14 Reasons Why You Should NOT Follow Marie Kondo’s Advice

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Millions have been swept up by Marie Kondo’s philosophy, the idea that people should only keep items in their homes that ‘spark joy’. Her KonMari method involves simplifying, being mindful, and taking a no bullshit approach to organization by having people look at every item and decide whether or not it makes them happy. But this approach may seem too rigid, unpractical, or even unrealistic for some.

If personal taste, family dynamic and the kind of needs vary, the KonMari method won’t be the magic wand for everyone. So let’s take a look at why you may want to rethink Marie Kondo’s philosophy.

“Organized Chaos” Is Some People’s Playground

Sneaky Culprits That Make Your Home Feel Cluttered — Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Marie Kondo’s method is: if your space is well organized, so will your mind be. But that’s not true for everyone. There are those who do well in environments others would refer to as ‘organized chaos.’ To the outsiders, their workspace may seem messy, but they know exactly where everything is. In fact, for creative individuals this kind of clutter can actually increase productivity and inspiration.

It Can Be Emotionally Draining

Clearing your belongings out is an emotional ride. Parting with possessions isn’t as easy as, “Does this bring me joy?” for many. If you have past memories attached with emotions, that can be exhausting, and in some cases, stressful. This can, unfortunately, make people feel like ‘forcing’ them to ‘let go’ of ‘some parts’ of themselves, which is exactly the wrong thing to do for decluttering.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

10 Essential Home Items You Should Never Toss When Decluttering — Photo Credit: Pexels

Marie Kondo’s advice is not exactly universal in how it pitches decluttering, as not everyone needs or prioritizes the same things. For instance, one thing some may find to be inspiring would be an object not so inspiring to others. Like, if you’re a kitchen enthusiast, you’ll need a lot of stuff, and Kondo’s method would probably consider it excessive. The whole process can feel forced and unnatural if you are trying to fit everyone into the same mold.

Organizing Can Be a Stressor

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In some cases, rigid organizing rules come with anxiety rather than less. People can feel like they are constantly behind, because of the pressure to organize, fold, and categorize everything “perfectly.” This is a ‘Pinterest perfect’ problem where real life isn’t the same as the magazine version. Sometimes trying to keep every drawer folded just so or having only minimal items on display can make you more stressed than less.

Not Everything Must Spark Joy

Marie Kondo believes in keeping the things that make you happy, but not all practical items are going to make you happy. Even something as mundane as cleaning supplies, tools, or paperwork doesn’t have to bring you joy, but you need it. You’d likely lose essential functionality in your home if you only kept items that you found joy in. Emotional attachment can be trumped by practicality, and a home doesn’t have to be less happy because it has a couple items that aren’t ‘joyless.’

Life Changes; Your Stuff Should Too

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Our needs change, and so do our lives. In one phase of life, the items that might ‘spark joy’ may not be in another. So, for instance, a young family with small children will require a lot of baby supplies, but with the time small children will grow, these things will become superfluous. However, if you start a new hobby, you might have supplies piling up. Decluttering doesn’t mean you need to get rid of things you might need in the future.

Limits Spontaneity

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Picking up quirky items when you travel or bringing home something that you’ve seen can be something that some people really enjoy. Marie Kondo’s strict advice to get rid of anything that doesn’t ‘spark joy’ at the moment of decluttering can kill that spontaneity. Sometimes life isn’t planned, and sometimes the little things we don’t bother noticing today could make you very happy when you need it most. Her method may be a little too rigid, and doesn’t leave much room for spontaneity or surprise.

It Doesn’t Address Storage Solutions

Kondo gives advice about what should be kept or discarded, but she doesn’t prescribe how to store what remains. The decluttering process can be as important as finding practical storage solutions for many households. In small apartments, especially, maximizing storage is the name of the game, but Marie Kondo’s philosophy tends to gloss over the practical aspect of where you actually put all the things that do make you happy.

It Can Be Overwhelming With Time Investment

Kondo’s method of tidying up isn’t a quick fix. It could be a massive time commitment sorting through every item in your home, holding it and asking yourself if it brings joy. Time is a precious commodity in this day and age and spending hours only picking out what you’ll wear or what you’ll eat might seem too much. If you’re a parent, professional or simply someone with a hectic schedule, spending all that time on organizing may not be realistic.

Her Approach Can Be Unpractical for Large Families

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Marie Kondo’s decluttering advice may be just what a single person or a couple needs, but for a larger family, it’s a chore multiplied by a thousand. What about applying the KonMari method to a family of five with five different hobbies, interests and emotional attachments to things? Soon those toys, school projects, memorabilia, and clothing start piling up into mountains.

Not Realistic for All Budgets

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The fact is, sometimes the ‘ideal’ setup Marie Kondo describes isn’t within everyone’s financial reach. Cute storage bins, organizing systems, and aesthetically pleasing containers all have a price tag. Under her method, decluttering can be expensive for many, and may not be a realistic financial commitment. You don’t need all these fancy boxes and drawers to feel organized or happy in your space.

Sentimental Value Isn’t Always Optional

We’re being honest here — not all of the “practical” things in our lives bring us joy, but some sentimental things have memories attached. Even that old sweater your grandmother knitted may hold memories of family gatherings. So many people get warm fuzzies from objects and Marie Kondo’s view can feel dismissive of those emotions. KonMari method may not take full account of the power of objects with sentimental value as mood boosters and memory triggers.

Minimalism Isn’t for Everyone

Marie Kondo’s method is based on minimalism, a trend that’s grown in popularity but is not the right lifestyle for everybody. There are some people who actually like having a ‘cozy clutter’ or lots of things around. For some people, their minimalist space can feel a little too bare and uninviting.

Environmental Concerns

This Marie Kondo advice to get rid of the things that don’t spark joy can be very wasteful. Throwing away things even if you don’t need them anymore can be bad for the environment. Some of the advice would need to be repurposed or donated – things that might not have instant value – and that could be wasteful, which a lot of people today strive to avoid being.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.