In the last couple of months I’ve noticed a disturbing trend.

Konmari has been the lastest trend and popular kid on the block for a while now. I’m a big fan, I am a fan of any system that resonates with and helps people address their clutter. Reading this book years ago and trying the folding method she uses, I replaced my folding method with hers for much of my clothing. We can all learn and only a fool clings to “but I’ve always done it this way” when there is a better way on offer.

For those of you who have been in outer space for the last 2 years or more though, the Konmari Method is a decluttering and organisation method developed by the delightful Marie Kondo. Originally running her business in Japan Marie wrote the book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” which exploded globally and has now expanded into books, products and consultant training courses. She’s awesome. Go check her out. You can find her website here and the original book here

What disturbs me about the Konmari Method? … Nothing. It’s great. I’d recommend it whole heartedly. What I have noticed a lot of lately but is beautiful Pinterest and Instagram layouts using this method that seem to have missed the point of the book entirely. “I Konmaried my clothes. “Look at my artfully arranged 3 baskets of swimming costumes” What are you an Olympic swimmer? How is 3 baskets not excessive in anyone’s books and another one “redid my t-shirt drawer” .. Literally, and I know because I counted… 34 t-shirts. Even if t-shirts were the only type of top you wore you could go over a month with a clean shirt everyday and still not have to do laundry. It’s not been just clothes though. It’s been Christmas decorations – their left over / just in case 17 rolls of festive wrap looked pretty as a picture to be sure..(maybe I’m exaggerating there a bit, but it would be close) Kitchen utensils. stationery, toys and the list goes on.

Ridding yourself of a couple of broken pegs, a book, a too small shirt, some old video’s you no longer have a video player for and then “organising” or “Konmari folding” or putting everything else into artfully arranged baskets, tubs and drawers with beautiful chalkboard labels is not the essence of this, konmari or any other type of decluttering / simplify blog, book or system. Don’t get me wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong with hanging onto just about everything we own if it isn’t your intention to do anything other than organise your belongings into a more visualing pleasing aesthetic and it’s not bothering or negatively impacting you or your family in any way. If your happy with keeping everything in your house. All power to you.

If however our excesses are causing negative impacts for example, stress, lack of storage problems. If over consumption is putting a strain on the finances and it’s strewn across your house and life costing not just the initial purchase price but hours in time, energy, peace of mind, frustation and maintenance of putting away, cleaning, moving etc. If you have to Konmari jam 34 t-shirts into a drawer then failing to address that and just making it look pretty instead is a very temporary solution at best. Excess and clutter will always be just that no matter how prettily arranged or delightful the storage container. Also these things always have a way of escaping the beautifully designed storage systems we try to coral them in. Don’t Konmari your clutter and excess. Don’t make it look pretty. Out of sight is not out of mind. Just because you can fit 34 t-shirts into a drawer, or have enough baskets to hold all those swimming costumes doesn’t mean you should. Keep what you love, need and is of use and get rid of the rest. That’s where true simplifying, ease and beauty is.

The beautiful aesthetic of having an uncluttered, peaceful home – with or without the beautiful baskets with chalkboard signs. Don’t Konmari or organise your clutter and then lie to yourself that you’re doing anything other than making your excesses look pretty.

What are your thoughts on this?

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