konmari

KonMari, short for the KonMari Method, is a household and lifestyle approach to decluttering developed by Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo. It emphasizes transforming living spaces by keeping only items that spark joy and by rearranging possessions to support the life one wants. The method became globally known after Kondo's 2011 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and was popularized worldwide by the Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo in 2019. Kondo later established KonMari Media to disseminate the method and related products.

The core guidance centers on discarding first and organizing by category rather than room. Practitioners are asked to imagine their ideal lifestyle and then assess each item through the question: does this spark joy? Items that do not are discarded or donated. The tidying process follows a prescribed order: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally sentimental items. After discarding, belongings are kept only if they spark joy, and storage should be visible and accessible, with folding techniques that allow articles to stand upright.

Proponents say the method helps people rethink consumption and cultivate gratitude toward possessions, often leading to a simpler, more intentional living environment. Critics note that the approach may not address deeper issues of sustainability or be practical in crowded households, and that its emphasis on emotional response can vary in effectiveness across cultures. The KonMari brand encompasses books, workshops, and media content and remains influential in the field of personal organization.