A step by step guide to Marie Kondo's Konmari decluttering method to create a clean and tidy home.
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Whether you've read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or watched her show on Netflix, you're probably feeling inspired to try a Konmari declutter in your house. I know I have! There is something very satisfying about decluttering and learning to create a home that sparks joy for your family.
If you're ready to try but aren't sure where to start, I'm here to help with a step by step guide to doing a Konmari declutter in your home.
How to do a Konmari Declutter in Your House
Step 1: Make a commitment
Marie Kondo suggests that the best way to tidy your home is to do it all in one sitting. As you start to discard items you don’t need you will begin to build up momentum. If you can, carve out one day during your weekend to do all your tidying at once. If you can’t do your entire tidying in one day, aim for one category per tidying session.
Step 2: Imagine your dream home
Start by imagining how you want your home to be when you are finished with this journey. What do you want it to feel or look like? Make notes in your planner or begin a tidying journal with your organizing goals to help you have a crystal clear image of your dream home in your mind before you begin tidying.
Step 3: Stick to the order
When doing a Konmari declutter it’s important that you stick to Marie Kondo's recommended order of tidying. It is intended to go from the things that will be easiest for you to the most difficult, so be sure to follow it for best results.
- Clothes
- Books
- Paper
- Konomo (misc.)
- Sentimental
Do not move onto the next category until you have finished with the one before it. It's OK if you can't do it all in one session, but be sure that you are completely done with the category before moving on.
Step 4: Gather everything from the category you are tidying into one spot
Marie’s rule of thumb is that if you have forgotten something from one of the categories while you’re tidying to just get rid of it. If you didn’t remember it enough to put it in the pile, it must not be important enough to keep. This is why it’s so important to put everything in one spot first! Make a massive pile of everything from the category you are decluttering in before you start to go through it.
Step 5: Hold each item
Hold each item and ask yourself if this item sparks joy for you. Make sure to do this with every single item you are going through.
Step 6: For items that do not spark joy
If the item does not spark joy, place it in a discard pile. These items can then be donated, thrown out, or sold if needed.
Step 7: Finish discarding before you move on
Until you have gotten rid of the items you are no longer keeping from one category, don’t move on. This will make sure that you are completely done with one area before you move to the next.
Step 8: Store the items you keep
Marie Kondo has a few methods to use for storing the items you keep. First, she recommends using her folding method to organize your clothing, linens, and other items that can be folded.
Store these items stacked so you can easily see everything you have. For other items, find small storage bins to help divide up your storage space and make sure all your items have a designated area to live.
Step 9: Stop the flow
As you buy new things in life, it’s important to ask yourself if the item sparks joy before you bring it home. This will help make decisions much easier and help you continue to build a home that sparks joy.
Step 10: Keep your home clutter free
You won’t have clutter everywhere if the items in your home have a designated area to live. When you take something out, put it back where it belongs. If you find an item doesn’t have a good home, make one for it.
You'll want to commit to your new tidy home by doing these 7 things Marie Kondo recommends every day. Be sure to grab the free printable Konmari checklist too!
Want more Konmari inspiration? See what Marie Kondo can teach your kids here, and find out how to make the Konmari method work for moms here.
And learn how to keep your home clutter free after you declutter here!