Why is the KonMari Method®
different compared to other
tidying methods?
The KonMari Method® has a few differences to other
methods such as:
• Trust your feelings– you always return to the one and
ultimate question ”Does it spark joy?” to decide if you
would like to keep and item or discard it. The goal is to
surround yourself only with things that “spark joy” or serve
your future ideal lifestyle.
• Tidy by category and not by room– as we often store
the same type of items in more than one place, you can
never fully grasp the overall volume and get discouraged
before finishing.
• Storage is secondary– you must finish discarding first.
Storage is considered temporary and fluid until all tidying
is complete across all categories.
• It’s a marathon not a sprint but tidy quickly, all at once,
and once and for all– the method is designed to be a
special, one-time series of activities executed “quickly,”
or within six months. It’s not a quick fix of your wardrobe only.
• KonMari™ folding and storing technique– the folding and
storing method focuses on standing items up-right,
on-edge, vertically in a row to relieve tension and
pressure and to give you full visibility.
• Respect your belongings– respect and gratitude runs
throughout the method, this includes bidding a grateful
farewell to objects which no longer serve you and
greeting your home to set your tidying intentions.
I’m generally good at tidying
my own belongings and I like
to keep things clean and tidy,
but my spouse is messy and
not really interested in tidying.
What can I do?
This is a very common and shared experience. However,
the KonMari Method® encourages you to focus on your
own belongings first and it is important to accept your
partner’s values. Changes that will happen when you
follow your own tidying journey will have a positive
impact on your spouse. As Marie Kondo quotes
“tidying is contagious”.
Is cleaning included in
the service?
Tidying deals with objects – cleaning deals with dirt.
The KonMari Method® is about decluttering and organizing
your home and tidying your personal belongings.
Cleaning is not part of my service, however if required
I can be of help to find a professional cleaning agency.
I don’t want to become a
minimalist – KonMari® is not for me
What the KonMari Method® and Minimalism have in
common is that a great value is attributed to the
belonging you decide to keep. With less stuff around,
you can finally pay more attention on those things that
you keep. One of the great differences is that the
KonMari Method® does not limit the number of items a
person can or should keep. In minimalism there are hardly
any duplicates whereas the KonMari Method® is about
identifying which items can have the “spark joy” effect on
you, so if colorful socks spark joy in you, feel free to keep
more than one pair in your wardrobe!
Do I really need a consultant to
help me through the process
of tidying?
I like to answer this question with a counter question.
Do you need a personal trainer to do your sit-ups?
Most probably not, because you know how it works.
It is the same thing with a tidying consultant. It depends on you.
Anybody can tidy independently following the KonMari Method®,
however you need strong mental power,
honesty to yourself, stamina and the indomitable spirit to
keep going even if things get difficult or other things try to
take over. If you prefer support and guidance along the
way to reach your goal, just like a personal trainer,
a KonMari® Consultant will be the right choice.
My biggest concern is my
kids stuff. The house is always
messy because of their toys
being everywhere.
Can we tidy their belongings too?
The KonMari Method® does not recommend tidying the
belongings of children above the age of approximately 3
years without their consent. Children recognize what
belongs to them and we should respect their values and
what sparks joy to them. I recommend to tidy kid’s
belongings after you have finished your own KonMari®
journey. Most probably they show interest along your
way and will be happy to tidy their own belongings
either with or without your help depending on their age.
The same is true for any belongings of other
family members.
Do I need to read any of
Marie Kondo’s books before
I start my tidying journey?
You do not need to read any of her books to start your
KonMari® tidying journey. As your KonMari® Consultant
I will walk you through the entire process and I will not
leave you in the dark. However, if you wish to read one
of her books or listen to an audiobook before or during
the process, this will provide you additional inspiration
along your journey.
I have a lot of things but
I’m very organized – can we
only work on a certain category
or room?
Marie Kondo realized that traditional approaches like
“by room” or “by season” may be the reason success can
be short-lived and clutter returns to your space.
The KonMari Method® supports a holistic approach and
targets all your belongings for all the reasons mentioned
in Question 1. I recommend tidying in the correct order,
however if one category (except sentimentals) is the
easiest for you to joy-check we can make an exception.
What is the length of
a tidying journey?
A tidying journey is a very personal experience and it all
depends on the amount of your belongings and how much
time you can dedicate towards it. Sessions are approximately
four hours long and it is recommended to have 1-2 sessions
per week. Most clients are very eager to finish the process as
quick as possible. It is recommended to finish the whole
journey within 6-12 months. The detailed schedule will be
evaluated based on every client’s personal circumstances and
we jointly decide on the best way forward.