Marie Kondo for Real People: 5 Totally Sane Tips for Tidying Up Your Bedroom
Photo Credit: Logan Nolin via Unsplash
To say I'm organized would be an understatement. Countless people have commented on my otherworldly levels of organization, perpetually in awe of my color-coded planner and super neat home. I'm practically a tidying master. But just when I thought I was at the top of my game, I discovered Marie Kondo. Turns out we all have a few things to learn when it comes to the act of decluttering.
For the few people out there who still haven't heard of Kondo, she's the mind behind the book,The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and the Netflix show,Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. She preaches an organization technique called the KonMari method, which, in addition to helping people purge things that don't spark joy, also gives advice for how to store, fold, and arrange things.
We spend nearly half of our lives in bed, meaning our bedroom should be a clean, calm and peaceful place free of clutter. Read on for tips and tricks for organizing and decluttering your bedroom using the KonMari method.
Don't be afraid to discard nice, unworn clothes
Although it might seem like a daunting task, the first step in Kondo-ifying your bedroom is to take all of your clothes out and place them on the floor. Once you have everything in a pile in front of you, pick up your favorite item—something you know sparks joy. Hold onto it. How does it make you feel? Carry this feeling with you on your journey to determine whether other items also spark joy. That's Kondo's secret to tidying up.
I used to have a penchant for buying unique, one-of-a-kind dresses from Etsy and Anthropologie. The problem? My closet was filled with pieces I'd only worn once or twice. I struggled to let them go, but ultimately reasoned that if I hadn't worn them in a year, I likely never would.
If you have nice items that are new or gently worn, don't feel like you need to hang onto them simply because they were expensive. If you don't wear them, they're just taking up precious space in your closet. You can always make a profit off of your nicer items, just like I did, by selling them on Poshmark or through a Facebook buy/sell/trade group.
Rearrange your drawers using Kondo's technique
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Once you've narrowed down your wardrobe to only include things that spark joy, it's time to put everything away. The KonMari method of folding, which is essentially rolling up items and storing side-by-side, versus folding items on top of each other, will literally save your life. Not only does it allow you to fit more inside of your drawers, but it also lets you see everything at once, saving you serious time when getting dressed. Yes, this is what we call 'life-changing magic!'
Eliminate visual clutter
In addition to getting rid of physical clutter, Kondo believes in the benefits of purging visual clutter. Your bedroom should be a calm, relaxing place. Try to eliminate as much clutter as possible (such as clothes stacked on a chair) and keep decor minimal—think a nice lamp, a plant, and one or two framed photos. Too many decorative pieces can make your room feel chaotic, which is exactly what KonMari warns against.
Store purses inside one another
If you live in a small apartment like I do, you're likely short on closet space. One of my favorite KonMari strategies is to store smaller bags and clutches inside larger ones. For example, I have a large leather tote bag in my closet currently filled with a few smaller purses I'm not using at the moment. This Marie Kondo strategy is quick, simple, and will save you significant closet space. It will most likely spark joy, too.
Tackle the bedside table once and for all
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We all have that one drawer in our bedside table filled with anything and everything — old receipts, books, letters, safety pins, medicine. You know the one. Although it might seem impossible to organize, it can be done using one of Kondo's techniques: small storage bins.
Buy small, clear containers from Target, Walmart, or the Container Store and store all of your odds and ends in them. Because they're clear, you won't have to open each box to find what you're looking for.
A few tips to keep in mind:
- Take it one category at a time. Kondo always advises tackling things by category, not space. This means that instead of just organizing your closet, for example, you should do all of your clothes at once, then all of your shoes at once, etc.
- Keep it clean. In her book, Kondo emphasizes the importance of keeping the bedroom clean and tidy. This means washing your sheets and pillowcases once a week, making your bed each morning, and dusting surfaces regularly.
- Serenity now. Think of creative ways to make your bedroom as chill as possible. Anything from a lavender candle to a white noise machine will do the trick.
- Be logical. Not all clothes need to be folded using the KonMari method. As she writes in her book, if something feels like it's meant to be hung up on a hanger, go for it.
Looking for a little bit more guidance before diving in? This video on how to clean your bedroom using the KonMari method is a great next step. Happy organizing!
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