“Does this spark joy?” this question posed by Japanese Organising Consultant, Marie Kondo, became a well-known global and cultural phenomenon. So much so, that even those who weren’t aware of the celebrity may have come across the slew of memes floating around the internet!
However, Marie Kondo is far from being an overnight success. She has been perfecting the art of organisation for more than a decade. And as a nod to her genius, we will be taking a deeper look at the KonMari method of decluttering that made her so wildly popular. Also, we will share a few practical tips and tricks as well as a KonMari checklist to help you hop aboard this trend. So stick around, because your home is about to spark joy soon!
What is the KonMari Method?
Debuting in Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, the KonMari method is a trick for tidying up. Albeit a bit radical, it is pretty simplistic – you retain items that serve a purpose and are meaningful and get rid of the rest. In other words, you evaluate if these items “spark joy” or have outlived their usefulness.
The Konmari Checklist: A Cheat Sheet to the Konmari Method
Now that you know about the KonMari method, you may be curious to give it a shot. Here is an easy KonMari checklist that can lend direction:
Get Into the Zone
One of the first steps of the KonMari method is committing to tidying up. As you will learn later, Kondo emphasises how the entire process should be completed in one go. As such, you cannot put in half-baked efforts or bail out mid-way as it will imminently result in failure. Also, while you are getting into the headspace of getting down and dirty with decluttering, Kondo also encourages people to envision what their ideal home should look like. After all, once you have a goal in mind, it will be easier for you to work towards it than proceed haphazardly.
Move by Category
Unlike regular decluttering, which involves you moving from room to room, the KonMari method addresses decluttering by category. This unique method makes it deceptively efficient. According to Kondo, the right order of progression includes clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and mementoes. And so, start accordingly.
Only Keep Things That Spark Joy
When you have your category-based pile ahead of you, now comes the part where you ruthlessly discard items that no longer do it for you. For this process, Kondo recommends that you physically touch every item one by one to reach this decision. Ask yourself if it sparks joy or inspires any form of inspiration. If so, then keep it. Otherwise, you can get rid of it by discarding it or giving it to charity (depending on the condition). Also, another trademark characteristic of the KonMari method is to thank the items for their service, which makes it easier to part ways.
Organise The Space
Once you have finished discarding the clutter, you need to organise the remaining items and store them properly. Here’s where the brilliance of the KonMari method will kick in – since you are sorting and discarding by category, you would also be storing and organising these items by category, which not only makes your home super tidy and organised but also makes it easier for you to locate items!
Finish Decluttering in One Go
After you have completed one category of items, you may be tempted to call it a day. However, resist this urge and move on to the next category. Kondo believes that the concept of ikki ni, that is completing the task in one go has a dramatic effect on one’s mindset and lays the foundation for a perennially decluttered home.
Tips for Following the KonMari Method of Decluttering
You can adopt the tips that follow to reinforce the KonMari checklist and make the decluttering process all the more effective:
- Kondo recommends only storing those items that you genuinely plan on using rather than getting smarter about hiding the clutter.
- The KonMari checklist is a one-size-fits-all technique and should not be changed to cater to every individual’s preferences.
- Break down the categories into subcategories for greater efficiency. For instance, clothes can be classified from top to bottom, and you can work accordingly.
- Learn Kondo’s special folding technique for clothes as it will minimise the space it occupies while making it accessible.
- Follow the KonMari method of decluttering on your own and avoid any external influence as it may shape your decision regarding the object.
Even though the KonMari method may seem extreme, you will eventually realise that the items that you get rid of were only taking up space around your home. Moreover, this dual-pronged approach of discarding and organising will help you into a minimalistic lifestyle that is inherently free of clutter.
Equipped with this knowledge, you can go ahead and declutter your life! Follow the HomeLane blog for more insights on how to make your home the best that there is!
