Marie Kondo’s tidying method made a lot of people look at their homes differently. Her idea of keeping things that bring you joy, along with her famous way of folding clothes, made tidying feel a lot less like a boring chore.
Still, following the KonMari method can be harder than it looks on a TV show. Some of the advice gets misunderstood, while other steps are easy to skip when you’re eager to see a cleaner home.
If you’ve tried the method and your house still feels cluttered, one of these common mistakes could be getting in the way.
Skipping the Thank You Step
Thanking an item before letting it go can feel strange, but it’s meant to help you move past guilt. Taking a moment to appreciate what something gave you can make it easier to part with it.
Related: 15 Things Every Woman Over 40 Should Declutter From Her Home
Keeping “Just in Case” Items
The phrase “I might need this someday” can make it very hard to get rid of anything. If an old appliance has been broken for years or an item has never been used, keeping it for a hypothetical future may just add to the clutter.
Misunderstanding the Joy Test
Sparking joy doesn’t always mean feeling excited the second you pick something up. Sometimes it’s a quiet feeling of comfort, usefulness, or simply being glad that the item is part of your life.
Not Tidying by Category
Kondo recommends sorting by category instead of cleaning one room at a time. Putting all your clothes, books, papers, or kitchen items together gives you a much better idea of how much you actually own.
Related: 20 Things You Can Toss Today to Instantly Declutter Your Home
Half-Heartedly Folding Clothes
Kondo’s folding method is meant to make your clothes easier to see and keep organized in your drawers. If you toss everything back in after folding a few pieces, your drawers will quickly return to their old mess.
Skipping the Visualization Step
Before you start tidying, Kondo suggests thinking about what you want your home and daily life to feel like. Having that picture in mind can give you a reason to keep going when the sorting gets tiring.
Treating Sentimental Items Like an Afterthought
Sentimental belongings come last in the KonMari method because they can be the hardest things to sort through. Give yourself time with old photos, gifts, letters, and keepsakes instead of making quick decisions just to finish.
Related: 17 Effective Ways to Organize Your Home and Declutter Your Life
Failing to Respect the Limits of Your Space
Tidying won’t give you more closets, shelves, or drawers. If a storage area is already full, stuffing more things into it won’t solve the problem and can make it harder to find what you need.
Forgetting About Maintenance
Tidying isn’t something you do once and forget about forever. Putting things back where they belong after using them can keep small messes from turning into another major cleanup.
Expecting Perfection
Pictures of perfectly organized homes can make it seem like your house should look the same after following KonMari. Your home can still be comfortable and lived-in without every drawer looking like it belongs in a magazine.
If you need a refresher, the KonMari Method offers more information about Kondo’s system and its basic principles.
Related: 13 Items People Regret Throwing Away During Decluttering
Letting Other People Decide What You Keep
Your belongings are part of your home, so you don’t have to keep something just because another person thinks you should. A gift from a relative can still be appreciated without taking up space in your house forever.
Trying to Declutter Completely Alone
Having someone nearby can make a long sorting session feel much less tedious. A friend or family member can keep you company, help you stay on track, or simply give you a little encouragement.
Throwing Away Everything
The KonMari method isn’t about getting rid of as much as possible. If a vintage camera, old record collection, or favorite sweater makes you happy, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it.
Ignoring the Emotional Side of Decluttering
Sorting through your belongings can bring up memories, sadness, guilt, and plenty of other feelings. Give yourself permission to take a break if a category becomes too emotional, and come back to it later if needed.
Decluttering can also have mental benefits beyond having a cleaner home. A study discussed by WebMD found that decluttering may help lower anxiety and improve mental clarity, which can make the effort feel worthwhile.
Not Reading the Book
Watching Marie Kondo on Netflix can be a great introduction, but the show doesn’t cover everything from her books. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up goes into her method in much more detail and gives you more context for the steps.
