Japanese tidying guru, Marie Kondo has fast become a household name for her fantastic approach to organising. The technique Marie has developed is the “KonMari” method, which aims to not only tidy your home, but also your mind.

My father was extremely house proud and organised, he liked everything to have a place and did not like clutter. I would like to say that I inherited this from him, but in honesty, I more so inherited the intention (I really wanted to be that way)!

I have spent years, trying to keep on top of my housework and be more organised, but it feels like a constant battle to get it to a starting point that I can keep on top of! As we grow as a family, we not only gain more personal belongings but also, our time is so precious and short.

Tidying Struggles

My biggest gripe is laundry. I tend to have a generally tidy house with some sort of system (which only I understand, of course). But constant washing and drying clothes means I always have a pile of clothes to put away, with no obvious space, the pile remains and somehow this pile multiplies. I also have too many clothes and shoes, despite making many trips to charity shops.

The next frustrating thing for me, would be my children’s toys, closely followed by drawers full of junk, all around the home (my hidden mess).

Time to Learn

When I heard of Marie’s shows on Netflix, I decided to give them a try. Which is very rare for me as I hardly sit down long enough to follow anything.

The first thing that I noticed, was the fact that Marie suggests tidying by category, not location. So instead of focusing on tidying one room at a time, pick a category and focus on completing that.

At first, this worried me. I would potentially make more mess this way, surely?

Yes, I did in fact make a huge mess!

Although overwhelming at first, when I started it became clear why Marie recommends categories.

By focusing on one category (I started with clothes), I avoided creating extra piles that were meant for another room and consequently, less to tidy. This way, the entire category was complete – all of our clothes were put away! It also helps to discard of items when you see the scale of them, in one place!

The folding techniques that Marie teaches, have been life changing for me. I managed to create space that I’d never imagined possible, just by folding my clothes differently. For shelves, I invested in baskets, as I preferred the ‘drawer style’ of folding.

I moved on to toys next. The method I chose was to separate these into categories too, then box and label. My children really love this and are rediscovering toys that they have not used for months as it is so easy to see what they have. We also managed to donate MANY toys that were no longer needed.

Works for Me!

My home transformation is by no means over, I have a long way to go. But I really feel that Marie has designed a method that truly does “spark joy” for me.

I recognise that not all of Marie’s suggestions are right for everyone, not even myself. For instance, I have kept lots of sentimental items which I may never look at again. But, by using the basic tools that Marie has provided, I am adapting the method to suit my needs and preferences.

I’m embracing my inner Marie and I am happier and more motivated than ever.

Thank you, Marie – as I say, you can do no wrong in my eyes!

If you haven’t already, take a look at Marie in action. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is available now on Netflix!