The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art Of Decluttering And Organizing by Marie Kondo is a self-help book published in 2010.

When you put your house in order, you bring clarity to your life as a whole – organizing not just your space, but also your past, your priorities, and your state of mind. The effects ripple outward, improving your work, relationships, and overall well-being.

Having devoted the majority of her life to the art of tidying, Kondo has worked with thousands of clients, now having a three-month waiting list, sold-out seminars, and even a waitlist just to join the waitlist! With practical, detailed guidance for identifying what truly brings you joy, Marie Kondo offers help to all.

Why Can’t I Keep My House In Order?

“Tidiness of your room reflects your state of mind” – Marie Kondo

Principles
- Tidying is self-taught; not usually learned in upbringing
- Excess comes from ignorance of what is ‘enough’
- Put your house in order all at once; partial tidying leads to rebound
- Tidying is a special event, not a daily task
- Storage is a trap – merely putting things away doesn’t solve clutter
Method
- Tidy by category, not location, to avoid repeated work
- Decide whether to dispose of an item
- Decide where to place it

Discard First

“To truly cherish what’s important to you, you must first discard what’s outlived its purpose” – Marie Kondo

Reducing revitalizes your relationship with belongings
Waste lies in failure to enjoy possessions, not their number
Don’t share details with family; parents may resist due to scarcity instincts
Identify your goal; envision the ideal lifestyle your space provides
Method
- Gather all items in a category from the entire house
- Lay them on the floor, handle each one individually
- Consciously reflect on each item in a quiet space and check if it sparks joy
- Clients often realize the volume of possessions only during this process
- Discard excess immediately
Disposal Options
- Friends or those in need
- Recycle
- Donate to a shop
- Avoid sending to parents’ home (rarely retrieved)

By Category

Clothing
- Don’t demote items to “loungewear” — discard instead
- Typically keep ~1/3 to 1/4 of clothing
- Fold most; hang items that look happier hung, organized by category
Books
- Best time to read is when first encountered
- Keep collection small to preserve excitement
- Rereading is rare
Papers
- Keep only if: currently in use, needed for a limited time, keep indefinitely
Miscellaneous (in order)
- CDs, DVDs
- Skin care products
- Makeup
- Accessories
- Valuables (passports, credit cards)
- Electrical equipment (cameras, cords)
- Household equipment (stationery, sewing kits)
- Household supplies (medicine, detergents, tissues)
- Kitchen/food supplies (spatulas, pots, blenders)
- Other (change, figurines)
- Hobby subcategory (if numerous items related to an activity)
Photos
- Keep only to show a specific event or time; not just to have

Storage

Designate a spot for everything
- Keeping tidy becomes second nature – it’s just putting it back where it belongs
- Items without a home increase clutter
- Clutter arises from failing to return things to their place
Storage simplicity
- Store same-type items together; avoid scattering
- Assign clearly defined spaces for each family member (1 per person)
- Commercial storage often unnecessary
Home as sacred space
- Eliminate excess visual information
- Appreciate your belongings
- Use closet as a private space for mementos or personal items

The Magic Of Tidying Transforms Your Life

Rediscovering joy
- Things we truly like don’t change; tidying helps rediscover them
- Letting go is more important than adding (see Essentialism)
Reasons we can’t let go
- Attachment to the past
- Fear for the future
Guiding principle
- How you want to live determines what you want to own
- Detoxing the house produces a detox effect on the mind and body
- Discarding books and documents clears mental space
- Focus energy on what brings the most joy – your purpose