Have you ever looked around your home and felt overwhelmed by the clutter? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us struggle with keeping our living spaces tidy and organized. That’s where Marie Kondo comes in.
Marie Kondo, a consultant and author, is well-known for her easy and effective method of organizing. She believes that it’s crucial to have things around us that make us happy and reflect our values. So, if something doesn’t bring joy, it’s time to let it go.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most inspiring Marie Kondo quotes and how they can help you declutter your home and your mind.
Who is Marie Kondo
Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizing consultant, author, and television personality. She is best known for her KonMari method of tidying up, which emphasizes decluttering and organizing one’s home by keeping only items that spark joy. Her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into multiple languages.
Here are some interesting facts about Marie Kondo:
- Marie Kondo was born on October 9, 1984, in Tokyo, Japan.
- Kondo worked as a Shinto shrine maiden, or miko, for five years before starting her organizing business.
- She has also starred in a Netflix series called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” which features her helping families organize and declutter their homes using the KonMari method.
- She has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time magazine.
- She is a minimalist and keeps her own possessions to a minimum, focusing on items that bring her joy and have a practical purpose.
Inspiring Marie Kondo Quotes to Help You Spark Joy
The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.
The true purpose of a present is to be received.
The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t.
The act of folding is far more than making clothes compact for storage. It is an act of caring, an expression of love and appreciation for the way these clothes support your lifestyle.
The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.
Storage experts are hoarders.
The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.
I believe that tidying is a celebration, a special send-off for those things that will be departing from the house, and therefore I dress accordingly.
Tidying dramatically changes one’s life. This is true for everyone, 100 percent.
But when we really delve into the reasons why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear of the future.
Keep only things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.
When your room is clean and uncluttered, you have no choice but to examine your inner state.
The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.
Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.
Gathering every item in one place is essential to this process because it gives you an accurate grasp of how much you have.
Imagine what it would be like to have a bookshelf filled only with books that you really love. Isn’t that image spellbinding? For someone who loves books, what greater happiness could there be?
Arrange your clothes so that they rise to the right . . . lines that slope up to the right make people feel comfortable.
The best way to store bags is in another bag.
Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, no the effort needed to get them out.
No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important.
The point in deciding specific places to keep things is to designate a spot for everything.
I have only two rules: store all items of the same type in the same place and don’t scatter storage space.
People cannot change their habits without first changing their way of thinking.
Discarding hones one’s decision-making skills.
When it comes to storage, vertical is best.
The key is to make the change so sudden that you experience a complete change of heart.
Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder.
I have yet to see a house that lacked sufficient storage. The real problem is that we have far more than we need or want.
Reducing the amount of stuff in our space also reduces the amount of dust, and we actually clean more often.
The best sequence is this: clothes first, then books, papers, komono (miscellany), and lastly, mementos.
People with large book collections are almost always diligent learners.
Sort by category, not location.
Eliminate the need to store off-season clothes.
Famous Marie Kondo Quotes
There’s no need to finish reading books that you only got halfway through. Their purpose was to be read halfway.
By neatly folding your clothes, you can solve almost every problem related to storage.
If sweatpants are your everyday attire, you’ll end up looking like you belong in them, which is not very attractive. What you wear in the house does impact your self-image.
Life becomes far easier once you know that things will still work out even if you are lacking something.
Keep all your clothes ready to be used year-round, regardless of the season.
We should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of.
To put your things in order means to put your past in order, too.
Clothing storage: Fold it right and solve your storage problems…The goal is to fold each piece of clothing into a simple, smooth rectangle.
Every piece of clothing has its own ‘sweet spot’ where it feels just right.
By starting with the easy things first and leaving the hardest for last, you can gradually hone your decision-making skills, so that by the end, it seems simple.
I recommend you dispose of anything that does not fall into one of three categories: currently in use, needed for a limited period of time, or must be kept indefinitely.
Truly precious memories will never vanish even if you discard the objects associated with them . . . No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important . . . Does this spark joy?
It is not memories but the person we have become because of those past experiences that we should treasure.
Tidy a little a day and you’ll be tidying forever.
We need to show consideration for others by helping them avoid the burden of owning more than they need or can enjoy.
When your room is clean and uncluttered, you have no choice but to examine your inner state.
No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important.
All you need to do is take the time to sit down and examine each item you own, decide whether you want to keep or discard it, and then choose where to put what you keep.
When you are choosing what to keep, ask your heart; when you are choosing where to store something, ask your house.
Take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it.
If you can say without a doubt, ‘I really like this!’ no matter what anyone else says, and if you like yourself for having it, then ignore what other people think.
When you are choosing what to keep, ask your heart; when you are choosing where to store something, ask your house.
The ultimate secret of success is this: If you tidy up in one shot, rather than little by little, you can dramatically change your mind-set.
Books: Once you have pile your books, take them in your hand one by one and decide whether you want to keep or discard each one. The criterion is, of course, whether or not it gives you a thrill of pleasure when you touch it.
Your real life begins after putting your house in order.
Take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it.
As for you, pour your time and passion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life.
Letting go is even more important than adding.
I will only purchase what fits me. If I want to lose weight, I do that first and then go shopping.
I’m sure most of us have been scolded for not tidying up our rooms, but how many of our parents consciously taught us how to tidy as part of our upbringing?
The lives of those who tidy thoroughly and completely, in a single shot, are without exception dramatically altered.
Keep only things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.
After all, our possessions very accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life.
We can only transform our lives if we sincerely want to. Small changes transform our lives.
Putting your house in order is the magic that creates a vibrant and happy life.
Repetition and wasted effort can kill motivation, and therefore it must be avoided.
The urge to point out someone else’s failure to tidy is usually a sign that you are neglecting to take care of your own space.
It’s a very strange phenomenon, but when we reduce what we own and essentially ‘detox’ our house, it has a detox effect on our bodies as well.
Never discard anything without saying thank you and good-bye.
Your parents’ home is not a haven for mementos.
Being messy is not hereditary nor is it related to lack of time.
Did you enjoy these Marie Kondo quotes?
Did you enjoy these Marie Kondo quotes? If they resonated with you, why not share them with your friends and family?
Kondo’s message is all about finding happiness and meaning in our belongings, which can help us live more purposeful lives. It’s not just about cleaning up your house, but creating a space that truly reflects who you are and what you value.
So whether you’re on a big cleaning kick or just need a little inspiration, Kondo’s words are bound to make you feel better. Thanks for reading, and happy tidying!