These 5 Marie Kondo-Inspired Makeovers Will Make You Want to Tidy Up ASAP

The beginning of 2019 brought us Netflix’s “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.” A year later, it’s safe to say that we’re still not over the series—or Kondo’s thoughtful, thorough approach to streamlining one’s belongings and passing up anything that no longer sparks joy. We’re gathered up some of our favorite Marie Kondo-inspired projects from across the web, all of which can offer inspiration for tackling clutter and chaos once and for all.

Blogger Julie Caron spent a weekend tackling her closet. “I really tried to follow Marie’s advice about keeping things that truly bring joy and passing along things that don’t.  For this project, I’d define bringing joy as clothing and related items that are still in style and that I truly like wearing.”

The toughest part of the process? “Getting everything out of the closet and starting,” Caron says. “It was a huge pile and felt daunting, but I just dove in and told myself, ‘One piece at a time, that’s all I have to think about.'”

Caron appreciates Kondo’s folding method for tops but made other adjustments as necessary to best fit her own lifestyle and needs. “I really like having my tees and other things rolled up in drawers; it’s much easier to see what I have and they really have stayed nice and neat.  I chose to put sweaters on those shelves in the closet and that’s working out really well too,” she says. “I ended up using another open shelf for my jeans.  They’re folded over once and stacked.  It’s not what Marie suggests, but it’s working for my jeans.”

While dressers and closets are common places to practice decluttering, the kitchen is also an excellent space to tackle as you go all-in on your winter organization projects. Blogger Marissa Zheng did just that and is quite pleased with her new cooking space, noting, “My favorite part about the ‘after’ setup is the vertical storage that allows me to better utilize my cabinet space and see everything at a glance!”

Zheng recognizes the feelings of doubt that often accompany a major organization project such as this one. “As a terribly nostalgic person, decluttering and organizing our home has been a truly cathartic and freeing experience. The hardest part is always overcoming that voice in the back of your mind whispering, ‘But what if… what if I miss this? What if I need this later?’ Recognizing and releasing feelings of fear, guilt, nostalgia, etc. along with the possessions that don’t bring you happiness—that is true freedom.”

Blogger Corinne Burghardt organized both her closet and her sons’ dresser using the KonMari method. “The hardest part was actually tossing and donating 75 percent of our clothes,” she says. “I didn’t know if I was going to regret it later.” Looking back on her undertaking, Burghardt notes, “The Konmari organizing process was a bit overwhelming, especially when I began to see the pile of material things I had been holding onto for so long that I hadn’t worn in years or had no intention of ever using! I was surprised (and hesitant) to get rid of 3/4 of my entire wardrobe.”

That said, parting with some of her and her family’s belongings gave way to peace. “I love that I can find what I need when I need it, and no longer feel the stress and anxiety of a cluttered closet,” Burghardt says. “I didn’t realize how much weight it had lifted off my shoulders. While at first I thought I was losing money by investing and then tossing out material objects, I was really gaining back my sanity.” Her advice for those looking to start a KonMari project of their own? “Really listen to the method: If an item does not bring you joy, donate it! You truly won’t regret it.”

Abby Lawson of Just a Girl and Her Blog has written extensively about the KonMari process and has an entire post dedicated to Kondo’s folding techniques, which can help you to create more space in your dresser or closet. She describes learning a new way to fold as being the “most intimating” part of the process. “There is a bit of a learning curve, but if you can stick it out through the adjustment period, it really does help drawers stay much tidier, and it is easier to find your items,” she says. “If you’re having trouble with getting things to stand up, adding storage boxes in the drawers or drawer dividers for extra support can be a big help as well.”

Now Lawson’s wardrobe is full of pieces that make her feel good—and they’re items she truly wants to wear. “The organizing process was actually really freeing,” she says. “Yes, it took some time to go through my clothing and get it organized, but then I was left with only clothes that I truly loved and wore often.”

Blogger Laura Hutchinson tackled the category of “komono,” or miscellaneous items, in the form of her daughter’s toys. “The process was physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing,” she says. “Toys were spread all over the house so even just gathering them together was a chore. But once I’d done that, it didn’t take too long to whittle them down.” However, parting with her daughter’s belongings did bring on a bit of nostalgia. “Probably the hardest part was actually bringing them to the local charity shop and officially parting with them,” Hutchinson says. “I sat in the car afterwards and cried because, even though I knew my daughter didn’t play with those toys anymore and they weren’t the truly special ones (which I kept), it still felt like I was giving away a little part of her.”

After, though, the makeover made Hutchinson’s space “feel like a home again and not just a giant playroom.” Not to mention, the project proved that sometimes less truly is more. “I love seeing how much more engaged my daughter is with the stuff that’s left,” Hutchinson says, “When she has lots, it’s overwhelming and she doesn’t value anything as much. She’s easily distracted, and expects an endless line of things to entertain her. When she has fewer toys, she spends more time with each item. She appreciates it more. Plus, she has extra space to play.”

Helping children to pare down their belongings can come with added layers of stress, but Hutchinson has some advice that can make the process easier for both parent and child. A trial separation period can help determine which toys are still in demand and which are no longer desired. “Box up some items and set them aside somewhere out of the way. You still get the benefit of a less cluttered living space and, if your child asks for a specific item, it’s still available,” she says. “It also becomes much easier to see, for both of you, which are the toys that are truly cherished and which ones never make it out of the box.”