Introduction:  

There is one secret to tidying up your home or workspace for good: start by discarding. Then organise your space thoroughly in one go. Putting your space in order will positively affect all other aspects of your life. A dramatic reorganisation of the home causes corresponding dramatic changes in lifestyle and perspective. It can be life-changing.When you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order too. The KonMari Method is a guide that will help you acquire the right mindset for creating order and becoming a tidy person.

Why Can’t I Keep My House in Order?

• You can’t tidy if you’ve never learned how. Schools teach everything from cooking to yoga, but tidying is rarely taught.
• Tidying a little each day means tidying forever. If you put your entire house in proper order, you won’t suffer a rebound.
• To change your lifestyle, you must first change your mindset. Tidy up in one shot rather than little by little.
• The work can be broadly divided into two decisions:

1. Deciding whether to discard something.
2. Deciding where to put it.

Tidying by location is a mistake; instead, tidy by category (e.g., all clothes, all books, etc.).
Make tidying a special event, not a daily chore.

Finish Discarding First

• Start by discarding everything at once, intensely and completely.
• Identify your goal—why do you want to tidy? Imagine what a clutter-free space would feel like.
• Choose what you want to keep, not what you want to discard. Take each item in your hand and ask, “Does this spark joy?”
• Tidy by category, not by location. Gather everything in a category before deciding what to keep.
• The best order for discarding:
  Clothes
  Books
  Papers
  Miscellaneous items
  Mementoes
• Don’t let your family see what you discard; they may interfere.
• If you don’t need it, your family doesn’t need it either.
• Tidying is an internal dialogue—a meditative process that helps you reflect on what is truly important.

Tidying by Category Works Like Magic

Clothing:

• Tidy clothing in the following order: tops, bottoms, clothes that should be hung, socks, underwear, bags, accessories, special occasion clothes, shoes.
• Place all clothing on the floor. Only keep the clothes that give you joy.
• Don’t downgrade old clothes to "loungewear"—this leads to unnecessary clutter.
• Folding is key—store clothes standing up, not stacked.
• Hang heavier items on the left and lighter items on the right in your closet.

Books:

• Place all books on the floor and discard those that don’t bring joy.
• Avoid keeping books for "someday." If you haven’t read it, you probably won’t.

Papers:

• Discard everything except papers that are currently in use, needed for a limited period, or must be kept indefinitely.
• Store all papers in one spot—do not scatter them throughout the house.

Miscellaneous Items:

• Keep only items that actively make you happy.
• Common unnecessary items to discard: cosmetic samples, electronic packaging, unidentified cords, spare buttons.
• Follow your intuition—ask “Does this spark joy?”

Storing Your Things to Make Your Life Shine

• Designate a specific place for everything.
• Store similar items together to prevent clutter.
• Storage should make it easy to put things away, not just easy to take things out.
• Store items vertically, not stacked.
• Don’t buy storage solutions until after tidying.
• Store bags inside other bags.
• Empty your handbag daily.
• Keep bathroom items dry and store them after use.
• Store spices inside cabinets, not on the counter.
• Treat your home as a sacred space—transform it into a place that gives you energy and joy.
• Appreciate your possessions—say “thank you” when putting items away.

The Magic of Tidying Dramatically Transforms Your Life

• Tidying up reveals what you truly love and what matters most.
• Letting go is more important than acquiring.
• You gain confidence in decision-making by going through hundreds of items and choosing joy.
• Clutter is tied to attachment to the past and fear of the future.
• Tidying helps you confront emotions and move forward.
• Once you declutter, you realise you need less.
• Tidying is a celebration, a farewell to unnecessary things and a welcome to a joyful life.

Life begins after you have put your house in order.