In today's fast-paced world, clutter seems to accumulate effortlessly. Whether it's physical possessions piling up in our homes or the mental weight of unfinished tasks and unresolved emotions, the burden of clutter can be overwhelming.

The Marie Kondo technique has helped thousands of people to reclaim their space from the oppression of clutter and find joy in their possessions and peace in their homes. Konmari, as it’s also known, can deliver a clearer mind and a more intentional life as well as a tidier living space.

At the heart of the method is the idea of discarding items that no longer "spark joy." This simple yet profound concept encourages us to evaluate our possessions not based on their utility or sentimentality alone but on the positive emotions they evoke. By focusing on joy, we can let go of the guilt and obligation that often accompany decluttering decisions.

Decluttering excess possessions and valuing what we have helps us to consume less so that we use fewer of the earth’s valuable resources and reduce our impact on the environment.

Here are the basic steps for decluttering the Marie Kondo way.

1. Commit yourself to tidying up: Make a commitment to declutter and organize your space once and for all. Decluttering can seem overwhelming but the results can be life changing.

2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle: Envision the kind of life you want to live in your decluttered and organised space. What are your true priorities? Is it time with your friends or family, enjoying your hobbies, having a relaxing space where you can recover from work? Your vision will help to keep you on track and motivate you through the process.

3. Discard first: Rather than organising what you have, begin by discarding items. Gather everything from one category (such as clothes) in one place and go through each item, holding it and asking yourself if it sparks joy. If it does, keep it; if not, thank it for its service and let it go.

Set aside any items that have sentimental value to consider at the end of the process when you’ve built up momentum and have got into the flow of making decisions.

Send as little as you can to landfill. Recycle and take unwanted items to charity shops, gift them or sell them online or at car boot sales.

4. Tidy by category, not location: Sort your belongings by category, not by location. Categories typically include clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items. Placing all of the items in a category together allows you to see just how much you have and to spot duplicate items (do you really need 3 tin openers??).

5. Follow the right order: Marie Kondo suggests a specific order for tidying: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous objects), and sentimental items. This order helps build momentum and gradually increases the difficulty of decision-making.

6. Follow the joy: When deciding what to keep, focus on whether an item brings you joy rather than practicality or guilt. This helps you cultivate a sense of appreciation for your belongings.

7. Organize what you choose to keep: Once you've finished discarding, organize the items you've chosen to keep. Find a designated place for each item, keeping in mind accessibility and ease of use. Here are some of Marie’s top tips for organising

• Vertical storage: Store items vertically whenever possible. This maximises space and makes it easier to see and access items. Folding clothes and storing them vertically in drawers, for example, allows you to see all your clothes at once.

Photo by Maude Frédérique Lavoie on Unsplash

• Store like items together: Keep similar items together to make them easier to find and access. For example, store all kitchen utensils in one drawer or keep all electronics accessories in a designated box. If you have a lot of a particular type of item, group objects of a similar size together.

• Designate a home for each item: Assign a specific place for each item in your home. This helps prevent clutter from accumulating and makes it easier to put things away after use.

• Use boxes and containers effectively: Use boxes, trays and tubs to contain smaller items and keep them organized. Clear containers are ideal as they allow you to see what's inside without opening them.

8. Use suitable storage solutions: Choose storage solutions that suit your lifestyle and help maintain the organization of your space. Marie Kondo emphasizes simple and practical storage that allows you to see and access your belongings easily. It doesn’t don’t need to be new or expensive; you can reuse empty packaging boxes and repurpose storage you free up by decluttering.

9. Tidy all at once, intensely and completely: Rather than tidying a little bit at a time, commit to tidying up intensely and completely. This ensures that you experience the full benefits of the process and avoid reverting to old cluttered habits. Set aside plenty of time so that you don’t have to rush.

10. Involve those you live with: whether it’s your partner, children or friends, involving those you share you space with can be powerful for making long-term changes. Rather than imposing decisions on others, allow adults to make their own decisions about what they set aside and work with kids to help them choose. That way, those involved will learn and see the benefits of the process as well as feeling in control and therefore relaxed about it.

11. Maintain your space: Regularly revisit your belongings to ensure they continue to bring you joy. Make tidying up a habit to prevent clutter from accumulating again.

The Marie Kondo technique offers a refreshing alternative to a life of excess and clutter. It invites us to redefine our relationship with material possessions, placing emphasis not on quantity but on quality and intentionality. By surrounding ourselves only with that which brings us joy, we create space for a life filled with purpose, meaning, and contentment that supports sustainable living.

https://konmari.com/