How To Tidy Your House for New Year Using the KonMari Method

The Simple Sum

09 Jan 2025

A new year means a new slate for yourself, including your home! However, we understand that decluttering and tidying can be so tedious, especially when it is bound to be untidy again. To help you out, we have come up with some effective and proven ways to make your house tidy once and for all. Marie Kondo, a well-known Japanese organising consultant revealed how she was able to help her clients clean up their houses with no “rebounds”. She invented the KonMari Method – a proven way that can put your house and life in order. Here is some of her wisdom that will change the way you organise your home.

Pick a day or two to clean up

According to her book, Marie advises her clients with these words: “Tidying is a special event. Don’t do it every day.” There are two types of tidying, which are “daily tidying” and “special event tidying”. Daily tidying consists of us using something and putting it back to its place. But it is “special event tidying” that shall redefine the way you tidy and put your house in order. This should be a once-in-a-lifetime event, where you will experience a state of perfect order and from then on, maintain the tidiness of your space. After one dramatic cleanup, you will easily put things back where they belong or decide where to place new things.

Start by discarding based on categories

Discarding items that are rarely used is part of the decluttering process. Oftentimes we tidy based on locations, such as bedroom, kitchen and living room; but Marie suggests that we do it by category instead. For instance, we sort through our books first and discard the unwanted ones, then we move on to clothes. Tidying based on locations shields you from the fact that you have an excess of items that appear in more than one location. For example, if you have makeup samples in your bedroom, there are also likely some in the bathroom. It will be difficult for us to grasp the overall volume of things we have, which results in a never-ending cycle of tidying.

Keep only the things that “sparks joy”

This is the main selection criterion in the KonMari Method. There are multiple standards when it comes to discarding, such as when something is already broken, or how long it has not been worn. However, Marie states that we are supposed to be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of. Think about it, we are building a space that will bring us peace and joy, so we are aiming to surround ourselves with items that we love and discard the things that no longer bring us service. Marie suggests holding each item in our hand and asking: “Does it spark joy?”. If it does, keep it and find a way to place it. If it does not, discard it. Taking each item in your hand will evoke a response from your body, which will then reveal your feelings towards it. Here's a quick tip: Marie suggests cleaning up your items based on this sequence: clothes, books, papers, miscellany, and mementos.

Storage is not the solution

The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to tidying is storing your things somewhere. You may remember feeling good about yourself as you place items into storage boxes and label them, but the thing is storage only encourages hoarding. While storing items helps you to organise your space faster and easier, it actually only makes the mess less visible. You will soon realise even after all of your items are stored away, your room still feels cluttered to you. And it is because you did not reduce the number of things at all. Therefore, tidying should always start by discarding your unwanted items, even though it is the harder route to do.

Always remember: Discard or locate

You are expected to be as cutthroat as possible when it comes to decluttering. According to the KonMari Method, discarding one item at a time is ineffective as you may gradually slack off. By aiming for “perfection” one time, you can discard everything that’s no longer useful all at once. The act of tidying only requires two decisions: to throw or not to throw, and where to put it. If you decide to keep something, assign it to a specific place and continue using that place for as long as you own it.
With the New Year upon us, it’s the perfect time to turn over a new leaf and transform your space into your dream home. By tidying your house the right way, you’re not just organising your space—you’re bringing order to your life. Physical clutter often reflects mental clutter, so decluttering your home can help you feel more in control and at peace with yourself. Are you ready to clean your house using the KonMari Method?