Decluttering with Marie Kondo: how to create order and more calm at home
A tidy home doesn't just feel better – it can also help you live more consciously and calmly day to day. This is exactly where Marie Kondo's well-known KonMari Method comes in. The Japanese tidying expert follows a simple principle: keep only the things that bring you joy and let go of everything that no longer makes you happy.
What sounds like a big challenge at first is above all an invitation to look at your belongings more consciously. According to Marie Kondo, order doesn't come from cupboards, boxes and storage systems alone, but from a clear decision about which things really deserve a place in your life.
The idea behind the KonMari Method
Marie Kondo became famous worldwide with her book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying". Her approach differs from conventional tidying methods: instead of decluttering room by room, you sort your belongings by category.
The most important step: you pick up every single object and look at it consciously. The key question is:
"Does this item spark joy?"
If the answer is "no", it can go. Bit by bit, you create a home that isn't defined by excess but by things that really mean something.
Tidying the Marie Kondo way: the right order
The KonMari Method follows a fixed structure. Marie Kondo recommends working through five categories:
- Clothes
- Books
- Papers and documents
- Miscellaneous items (komono)
- Sentimental items
This order is deliberate. While clothes and everyday items are easier to sort through, decisions about personal mementos are often harder.
Step by step to a tidy home
1. Develop a vision for your living space
Before you start, Marie Kondo recommends imagining what your ideal home should look like. What atmosphere do you want to create? Should your home feel calmer, more minimalist or cosier?
This vision helps you make clear decisions while you declutter.
2. Gather everything in one category
An important part of the KonMari Method is gathering all the items in one category in a single place. Rather than sorting through clothes from different wardrobes one by one, for example, you make one big pile of all your clothes.
This shows you how much you actually own.
3. Choose consciously
Now comes the most important part: you look at each item individually. What stays should add positive value to your life. Anything that no longer brings joy can be passed on, donated or thrown away.
It's not about owning as little as possible but about dealing with your possessions more consciously.
Creating order with the right storage
Once you've sorted through everything, it's time to organise. Marie Kondo places great importance on giving every item a fixed place.
Her folding technique for clothes is particularly well known: garments are folded so that they can stand upright in drawers. This keeps everything visible, so individual pieces are no longer forgotten.
Boxes and storage systems also help you keep things tidy in the long term. But the important thing is to reduce first, then organise. New storage systems are no substitute for decluttering.
Fewer possessions, more quality of life
The KonMari Method isn't just a tidying technique – it's also an invitation to a more conscious lifestyle. If you regularly question which things you really need, you'll often consume in a more targeted and sustainable way.
Taking a conscious approach to your possessions means:
- fewer unnecessary purchases
- more appreciation for favourite pieces
- clearer, less cluttered rooms
- more time and calm in everyday life
Because fewer things can also mean fewer distractions.
Order as part of interior design
A harmonious home isn't just created by beautiful furniture and design objects but by clarity too. Tidy rooms let special pieces stand out and create a calm foundation for your own interior ideas.
Closed cupboards, elegant storage boxes and well thought-out storage systems help give structure to everyday life without making rooms feel impersonal.
Conclusion: a home with the things that really matter
The Marie Kondo method shows that tidying can be more than just sorting. It's about engaging consciously with your home and creating an environment that suits your needs.
Whether you adopt the KonMari Method in full or just use some of its ideas, even small changes can have a big impact. Because a home full of favourite pieces doesn't just create outward order – it also brings a sense of calm and well-being.
