Marie Kondo gives tips on organizing
Organizing consultant and author Marie Kondo joined staff writer Jura Koncius on The Washington Post’s Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt.
Q: How can I maintain organization in a very small home?
A: The basic rules of the KonMari method can be applied when organizing a very small house. I myself used to live in a tidy studio apartment.
Before you begin organizing or storing things, first consider the items in your home that truly spark joy for you. Ask yourself if they are things you want to cherish.
When organizing a small house, it is important to store things in the same category together — don’t scatter them in different places around the house.
To take full advantage of the storage systems you do have — such as the pantry or closet — make sure you store everything vertically. This will help you save space.
Q: What are your best tips for keeping the toddler chaos at bay? Our 15-month-old loves pulling out his books and toys, and isn’t much help at cleaning up yet.
A: Rather than fixate on having a perfectly tidy home at all times, I show my children how happy I am while tidying. This helps encourage their interest in tidying, too.
Q: I’ve never taken the time to be truly tidy, but I will be retiring soon and have lots of time to make a positive change in my environment. What’s a good first step? Should I do a massive decluttering of the entire house or take it one room — or drawer — at a time?
A: A good first step is to imagine your ideal life after you retire. Visualize what your house will look like and how you’d like to spend your time in your home.
When tidying, I recommend tidying the whole house in one shot as much as possible. If you commit five full days to tidying, you should be able to finish it all in that period. Instead of tidying by room, try tidying by category. For example, tidy clothes one day and books another day.
Organizing items by category allows you to learn more about yourself because it gives you an opportunity to discover what you’d like to keep in your life and how you’d like to live your life.
Q: I have tried for years to come up with my vision for my ideal life and home. It just won’t form in my head. Any suggestions?
A: Start by making a habit of writing down what you respond to when looking at interior magazines or when visiting a friend’s house. You might notice particular colors that you like or plants that make you happy. When woven together, these elements will create your ideal life and home.
Q: If the item no longer sparks joy and you are trying to sell it for financial gain, at what point do you donate it so things don’t pile up in the house?
A: Set a clear schedule and assign a date. For example, tell yourself that in one month, you will have a garage sale or go to a specific donation center. If something does not sell within a specific window of time, it is time to donate it. Give yourself a strict deadline and stick to it!
While you are completing your tidying marathon, store the items that you plan to sell or donate in an area that does not interfere with your daily life, such as a garage or shed.
Q: Now that you’re an international sensation, have you found a difference in attitudes between America and Japan (and other countries) toward clutter or things? Do you approach clients’ issues differently based on cultures?
A: I was surprised to learn that no matter the country, everyone has trouble tidying. We’re all the same in that sense.
What is different, however, is that people from different countries have attachments to unique things. For example, I learned that in Poland, books have an elite status and are not something that you just throw out. In the United States, I learned that family heirlooms are common and treasured — in Japan, it’s rare that large items are passed on through the generations.