Marie Kondo's 6 rules to tidying up (2024)

FAQs

Marie Kondo's 6 rules to tidying up? ›

The KonMari method is Marie Kondo's minimalist-inspired approach to tackling your stuff category-by-category, rather than room-by-room. It teaches you to ask a simple question when you go about tidying up: Ask yourself if each item in your home sparks joy. If it doesn't, get rid of it.

The KonMari method is Marie Kondo's minimalist-inspired approach to tackling your stuff category-by-category, rather than room-by-room. It teaches you to ask a simple question when you go about tidying up: Ask yourself if each item in your home sparks joy. If it doesn't, get rid of it.

The best sequence is this: clothes first, then books, papers, miscellaneous items (komono) and, lastly, sentimental items and keepsakes. Effective tidying involves only two essential actions: discarding and deciding where to store things.

Declutter by Category, Not Room

Rather than tackling your space room by room, Marie Kondo's method suggests decluttering by category, starting with clothes, then books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items.

Since becoming a mother to three children, she said her way of life had changed and her focus had shifted from organisation to drawing on simple ways to bring happiness to everyday things. In the book, she writes: “Tidying up means dealing with all the 'things' in your life.”

The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.

The 333 decluttering method simplifies wardrobes by limiting you to 33 items for 3 months. It reduces stress and promotes sustainability. It encourages selecting versatile, essential clothing, fostering minimalist habits, and mindful consumption, while also applying these principles broadly.

In a recent interview with Life Kit, Davis shared her "Five Things Tidying Method," a simple framework to get a messy room back to functioning. She says that in any space, there are only five things: trash, dishes, laundry, things that have a place, and things that don't have a place.

We call it the Four-Pile Sort Method, which consists of dividing everything into four giant piles: things to keep, to donate, to throw away, and to sell. Make a plan in advance for each individual pile, and then you know where everything is going.

What is the golden rule of decluttering? ›

Take it room by room: Start decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focus on a specific area before moving on to the next. Sort methodically: Divide items into categories (keep, donate, sell, discard) and work through each category systematically to prevent decision fatigue.

Created by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, the 90/90 rule has you ask yourself two questions about objects you're not sure you need to keep: Have you used it in the past 90 days? And if not, will you use it in the 90 days ahead?

Start by clearing off your bathroom counters, emptying drawers and completely cleaning out linen closets in or near your bathrooms. Some experts recommend decluttering multiple bathrooms at once to really get an idea how much excess you have. You may have enough soap to last you for two years and not even know it!

Decluttering queen Marie Kondo has said that she's “kind of given up” tidying at home, due to the birth of her third child.

To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.

Kondō was accused of the murder of Sakamoto Ryōma and was executed by the New Government after surrendered Boshin War[3].

'For many people, the CORE 4 method is perfect. You clear out obvious trash, categorize the items into categories, cut out (declutter) the items you no longer need/want, and then contain them (organize).

An extreme method for decluttering your home is to have a packing party. Choose a room to declutter, then pack everything in that room into boxes like you're moving. Throughout the next several months, take out only the items you use regularly. Any items left in the boxes after three months can be sold or donated.