Colin FosterBy Colin Foster

Updated November 2026

Marie Kondo decluttering tips come down to one core idea: sort by category, not by room, and keep only the items that spark joy. Following her method, you will work through your belongings in a fixed order, make keep-or-release decisions one item at a time, and finish with a home where everything you own has a clear place. The process takes longer than most people expect, but it is designed to be done once.

Follow the KonMari Category Order

Kondo’s central rule is to tackle categories in a set sequence rather than wandering from room to room. Starting with easy decisions builds the judgment you need for harder ones, especially sentimental items. The order she recommends is clothing, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items such as kitchenware, electronics and toiletries), and finally sentimental items.

Shopping for one? See our guide: Top 3 Ruthless Clothes Decluttering Tips Books Worth Reading.

Gather everything from a category into one spot before you decide anything. Pulling all your shirts out of three dressers and two closets shows you how much you actually own, and that visual is often what makes people start letting go.

Apply the Joy Test to Each Item

Pick up each object and ask whether it sparks joy. Kondo suggests holding it and noticing your physical reaction. If it feels like a yes, keep it. If it feels neutral or heavy, thank it and release it. Discarding should come before you decide where things will live, because you cannot organize well around stuff you have not yet chosen to keep.

Some items will need a practical check as well. A coat that fits poorly or a skillet with a warped base may fail the joy test even if you once liked it. Use the same standard for everything so the process stays consistent.

Store What You Keep Where It Belongs

Once you have finished sorting a category, give every kept item a home. Kondo recommends storing things vertically so you can see every item at a glance. Folding clothes into thirds and standing them in drawers is the classic example, and it works for many small items too. Use bins or dividers only to hold items that already belong together, not to hide clutter.

Category Storage approach
Clothing Fold and stand vertically in drawers; hang items that wrinkle
Books Shelve upright in one location, grouped by type
Papers Keep only current documents in a single labeled file box
Komono Group by use (kitchen, bathroom, cords) in small containers
Sentimental Keep in one dedicated box or display area

Marie Kondo Tips for Decluttering Your Home

The method works best when you commit to finishing one category before you move to the next. A detailed plan can help you stay on track. The Marie Kondo Decluttering List: What to Keep, What to Toss, and in What Order breaks down the sequence item by item, and What to Keep When Decluttering: A Step-by-Step Keep Guide helps when a decision stalls.

  1. Choose one category and gather every item from it into one place.
  2. Hold each item and apply the joy test; sort into keep, release, and undecided.
  3. Thank the released items, then bag them for donation, recycling, or trash.
  4. Assign each kept item a home and store it vertically where you can see it.
  5. Move to the next category only after the current one is fully stored.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Organizing before decluttering, which just puts unwanted items into nicer containers.
  • Working room by room, which splits categories and leads to duplicate purchases.
  • Rushing through sentimental items before you have built decision-making skill.
  • Keeping “just in case” items that you have not used in years.
  • Skipping the storage step, leaving kept items in piles that quickly fall back into clutter.

A few simple supplies make the process smoother. Clear, open-front bins help you store items vertically while still seeing what is inside. Drawer dividers keep small komono groups upright and separated. For the initial sort, a set of large sturdy bags makes it easy to remove released items right away.

  • Clear stackable drawer bins: Useful for holding folded clothing and small items in a visible, upright arrangement. View on Amazon
  • Adjustable drawer dividers: Help keep komono and kitchen tools grouped by use. View on Amazon
  • Heavy-duty donation bags: Give you a place to put released items during the sort. View on Amazon

FAQ

How long does the KonMari method take?

Most people spread the work over several weeks or months, depending on how much they own. Finishing each category fully before starting the next keeps the process manageable.

What if I can’t decide whether to keep something?

Set undecided items in a box with a date on it and revisit it later. If you have not needed or missed the box’s contents after a set period, you can release them with confidence.

Do I have to thank my belongings?

Kondo suggests it as a way to shift your mindset from guilt toward gratitude, but it is optional. The core of the method is keeping only what you truly value and storing it well.

Conclusion

Marie Kondo decluttering tips work because they give you a clear order, a consistent decision rule, and a storage system that keeps things tidy afterward. Follow the category sequence, use the joy test honestly, and store what you keep where you can see it. For more help with specific spaces, browse Room-by-Room Decluttering: Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom and Garage.

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Colin Foster

About Colin Foster

Colin Foster is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our home organization guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.