The Complete Guide to KonMari Method Steps for Beginners

The KonMari Method is a revolutionary approach to decluttering and organizing your space, developed by Marie Kondo. It's all about sparking joy in your belongings and creating a more streamlined, peaceful living environment.

The first step in the KonMari Method is to gather items of a particular category, such as clothes or books, from all over your home and place them in a specific area. This allows you to see everything you own and decide what sparks joy.

To get started, you'll need to gather boxes or bags for each category of item. This will help you contain the items and keep your space organized.

To start decluttering with the KonMari Method, it's essential to commit to the process. This means setting aside time to work through your home, even if it's just a few hours a week.

You don't need to be decluttering 24/7, but it's crucial to make progress. The KonMari Method is centered on getting rid of stuff, so be prepared to let go of items that no longer spark joy.

To prepare for the process, take "before" photos of your space. This will help you visualize the progress you'll make and provide motivation along the way. Kondo calls this the "clutter-photo shock treatment."

The KonMari Method stresses tidying everything in your home at once, rather than in small steps. This approach helps you avoid reverting to old, cluttered ways. Think of the initial tidying up as a "special event", not as part of your household chores.

By following the KonMari Method steps, you'll be able to develop your confidence and decision-making skills. This will help you tackle the harder possessions, like sentimental items, with ease.

Here's a rough guide to the categories you'll tackle in order:

By starting with the easier categories, you'll build momentum and develop the skills you need to tackle the harder ones.

To start decluttering with the KonMari Method, commit to tidying up and imagine your ideal lifestyle. This will help you understand what kind of life you want to lead and what kind of belongings will support that.

The KonMari Method encourages you to tidy by category, not room by room. This means gathering all items of a particular category together, such as clothes, books, or papers, to get a clear view of what you own. Decluttering by category helps you see exactly what you have and make informed decisions about what to keep and discard.

Here's a suggested order for decluttering by category: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), and sentimental items. This order makes sense because you'll start with the easiest category (clothes) and work your way up to the most difficult (sentimental items).

Remember, the goal is to finish discarding before organizing your space. This means getting rid of items that don't spark joy or serve a purpose before deciding where to store the remaining items. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to a clutter-free home and a more intentional lifestyle.

To start decluttering, commit to tidying up and set aside time to work through your home. It's essential to follow through and stick with it.

The KonMari Method encourages tidying by category, not location. This means gathering all items of a specific type together, such as clothes or books, to see exactly what you own.

The right order is crucial when decluttering. Start with clothes, followed by books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), and finally, sentimental items. This order helps you build confidence and decision-making skills.

Discarding is a significant part of the KonMari Method. You must fully complete the discarding stage before organizing the items you plan to keep.

To make decisions about what to keep and what to discard, ask yourself if an item sparks joy. This means considering whether an item inspires joy, thrills you, speaks to your heart, moves you, or brings you love.

Here's a list of categories in the order you should declutter them:

Remember, the goal is to get rid of items that no longer bring you joy or serve a purpose. By following these basics, you'll be well on your way to a more organized and clutter-free home.

The KonMari Method of folding is all about making your clothes stand upright in your drawers. This means folding them into a rectangle shape.

You'll want to fold your clothes as many times as needed to fit them in your drawers, and the height of your drawers will determine how many folds you need. I've found that this approach helps keep my clothes organized and easy to see.

Lighter coloured items should be stored in front of darker items in your drawers, so they're not getting damaged or stained. This simple trick makes a big difference in keeping your clothes looking their best.

Intriguing read: Konmari Fold

Decluttering categories are a crucial part of the KonMari Method. There are 5 main categories to focus on: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), and sentimental items.

Tidying by category, not location, is a key principle of the KonMari Method. This means gathering all items from a category together in one place, rather than tidying each room separately.

Here's an interesting read: Konmari Categories

To declutter by category, start with the easiest one, which is often clothes. This is because you interact with your clothes daily, and the impact of decluttering will be immediate. Put all your clothes in one pile, including those from your closet, drawers, laundry basket, and coat rack.

Here are the 5 main categories to focus on:

Decluttering by category allows you to see exactly what you own and make informed decisions about what to keep and discard. This approach also helps you identify duplicate items, things you've forgotten about, and items that are past their best.

The KonMari Method differs from other decluttering methods, focusing on personal criteria like what sparks joy rather than rigid rules. This approach allows you to tailor the method to your lifestyle.

Other decluttering methods often rely on sweeping rules like "if you haven't used it in over a year, get rid of it". The KonMari Method avoids these rules, instead tuning into your personal desires to make the method work for you.

In terms of organisation, the KonMari Method stores items by type, making it easier to find what you need. This approach can be a game-changer for cluttered spaces.

Storing similar items together also helps you make the most of your space, as it's a great way to save room. I've found that storing things upright is a fantastic way to declutter and organise, and it's now my go-to method.

Tidying by category, not location, is a game-changer for decluttering. It helps you see exactly what you own in each category, making it easier to make informed decisions about what to keep and discard.

The KonMari Method encourages you to tidy by category, which includes clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous, and sentimental items. This approach allows you to easily identify duplicate items, things you'd forgotten about, and anything that may be past its best.

Gathering all items from a category together in one place enables you to see the volume of everything you own in that category. This can be quite shocking, but it acts as a further incentive to start decluttering.

Decluttering by category rather than room by room was a game-changer for me, as I found it easier to make informed decisions about what to keep and discard.

The right category order is important, too. Start with clothes, then move on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), and leave the hardest category, sentimental items, to the end.

Here's a rough guide to the KonMari Method categories:

Remember, tidying by category is not just about getting rid of clutter, but also about creating a more organized and peaceful living space.

