The KonMari Method
- Library Zest Team
- Jun 17, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 27, 2020
Everyone likes a tidy home but it can be a challenge to keep the home in order. Marie Kondo's method of organizing, KonMari, has captivated people the world over. She has published several books and has a highly-rated Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. She also has an extensive network of Consultants who can provide in-home organization help.
What is KonMari?
Simply put, it encourages you to keep only items that speak to your heart. Items that have outlived their purpose can be discarded. KonMari is a method of organizing the items in your home, not room-by-room, but by category.
Clothing
Books
Papers
Miscellaneous items
Sentimental items
The point is to keep items that Spark Joy.
KonMari has six basic rules for organizing your space.
Commit yourself to tidying up
Imagine your ideal lifestyle
Finish discarding first
Tidy by category, not location
Follow the right order
Ask yourself if it sparks joy
It's about choosing joy...
I tried the KonMari Method of organizing my home. Of all the advice available out there, I really appreciated the emphasis on what you keep instead of what you throw away. I like how Minimalism looks in magazines and lifestyle blogs, but it isn't practical for me. I've tried the "throw one item away everyday" method, and it's too easy to get caught up on how much you're getting rid of and instead of why you're getting rid of it. I've even tried organizing every bookcase into picture-perfect, colour-coordinated rainbows. Some of it works, most of it doesn't.
So how did I KonMari my home? I followed the method and started with clothes, and like Marie Kondo's advice, I took everything out of the closet and cupboards. I did the same with the rest of the items on the list when it was their turn. Once you see it all in front of you, you really see how much stuff you've accumulated — even in a short time. Here I did waiver a bit on the process. I held each item and asked myself not if it sparked joy, but this series of questions: Do I use this? When was the last time I used it? Is it seasonal? For clothing, the most important question for me is, does it fit? Wanting it to fit, or maybe one day it'll fit isn't a good enough reason to keep an item. By the time that reality comes along, I likely won't like that piece of clothing, it won't be in style, or I'll have graduated to a brand or style I like better.
It's easy to see how much we hold on to things that don't hold value in our lives anymore.
Each section of my house I decluttered and organized got easier. KonMari isn't just about objects having a spot or a perfectly organized pantry; it's more about decluttering your mindset along the way.
The three things that I took away from the process that made the most sense are:
Organization is a never-ending task; it's ongoing
It's never going to look great while it's happening
Some methods work better for some people than others
I don't attach sentimental value to my possessions; other people hold their most precious memories and value their items more than I could ever imagine. I keep items for other reasons than sentimentality so I didn't struggle with letting them go because I knew I wouldn't miss them.
The Essa Public Library has Marie Kondo's books and a collection of organization books at both branches. To search for and place a hold on Marie Kondo's books visit our website www.essa.library.on.ca
If you love books with amazing photos of well-organized pantries, offices, bookshelves, and more, try these books as well. Many feature easy storage methods utilizing boxes and inexpensive baskets to get the most out of even a small space.
To learn more about Marie Kondo and the KonMari Method, visit her website here. You can also learn her trademark folding technique to make the most of any wardrobe.
— Dawn Travers
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