BUYING INFORMATION: BHG.com/Resources September 2019 | (^97)
for a second season.)
In each episode she
gently but firmly helps
a different family or
individual through their
tidying journey. There
are emotional stories: a
widow finally facing her
late husband’s closet, a
family grappling with a
move that forced them
to downsize. There are
triumphantly organized
closets and utensil
drawers. There are tears.
The show helped
make Marie both a
verb (as in, “I’ve just
Kondo’d my garage”) and
a celebrity—something
the self-described
homebody doesn’t seem
entirely comfortable
with. “When I open my
bag in public and it’s
even a little messy, I get
embarrassed,” she says,
laughing. She’s also faced
some public blowback,
most notably over a
rumor that she believes
no one should own more
than 30 books. Marie
denies that she ever
imposes limits on how
many books—or
any type of item—a
person owns. “That’s a
complete misconception,”
she says, smile intact.
“What’s important is
not necessarily quantity,
but understanding
what quantity works for you.”
The truth is, through maturity
and experience, she has softened her
prescribed method. Although she still
recommends that people tidy their
home in one intense marathon session
if they can—tackling clothes, then
books and documents, miscellaneous
items, and finally sentimental
things—she recognizes that for
especially busy people, it’s more
realistic to purge items here and
there. “Maybe do socks one day and
shirts the next. Do a smaller amount
when you have time,” she says.
Marie’s ambitions extend
beyond an immaculate sock drawer.
Several news outlets have reported
that KonMari Media is seeking
$40 million in funding to expand
its business. (Her company has
not confirmed that number.) She
is writing books with targeted
strategies for different audiences,
including a picture book for young
children and one about work
spaces. And she is licensing tidying
consultants to take her method
directly into homes around the
world. Don’t be surprised if a line
of storage containers with a KonMari
label appears in the future. “We are
figuring out what we’re going to do
as a lifestyle brand, so we are very
much in the discussion phase.”
But even as her company grows,
its greatest asset may be its message:
the concept of choosing joy and
recognizing that the source of it
can be hiding in unlikely places.
“I think that resonated with a lot of
people,” she says. “Tidying itself
is not the be-all and end-all goal.
It’s much more introspective. It’s
about checking in
with yourself and
choosing joy in your
daily life. I just show
how you get there
through tidying.”
WHAT’S THE LINK
BETWEEN TIDYING AND
CREATIVITY?
“A tidy home is filled
only with items you
cherish, and I believe
people thrive creatively
in these circumstances.
For me, tidying is also
part of my creative
process. Keeping my
hands busy helps
my mind find stillness.”
DO YOU EVER
STRUGGLE WITH A LACK
OF MOTIVATION?
”I’m human. I have
those moments too.
Generally when I feel
that way, it’s when
I’m working too hard
and I’m physically
exhausted, so I make
sure to take some time
off. And if not that,
I will get a big blank
sketchbook and write
down all of my thoughts
and emotions.”
HOW DO YOU
TIDY A SPACE TO
MAKE ROOM FOR
CREATIVE HOBBIES?
”It’s important
when it comes to
creative hobbies
that all of the tools you
use are stored in
a way that sparks joy.
It should be neatly
categorized, and
anything that could
be stood upright
should be done so.
I always recommend
storing things
vertically so you can
immediately see
where everything is.
That way you can
get started right
away. If you have to
search for the things
you need, you
are wasting time.” ■GET TIDYING
To watch Marie
organize a drawer,
hover your
smartphone
camera over this
code.1 She believes in
clearing the mind
along with the home;
her personal
prescription is yoga
and meditation.
2 She packs her kids’
lunches in bento boxes
divided by cupcake
liners and wrapped in
a type of Japanese
cloth called furoshiki.
3 Having fl owers
throughout her house
not only adds color but
also “serves as
reminders to live in the
moment,” Marie says.
4 Marie recycles
small boxes as drawer
organizers and
lines them with
decorative papers.
5 Arranging fl owers
is one of her favorite
ways to get creative.
6 Folding clothes into
packets and storing
them upright (here, in
a drawer) is a key part
of her tidying method.
7 Marie’s signature
move, one fi nger in
the air and leg kicked
back, is meant to
embody the feeling of
joy every possession
should spark.
8 A tray of crystals,
like this amethyst, sits
on her bedside table.
9 She likes to start
each day by opening
the windows and
lighting incense.