with mementos, such as photographs, would be to your detriment as it may cause you to derail before you even get started. Instead, begin the progression with something easier to discard such as expired food or medication. Another point to consider is that it may be easier to ask a friend, or professional, to step in during the keepsake -sorting process and save the easier stuff for when you are alone. A second opinion, or push, may be all you need to propel yourself through the hard parts. If you choose to go this route, the order you decide to go in shouldn’t matter.

Rule #6 – Discard before placing things back.

Kondo suggests that one should complete the discarding process before putting anything back into a permanent place. She even goes so far as to say that you should take everything from its current home and place it in the middle of the floor before you begin sorting. The sorting process should not end until you have held everything in your hands and completed Rule #3 – Determine if each item sparks joy. “To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.”

My Take – I agree with this concept, but I don’t go so far as to say that a huge stack on the floor is the best policy. A few small stacks, maybe, but one huge one can be daunting and overwhelming. I don’t mind my clients sorting through a closet, for instance, without removing much first. However, I do agree that one of the most important steps in the organizing process is to discard and then find a permanent, forever home for each item you keep.

Rule #7 – Give everything a home.

According to Kondo, “the existence of an item without a home multiplies the chances that your space will become cluttered again. “ Once a place for everything is chosen, it will be easy to maintain order in your home. But, you must follow this very important rule – put an item back where it goes immediately after using it.

My Take – I have used this rule throughout my entire organizing career and couldn’t agree with Kondo more! In addition, the simpler the storage process, the better. For instance, if you have to climb a ladder, open a door, pull out and unzip a bin every time you use a certain item, you probably want that item to be something that is rarely used.

All in all, your home is your sanctuary. Getting and staying organized will make it that much more enjoyable for you and your family. Kondo and I both agree with that!