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Writer's pictureJohn Lim
Nov 16, 20234 min read

MF 448 : Decluttering series: A look at Marie Kondo's KonMari method



Today, I take a look at Marie Kondo's KonMari method and five takeaways from her book and whether they work for me. More at ⁠www.bemovingforward.com⁠.


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[Note: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no new episode next week. Episode 449 will air on Thursday, Nov. 30th.]


[Note: Links to Amazon and Audible products are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.]


Evaluating Marie Kondo's KonMari method

Five takeaways from Marie Kondo's book

Marie Kondo is one of the pioneering figures of minimalism and decluttering. Her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (affiliate link) was my first formal primer as I started this decluttering process back in July. Below are five takeaways from the book.

  1. Declutter by categories: put all items on the floor and evaluate what to keep and what to discard using this order:

    1. Clothes

    2. Books

    3. Paper

    4. Konmari (nic nacs)

    5. Sentimental items

  2. Apply the "sparks joy" test: touch each item and decide if it "sparks joy," keeping only those items that elicit an immense emotional reaction of warmth, happiness, and endearment.

  3. Touch each item: to determine if it sparks joy or needs to go.

  4. Donate or throw away en masse: go through each category quickly and efficiently. This means devoting a day or so per category and really plowing through it to completion.

  5. Reorganize what's left: in a way that keeps it logical, and clearly visible.

What works about this method and what doesn't

  1. Given that I'm decluttering three spaces in tandem (my condo, my dad's house and his workshop), I couldn't declutter by specific categories. I also didn't start with clothes but something more basic: plastic and paper. With respect to paper, I started with a category of paper: bags, which I call "fluttering paper." Finally, while going category by category may make sense for many, it wasn't feasible for me. I often crossed from category into another.

  2. I have yet to come across any item that "sparked joy" as Marie Kondo defines it. The closest I experienced that was with couple of vintage t-shirts that I immediately grabbed after discovering them in a long forgotten box and decided to keep. But even that could hardly be described as "sparking joy." Instead, I used a two part test of 1) distance in time since I last used it or saw it, and 2) utility / want.

  3. This aspect I found very helpful. Touching each item, especially the sentimental ones helped me appreciate when they came into my life and why I kept them for so long. I also went a step further by reliving and appreciating the memories associated with that item, sometimes taking photos and texting them to others from that period. This practice helped me immensely as I ventured into more sentimental items.

  4. I agree with this for the most part with the added caveat that it's a good idea to find recyclable solutions for certain categories such as large quantities of fabric, and to sell valuable items that you unearth.

  5. This I wholeheartedly agree with. Decluttering isn't simply reducing, it requires rethinking how you maintain what you keep. One practice Marie Kondo suggests, which I've adopted is folding clothes and stacking vertically so everything is visible rather than stacking on top of one another.

Overall, while I didn't find the KonMari method a perfect fit, many of the practices, and justifications for decluttering resonated. This is an excellent primer to get you started if you've decided it's time to declutter your life.


Decluttering tip

Marie Kondo's method may not be a perfect fit. Take what is useful and tweak it to fit your own circumstances.


Take photos of sentimental items. This is a good way to preserve the memories associated with the item while letting it go.


Decluttering resources

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