Brief Summary
This video presents the top 10 organisation tips from Marie Kondo's "Tidying Up" Netflix show. It covers the KonMari method, organising by size and frequency, the importance of visualising the process, and giving every item a home. The video also highlights Kondo's unique folding method, the use of clear boxes for storage, and the central idea of keeping only items that "spark joy".
- The KonMari method involves six basic rules for tidying, including committing to tidying up and asking yourself if an item sparks joy.
- Organising items by size and frequency ensures that frequently used items are easily accessible and that smaller items don't get lost.
- Kondo's folding method allows you to store clothes vertically in drawers so you can easily see everything you have.
- Using clear boxes for storage, especially in basements and attics, helps you easily find and access what you're looking for.
- The core principle of the KonMari method is to keep only items that spark joy, discarding those that evoke negative thoughts.
The KonMari Method Essentials
The entire show is based on Marie Kondo's KonMari method, popularised in her book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up". The KonMari method provides a formula for getting your possessions in order. It consists of six basic rules: commit to tidying up, imagine your ideal lifestyle, finish discarding first, tidy by category (not location), follow the right order, and ask yourself if an item sparks joy.
Organise Items by Size
Traditional organisation often involves sorting like with like, but Marie Kondo suggests taking it a step further. Items with similar utilities should be grouped together, and items of a similar size should be stored together as well. By keeping small items with other small items, you ensure that nothing gets lost. This also ensures that you always know where things are in your home. Kondo recommends storing these items in drawers when possible.
Store Items Based on Frequency
Items that you use often should be kept where you can easily access them, while infrequently used items should be placed in harder-to-reach spots. For example, everyday plates, glasses, and mugs should be kept on an easily accessible shelf, while a rice cooker you rarely use can be stored in the back of the cupboard.
It Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better
Because the KonMari method involves piling up every item in a category, such as all of your clothing, things can look disastrous during the sorting process. It's important to realise that this is a normal part of the process and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It's okay to tackle one category at a time if you don't want your house to look like a cyclone went through it.
Pile Things Up
Marie Kondo suggests putting everything you own from each category into a massive pile before deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. This means taking every piece of clothing or all of your books and collecting them in one spot to see just how many you have. This will help you realise that you may not need 17 belts or 7 spatulas. The pile will also reveal things you may be missing or that need to be replaced.
Thank Your Home
Many of Marie Kondo's suggestions lean towards the more emotional or even spiritual. One of the first steps she encourages people to undertake is to give thanks for the roof over their heads and to take a moment to appreciate the home that they have. She also asks that for every item you discard that had meaning to you, you thank it for its service.
Give Every Item a Home
Make sure every single item you own has a home. If you have somewhere specific to put your winter gloves, your tweezers, or your waffle maker, they'll be more likely to get properly stored away after use rather than being left out. It will also help you to find things because you'll know exactly where they should be.
The KonMari Folding Method
Marie Kondo is known for her unique folding method, which packs away your clothes vertically rather than horizontally. Clothing is folded into thick rectangles, which are then turned upward and stacked one in front of the other in your drawers so you can easily see which is which. Once you get the hang of it, it will make your drawers much neater.
Use Clear Boxes
While it might be tempting to store all of your extras away in a fashion that hides them from sight, Marie Kondo suggests exactly the opposite. Especially in areas like basements, storage rooms, and attics, it's best to be able to see what is in each and every box so that you can easily find and access what you're looking for. She also recommends storing things vertically so that they're easy to grab and use.
Make Sure Everything You Keep Sparks Joy
One of the most talked-about aspects of the KonMari method is the idea of objects sparking joy. Kondo suggests that the majority of the objects in your life should spark joy when you touch them and that you shouldn't keep anything that evokes negative thoughts. Unless something makes you happy in your life, why would you hang on to it? Keeping this principle in mind is paramount to following the KonMari method.
