Come #KonMari with me! In the videos below, watch me declutter and organize my closet, the entire bathroom, and the kids’ toys while I give out practical tips. Plus, at the end of this post I’ve got a free decluttering guide for you to download!
If you’ve read the book or watched the hit TV Series with Marie Kondo, you know that her method uses a particular order – clothes, books, kimono (miscellaneous), papers, and sentimental. It’s purposeful and designed to teach you how to recognize what sparks joy for you by starting with the easier things, progressing to the hardest.
However… I did not exactly follow this order. I started with toys, which would fall under “Komono” or “sentimental” probably, and skipped books altogether. Not because I don’t want to pare them down, but they’re all boxed up. They’ll have to wait until we move this summer, and hopefully, they will be the final category!
How to Declutter Your Kids’ Toys
A couple of months ago, I found myself googling “how to teach a toddler to play independently,” and that led me to Avital’s website, The Parenting Junkie. As much as I LOVE playing with Edison, I just can’t do it 24/7, especially when I’ve got a house to keep running, a part-time job, and another baby. So, I signed up for her three-week #reclaimplay challenge, and decluttering was the first task.
I highly recommend checking out her site and her methods! Studies show that kids can’t play deeply and creatively when they’re overwhelmed by too many options.
By paring down and rotating what’s left, the toys will stay fresh and interesting. Hopefully, this will help us with decreasing our screen time, as well as increasing independent play. It’s working so far! And the best part – Edison didn’t even NOTICE anything was missing!
With the money I’ll make from selling our old toys on consignment, I’ll get the boys some opened-ended toys or art supplies!
How to Declutter Your Closet
You wake up, and shuffle to your closet to get dressed. While you stand there, looking into its depths, how do you feel?
Overwhelmed? Bored? Stressed?
What would it feel like to stand in front of your closet every morning and see only clothes you LOVED, clothes that are your favorite colors and fabrics, that fit perfectly? If each choice of outfit for the day consisted of only those items that make you feel your best, you’d approach the rest of your day with more confidence and joy.
I bet you’d feel calm, confident, and capable to take on the day.
That’s what’s possible when you clear out all the mismatched, too-small, uncomfortable, don’t-like-it-for-whatever-reason clothes and leave only the ones you love and feel good in.
Watch the video to see how I decluttered and organized my closet KonMari style. Spoiler: I got rid of A LOT more than I thought I would!
After you declutter and organize your closet, you’ll be ready to learn how to make a capsule wardrobe!
How to Declutter and Organize the Bathroom
Next on my Komono list was the bathroom. It really needed help. The overflowing closet was a constant source of stress as well as an eyesore. It acted as the linen closet, medicine cabinet, blanket storage, bath stuff storage, and who knows what else storage. After decluttering and organizing it, as well as the tub and medicine cabinet, can you even believe the “After”?
How did I do with my first few categories of the Kon Marie Method? Let me know in the comments below!
Download the “Declutter Your Life” Guide!
If you’re looking for a place to start, I recommend my own free resource (wink wink). It’s not technically “KonMari” because it goes room by room instead of by category, but I still think it’s incredibly helpful. Not only does it include your entire house, but it also includes decluttering your digital life (email, phone, social media) and your very soul (unforgiveness, toxic relationships, other yuck that doesn’t spark joy).
Pop in your email below, and it will come to you asap!
I want to know, what do you struggle with when it comes to decluttering? Is it a certain space? Paper? Sentimental items? Let me know your biggest decluttering issue, and where you need encouragement or motivation.
