'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying' - Marie Kondo

[FrancesHB]

Has anyone else read this? I did a search but couldn't find any previous threads.

Marie Kondo is a Japanese expert in tidying and decluttering and her book has been translated into English and is best selling. It's wonderfully eccentric and inspiring and in some ways rather a breath of fresh air compared to other books on the subject (have read 'em all and my house is still messy...).

She asks us to ask if an item brings us joy and if it doesn't we thank it and out it goes. A bit like fly lady 'you can't organise clutter', but in a less annoying and at times quite endearing way.

I wondered if any MNers had used her technique and if it helped them 'get their house in order'.

Can I join this thread? I know Ill be three weeks behind the rest of you! I downloaded the book last night and read half of it in the bath! So feeling inspired this morning I took out all my clothes and realised that about half of them I was keeping just because Ive had them for so long or because they might look good when I loose some weight or old clothes wit holes are so useful for doing the gardening! Those are now all in a black sack and what I have left is folded in drawers or hanging in the wardrobe

And I now have two drawers free!

Welcome Asheth, I'm 2 weeks behind some but that doesn't matter, some will also do it quicker but I work full time and have commitments 4/5 week day evenings. Konmari reckons 6 months and that'll do for me. Good luck

Nice going Asheth You don't waste any time do you?

leeloo that mum is probably still feeling the glow of pleasure about her new cardigan... You should casually compliment her on it and see what she says!

As for me, I did kids socks today. They are kept with shoes near the front door so I hadn't done them when I did clothes.

Most of them are missing their mates. The ones remaining are pretty worn out or too small. Thinking about chucking them all out and buying a bulk lot of socks all the same color.

You won't be 3 weeks behind me Ashbeth, there are snails complaining about the pace I'm going! I'ma asingle parent with my own business - decluttering has to join the list of priorities.

Mind you I moaned at DS for not folding his stuff properly yesterday - he's 8...

The folding is addictive.

I have no drawers so have bought these www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/4-drawer-tower---black-783402 to put on my shelves - they split into sections with a bit of wrestling.

So now I have drawers in my wardrobes.

I have put two armchairs on gumtree at cheap prices - if they aren't sold by the end of the week then they're off to the dump/recycling centre. I'm ignoring the paperwork.

OMG. I have the clothes spread out on the bed. I was going to put a photo on but it's crazy and doesn't even include the 4 bags that have already been charity-shopped or the really summery summer clothes which are being put away in my suitcase.

They are upstairs waiting for me and I just want to hide downstairs and pretend they're not there. Might re-read the joy bit of the book before I tackle it to see if I can get some strength!

And I haven't touched undies or scarves / handbags / shoes yet

Hi all.

I haven't been KonMari-ing much this week I'm afraid. Although I have been making sure I am keeping stuff that I have already done clear and tidy. Which is so easy when you keep on top of it by not having so much stuff in the first place!

Kewcumber - I can't believe your DS is 8!!! Where did that time go?! I remember your Xmas in Kazakhstan and following your blog.

I'm doing my chest of drawers today finally. I went walking with a friend this morning so was getting exercise stuff out and I deliberately took everything out. It's now strewn I've my bed so that needs doing.

I'm hoping to free up drawers so I can leave some more shelf space for DH in the wardrobe.

I had a bit if a win earlier in the week though - went to HomeSense and was looking at baskets and boxes etc for storage. And I bought......... nothing! I know I need to clear stuff first and figure up what is left and what if any storage I need.

Asheth you won't be behind me! I've read the book but not done anything yet due to lack of time with baby. I've still got to finish up the baby clothes before I do anything else. My clothes should be an easy place to start because I already had a big sort out when I got pregnant and put maternity clothes in the wardrobe.

I started this thread weeks ago and still haven't started on my books. I know I will do it but life is a bit busy. Even just having done my clothes and shoes etc has made the house noticeably easier to keep tidy.

