Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant, created a method of tidying up that is known all across America as the KonMari Method.

This phenomenon of tidying up your house with a step by step process started in 2014 with the release of Marie Kondo’s bestselling novel The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. With the book alone selling two million copies, the consultant and author released three more books. All four books have sold over ten million copies in over 42 countries. The 34-year-old also made the TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People back in 2015.

Marie Kondo has additionally created her own website where people can go and visit. Readers can learn about what the KonMari Method actually is and why it can help remove stress from their lives. This method has become so widely known because it not only involves getting rid of physical things but getting rid of mental stress and clutter as well. To visit the website click here!

Not long after getting an outstanding amount of praise from the public, Marie Kondo released her very own Netflix series titled Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. After the release of this binge-worthy series, everyday people began implementing the KonMari Method in their own lives and homes.  

The KonMari Method is based around tidying by category over a location. Instead of cleaning the bedroom then the coat closet this method focusing on bringing everything from one category into one area and then decluttering from there. The five different categories include clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental.

Starting with clothes, you gather up every item of clothing and place it into one area. Then one by one you hold the item in your hand and decide whether to keep it or toss it. It is suggested to go in that exact order to get used to saying goodbye to the least sentimental things and then working up to what might be the hardest to get rid of.

The famous question to ask yourself when getting rid of items is “Does it spark joy?” and if it doesn’t, you thank the item for all it has done for you and let it go. People have been so drawn to this aspect of the decluttering process as it emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and being aware of yourself. When finished with this process people are to come out of it with only owning the stuff that allocates joy in their lives.  

After going through the decluttering process, you then enter the tidying process. In this part, Marie Kondo suggests using lots of tins and containers to organize all items that are alike in one place. As for clothes, there are specific ways of folding that Marie Kondo follows in order to be able to see all that you have and keep it organized for years to come. Want to learn how to fold like Marie Kondo the professional does? Click play! 

Along with the decluttering and tidying rules, there are also six basic rules to apply throughout the entire process.

The six basic rules of tidying up include:

1. Commit yourself to tidying up

2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle

3. Finish discarding first

4. Tidy by category, not a location

5. Follow the right order

6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy

The next time you need some inspiration to clean up your room or help with the house take a look at the Marie Kondo books, Netflix show, or website to see what is all the rage when it comes to creating a simple space full of joy.