Long before Marie Kondo became a household name with her Netflix series Tidying Up, her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up introduced the KonMari method and changed how many people approach home organization and decluttering.
Short and approachable, the book is full of practical tips and clear guidance for simplifying your home. If you don’t have time to read it right now, here’s a concise, useful overview of the essentials.
When we drastically downsized our home a few years ago and organized our smaller space, the KonMari approach proved especially helpful. I still recommend reading Marie Kondo’s book, but this summary covers the key principles and how to use them effectively.
The Basics of the KonMari Method
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1. Treat tidying as a focused event
Marie Kondo emphasizes that tidying should be an event: a concentrated, intentional process completed as quickly and thoroughly as possible rather than an ongoing, fragmented task. The idea of finishing a major decluttering project in one concentrated effort appealed to me—I wanted a clean slate, not a perpetual to-do list.
That said, “one shot” doesn’t mean instant. It still takes time and commitment. For example, when I organized our downsized home, I worked methodically over eight weeks, focusing on one area per day each week. The key is concentrated, consistent effort rather than scattered tidying sessions.
2. Declutter by category, in a specific order
Instead of tackling rooms one at a time, Kondo recommends decluttering by category. The categories are addressed in a deliberate sequence—starting with the least emotionally charged items and ending with sentimental objects. Kondo’s reasoning is that you build decision-making confidence with easier categories, which prepares you for tougher choices later.
Bringing all like items together—such as every single kitchen gadget or basket of craft supplies—makes excess obvious. When you can see the full extent of what you own in one place, it’s much easier to decide what to keep and what to let go of.
3. Ask whether each item “sparks joy”
The KonMari decision test is simple: pick up each item and ask, “Does this spark joy?” If it does, keep it; if it doesn’t, thank it and remove it from your home. That phrasing may seem odd or even amusing at first, but it helps you pause and consider your emotional attachment to things.
In practice, I combined the “spark joy” test with practical questions such as “How often do I use this?” and “Does this item produce positive or negative feelings?” Not everything that’s useful will spark joy—some practical items like cleaning tools have a functional place—but the intent is to keep possessions that contribute value to your life rather than accumulate out of habit.
Using this approach in the kitchen helped me pare down supplies significantly. Seeing everything at once made it clear what I actually used and what was simply taking up space.
Read the book—it’s worth it
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is one of my top two books on home organization. Its step-by-step guidance and mindset shift are what make the KonMari method effective for many people. If you enjoy practical, philosophy-backed approaches to organization, this book is a strong choice.
At Kondo’s suggestion, I once passed my copy on so it wouldn’t add to my own clutter—still, I often wished I had kept it for reference. If you prefer a quick start, the summary here will help, but the full book offers richer explanations and examples to guide your process.
Start organizing with the KonMari method
If you want a simple workflow, divide your decluttering into Marie Kondo’s recommended categories and follow them in order. Working category by category helps maintain focus and build confidence as you go.
- Clothing
- Books
- Papers
- Komono (miscellaneous: kitchen items, craft supplies, personal items, linens, etc.)
- Sentimental items
I’ve created a printable home-organization checklist to help you get started; look for printable resources on the site to guide each step. A checklist keeps you organized and prevents the process from becoming overwhelming.
Other organization topics you may find helpful
- How to organize cupboards in a small kitchen
- Seven simple paper-clutter organizing tips
- The organized buffet — dining room organization
- Pantry organization for a small kitchen
- Ten clever small-kitchen organization solutions
(This article was originally published on November 3, 2015, and updated with new content on January 17, 2020.)
