As most of us will agree, chronic household clutter is something that we all struggle with no matter how large or small our homes are. A tennis racquet with a loose string, your favourite blouse that has a missing button, a book that you are halfway through but have lost interest in and much, much more. The task of getting through the clutter in our home is something that we repeatedly put off and comes at the end of our to-do list. Before you know it, you have piles of stuff in every room that you are never going to use but are reluctant to throw away. If you are feeling overwhelmed about where to begin, we are here to help.

We have drawn inspiration from the extremely popular Japanese author, Marie Kondo. Kondo is currently a superstar in the internet world because of her organizing method. Her show, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” is trending on Netflix, and her KonMari method, with simple and straightforward tips on de-cluttering our lives, inspires us all! So, what exactly is her life-changing method all about? Basically, she gives us a wealth of insights into clutter; how it accumulates and what we should do to get rid of it.

For those of you who want her advice in capsule form, here’s what she says:

Does it give you joy?

Her underlying theme is: Keep only those things that give you joy! Simple, isn’t it? If your old pair of jeans is no longer giving you joy, then it must go. Just detach yourself from all these things that no longer serve you or give you joy, let go of any sentimental attachment and just give it away!

Dig deep!

Kondo recommends piling up a whole lot of stuff in the middle of the room, taking a long hard look at each item and deciding which are truly worthy of space in your home. Think of the reasons why you are reluctant to let go of something. If it really means a lot to you, by all means, do keep it but at the end of the day, you should be able to purge all the unnecessary stuff.

Focus on the category, not the room

Purge by category, not by room. Similar items are likely to be scattered through your home and not confined to just one room. Chances are that you have books that have long outgrown their useful life in more rooms than one. Pick a category (clothes, books, and so on) and go from room to room collecting the items that no longer give you joy.

Make sure everything has its own space

Decide where each category of things should go, and stick to your plan. Start with the hallway and organize every inch of storage space. Where do you keep your keys? Have a designated space for each person’s coat, bag, helmet or umbrella. Label if you must!

If you are storing things like bags or boxes, give them a designated space in each room. For instance, the top of the wardrobe makes sense for boxes. Shoes and boots would go on the lowest shelf. Hanger space comes in between, and you could decide where you want your shelves or drawers for folded clothes to go. Place objects in neat compartments so that they don’t get mixed up. If you have a plan in your head, then it’s much easier to organize your storage spaces.Marie kondo Method for Indian Homes

Respect your things

Are your clothes heaped in a pile making it hard for you to find what you want in a hurry? Are your shoes thrown in a corner of the room? Learn to respect your belongings, and you will be able to look at them in a new light. It doesn’t matter whether your coat is expensive or not; it belongs to you and as such must have its own place.

Learn how to fold your clothes!

Folding our clothes neatly is an art that we all need to learn. The KonMari method lays a lot of emphasis on folding clothes in a precise manner so that they occupy the least space and stack up neatly. There are tutorials available on her recommendations for folding each item of clothing the right way, and a quick YouTube search will give you her precise instructions!Marie kondo Method for Indian Homes

Throw away all those papers!

We live in a digital world, and all the bills that you have been hoarding are readily available online as well. Reduce your paper trail and you will free up a lot of storage space that could be used to store things that you do really need. Make sure that you do keep what is important, and store it in a place where it’s easy to find — a safe, for instance.

Marie kondo Method for Indian Homes

Think twice before buying more storage cabinets!

Rule of thumb should be: when you buy one item, you must give away another. Set a limit on how many things your house should hold, and make a conscious decision to stick to this figure. You will never need to add to your storage cabinets if you do this.

Store items standing up

Rather than piling up clothes one of top of the other, try storing them in upright rolls inside drawers. This way, each item will be visible and readily accessible, without making a mess of the entire set. The sock drawer shown here is organized beautifully and it’s very easy to maintain it this way.Marie kondo Method for Indian Homes

Keep small change in your wallet, not all over the house!

Why would anyone keep small change in boxes or drawers all over the house? Yet we are all guilty of doing this! Start a new habit of keeping all small change in the side of your wallet, where you can easily spend it. There’s no point collecting small change in a piggy bank where it’s going to be forgotten for years.

The rule of the game is, ultimately, not to throw out objects without thought or reason; but to hold on to things that make you happy. Whatever you do keep should be organized with care. Each and every item that you own must be respected and looked after well. It should be as easy to put an item away, as it is to locate it later.

We’d love to hear your thoughts; tell us in the comments below whether this has worked well for you!

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