I've been lurking. I've read the book and done most of my clothes. I didn't have a lot of clothes to get rid of, as I don't have a lot of space do tend to be ruthless about clothes 'earning' their space. The folding thing was a revelation, and I'm planning to get rid of the hanging rack I was using for clothes that didn't fit in my tiny wardrobe.
BUT I did the folding thing on the kids drawers and the bottom fell out. Grumpy now and tempted to go back to my 'hang it' ways.

Her way of folding clothes IS a revelation I agree!

How did we not ever know this before now? I am 46, always been rubbish at tidy drawers and now I learn this way it's a piece of cake. Why is this a 'new' way? Amazing.

I think my sister in law does it! I've not rifled through her drawers but I have used her incredibly well organised changing station. And her kids stuff was folded vertically underneath it. I assumed it might be a big faff though, as I know she enjoys cleaning, whereas I don't really. She isn't British though, maybe its something the rest of the world have been keeping secret as revenge for the Empire.

can I join? I got the book last night but decided to read this thread in full first I've been on the minimalist threads here for a while and I reckon this book/thread will give me a kick up the bum to take things to the next level.

Paperwork - are you not supposed to keep payslips? I thought you had to...

defo going to shred all old bank statements and try to go paperfree on them - I have online banking anyway so they are completely and utterly wasteful.

YY I have a Spanish friend who is very organised and does lovely folding - but still she stacks stuff.

It all makes sense though - when I embarked on decluttering/minimalism etc, I looked to other cultures who live in smaller tidier spaces for inspiration, and it has been really helpful.

this book has changed me. Usually I would leave a basket of clean clothes lying about till they got used again, but they were calling out to join their friends in the drawer so I HAD to put them away. Bonkers but it works.
Thank you FrancesHB for sharing.

What are we doing with stuff like old photos? I have 2 nasty carrier bags of old photos which I really don't want rid of...

I love the rolling of clothes as well. I rolled all of DH's t-shirts this afternoon and even without chucking any away I still freed up another drawer! I'm hoping that now he can see he's got more than 20 t-shirts he might decide to join me in decluttering!

re photos, I have most of my 'old' photos (printed from film) in albums similar to these (but 4 pictures per page). Sadly I think they are discontinued now. It was a big job but I got all photos in rough date order and put them all in albums one winter.

I do love picking up an album at random and flicking through it - lots of joy. I have about 20!!

Moving forward with digital photos I need to do a photobook a year I think - well at least since having children.

Oops - these : www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?Sec=7&Sub=36&PID=6885

FrancesHB - I think I love you! Thanks so much for starting this thread and introducing me to this. It's amazing.

I did my chest of drawers. And I now have three empty drawers. Big drawers!

I had 21 pairs of sports socks.
I had 47 pairs of normal socks.
I am not a centipede! . I don't need that many socks!

I should be able to now put all of my stuff in the chest of drawers and free up shelves in the wardrobe for DH.

And I did the folding properly and it makes such a difference!

It's ridiculous how happy I feel!

cider how many did you keep? This is the kind of thing I am terrible at - I probably have 50 pairs of plain black cotton knickers

I have to say thanks to FrancesHB too. It's really made my house better in the bits I've done.

Just did tablecloths. Anyone got any good ideas what to do with stained tablecloths?! Chuck? Don't have a rag collection where I am. Bunting?!

Stitch them together/double them up for picnic blanket?

I've decided I'm not a table cloth person. I'm chucking all mine I hate ironing and I spill everything.

Ok, so visualizing an ideal life.

I would like a tidy, clean, calm home with pretty pictures on the walls, plants and fresh flowers on the table. There would be no cobwebs, dust or junk.

More importantly, all the cupboards and drawers would be organized and clean and I'd feel confident that anyone could open them and I wouldn't be embarrassed. I'd be able to get hold of things quickly and easily rather than dreading a huge scrabble through boxes and piles.

I see myself sitting curled up reading, drinking tea, writing letters and cards to people while music plays in the background. Doing yoga in a calm living room. Cooking for friends and family. Gardening and taking pleasure in a tidy, well-maintained space. Opening my wardrobe and being able to see everything easily and take things in and out without wrestling with an overstuffed mess - an elegant rail of hanging work clothes and beautiful drawers of folded things that make me feel amazing.