The Paper and Mementoes category can be a challenging one to tackle, but it's essential to approach it with patience and self-compassion. You don't have to complete this category in one sitting, and it's okay to take breaks to process your emotions.

Start by gathering all your sentimental items, including photos, baby clothes, and trophies, and bring them to one place. Don't suffer through the process if it's becoming overwhelming, set the item aside and come back to it when you're feeling more ready. Give yourself grace and remember that you're not required to discard anything.

To make the process easier, try separating the memories from the physical items. Remember that memories are stored in your heart and in your head, and getting rid of the physical item doesn't erase them. You can store memories in other ways, such as through the telling of stories or by taking a photo of the item.

Completing the paper category can be a challenge, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can tackle it head-on. Spending hours hunched over piles of papers is not an enjoyable experience, so it's essential to get comfortable while working on this task.

To make the process more manageable, consider implementing the following tips:

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to conquering the paper category and maintaining your hard-won progress.

Tackling the Mementoes category can be a daunting task, but remember, you're not required to discard anything that brings you joy or makes you feel something. The key is to approach it with confidence and self-compassion.

It's okay to take breaks and not complete this category in one sitting, as it can be mentally taxing and emotionally draining. Give yourself grace and don't expect to get rid of a lot at once.

Some items will be tough to face, and that's normal. If you're feeling overwhelmed with grief or sadness, set the item aside and come back to it when you're feeling calmer.

Separating the memories from the physical item can be helpful. Remember that memories are stored in your heart and in your head, and getting rid of the physical item doesn't erase them.

Here are my top 3 tips for completing the Mementoes category:

Remember, you don't have to complete this category in one session. It's okay to take your time and come back to it when you're feeling ready.

Being aware of common obstacles can help you identify and overcome them during your tidying festival. Forewarning is indeed forearming, as Marie Kondo emphasizes.

Some of the most common obstacles to completing the KonMari Method include not being a firm believer in the method, which can make it harder to stick to the process. Lack of motivation and inconsistent effort can also hinder progress.

Knowing that these obstacles exist can help you prepare and develop strategies to overcome them.

Acquiring a new mindset is a crucial step in overcoming obstacles. This involves adopting a consistent approach to tidying up and removing unnecessary items, rather than doing a major cleaning occasionally.

Kondo's method emphasizes the importance of this mindset shift, encouraging clients to tidy up regularly rather than putting it off. This approach helps create a sense of control and organization in one's life.

By adopting this mindset, you can break free from the cycle of clutter and disorganization that can hold you back. It's not just about physical space, but also about mental clarity and focus.

Regular tidying helps to create a sense of routine and discipline, which can be applied to other areas of life where obstacles need to be overcome. By developing this mindset, you can tackle challenges with greater ease and confidence.

Being aware of the obstacles to completing a tidying project can help you stay on track. Forewarned is forearmed, and Marie Kondo's tidying method is no exception.

You may find it challenging to complete the KonMari Method if you're not aware of the potential obstacles. Being prepared can make all the difference.

It's essential to identify and overcome these common hurdles to achieve a successful tidying festival.

Sentimental items can be a major obstacle to completing the KonMari Method. They can bring up strong emotions and make it difficult to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go of.

Marie Kondo encourages clients to put sentimental items aside and tackle them in the sentimental category. This helps to avoid getting bogged down in emotions and keeps the tidying process moving.

It's not just about clothes, either - sentimental items can pop up in any category. For example, a box of old academic articles can bring back memories of grad school years.

Determining what sparks joy is a skill that takes practice. Tidying sentimental items is an advanced skill that requires patience and self-awareness.

To avoid getting distracted by sentimental items, have a box labeled "sentimental" handy as you sort through other categories. This way, you can set aside items that need special consideration.

Here are some tips for handling sentimental items:

By following these tips, you can avoid getting bogged down by sentimental items and stay focused on completing the KonMari Method.

The KonMari Method emphasizes the importance of folding clothes into small rectangles, also known as "KonMari folds", to make them easy to store and access. This allows you to see everything you own at a glance.

You should also store clothes by type, rather than by season or occasion. For example, all your t-shirts should be stored together, and all your dresses should be stored together.

T-shirts, in particular, should be folded in a way that makes them easy to stand up in a drawer, allowing you to see everything at a glance. This makes it easy to find the one you want to wear.

A good rule of thumb is to store items in a way that makes them easy to see and access, rather than shoving them to the back of a closet or drawer.

Take a look at this: Konmari Method How to Organize Folded Clothes in Closet

Marie Kondo is a Japanese expert on decluttering and organization. Her method, known as KonMari, has gained popularity worldwide.

Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, was published in 2014 and introduced the KonMari Method to North America. Many people have also discovered her through the Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.

The KonMari Method encourages tidying by category, starting with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, and miscellaneous items. This approach allows you to focus on one type of item at a time.

Consider reading: Bain Marie How to Use

Marie Kondo is a Japanese expert on decluttering and organization.

Her 2014 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up launched her method in North America.

She has gained popularity through her Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.

The KonMari Method is Marie Kondo's approach to tidying, which involves organizing by category, not location.

This method starts with clothes, then moves on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items.

Marie Kondo encourages keeping only items that spark joy and letting go of those that no longer do.

She suggests thanking items for their service before discarding them.

Marie Kondo has been misquoted as saying she hates books, but she actually encourages letting go of books you won't read or reread.

If you're new to Marie Kondo's KonMari method, it's essential to start with the right book. The best instruction manual for KonMari is the book that was initially intended as a stopgap for Kondo's clients.

Learning the method in detail matters, and this book is crucial for developing the right mindset as you tackle this huge endeavor.

This book was written in response to Kondo's clients, who had a months-long waiting list for consultations, and they requested that she write a book so they could learn about her method while waiting.