Declutter by KonMari Category The KonMari Method® encourages you to tidy by category (e.g., clothes, books, paperwork, komono*, sentimental) rather than the typical room-by-room approach to decluttering. * komono refers to miscellaneous items including toiletries, toys, kitchenware and stationery.
The KonMari Method in 5 Steps
Categories (in order): Clothes first, then books, papers, komono (miscellany), and lastly, mementos.
The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.
Stuff doesn't change; people do. The tidying up will follow. (So don't focus on the stuff.) Whether things spark joy may be a great way to initially clear the clutter… but the KonMari method doesn't provide a system on how to stay organized after that, making it unsustainable for many people.
The Decluttering Rule of 5 advises assessing items not used in five years to decide whether to keep, donate, or discard. Organize closets by usage, manage sentimental items thoughtfully, and maintain habits like 'one-in, one-out' to simplify and enhance daily living efficiently.
The KonMari Method teaches organization by category: clothing, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items, like home decor, makeup, and kitchen utensils), and sentimental items. It's also necessary to organize in this order. Your purge should also follow this order to help you move along in the process.
Both offer tidy-up tips and are big hits on Pinterest, but that's where the similarities end. While Kondo's approach involves pulling clothes and books off their shelves and into a pile to edit down to joy-sparking essentials, FlyLady has a strict rule to never take out more than you can put away in an hour.
But how long the KonMari Method takes depends on the amount of stuff you own—cleaning your space could take you one weekend or it could take one month. That's why the first step is simply committing to a tidy house. Don't get discouraged if the process takes longer than a day!
Decluttering gives us higher self-esteem and makes us happy. Having trouble staying organised results in feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Seeing the disarray of things bombards our minds with excessive stimuli and causes our senses to be overwhelmed. It distracts us from our tasks causing us to procrastinate.
Pure, clean, uncluttered and balanced are all words that can be used to describe Japanese-style interiors with a minimalistic flair. And what better place in your home to apply these looks and feelings than in the kitchen – a place in everyone's home that can be busy, untidy, hot and cluttered on a daily basis.
Invented by Marie Kondo, the KonMari Method is a simple but effective organizing system that uses a transformative criterion: choosing what sparks joy.
What Is the Tidy Toss? Created by professional organizer Holly Blakey, the tidy toss is a smart way to organize your closet by tossing smaller items into baskets or containers instead of arranging every single item.
But, with time, I eased up on myself; then, after I gave birth to my second daughter, I let go of my need for perfection altogether,” she wrote. “I am busier than ever after having my third child, so I have grown to accept that I cannot tidy every day – and that is okay!” Kondo added.
What is Kurashi? Kurashi roughly translates to “way of life” or “the ideal way of spending our time,” but like many words lost in translation, it means much more than that. If you haven't tidied using the KonMari Method, focusing on your kurashi will motivate you to start.
We should neither keep possessions for the sake of it, or mindlessly discard them - but instead confront each one honestly and decide straight away whether it sparks joy or not. Anything that doesn't is out. "From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to re-set your life," says Kondo.
Declutter 15 minutes a day – FlyLady's principle is that anyone can do anything for 15 minutes. Just set a timer and declutter something for 15 minutes, and then stop when the timer goes off! Take regular breaks – Cleaning doesn't need to be a marathon!
Komono – miscellaneous items – may seem daunting to sort through and store, but tidying them by category will make the job fast and efficient. From tech tools and art supplies to cosmetics and collectibles, all of your stuff needs a place to rest and recharge at the end of the day.
The idea is pretty simple: Just focus on clearing up the following 5 categories of things—and nothing else: Trash, laundry, dishes, things that have a place, and things that don't have a place.
Start Small and Simple. One way to gain momentum in the paring down process is to start with the easy things. Begin boxing up items that don't hold much emotional attachment. Doing so will lead to a sense of accomplishment and provide motivation for you to keep going when the decision-making becomes tougher.