Sparking Joy in Austin
Marie Kondo Certified
Decluttering Experts
Marie Kondo certified Erin (in 2016) and Abbie (in 2019) of Organized for Good in her world-renowned decluttering method, the KonMari Method®.
What is the KonMari Method®?
The KonMari Method® was established by Japanese Professional Organizer Marie Kondo. It is a decluttering approach that involves a mindful inventory of your belongings (one category at a time) to identify what still deserves a place in your home and life. Through the process of elimination and mindful keeping, you incrementally declutter and organize your space like never before.
The magic of keeping only what Sparks Joy®
The result is more powerful than a simple before and after. While processing your belongings, you also process your inner experience of life. You align what is true and authentic to you on the inside with your environment and belongings, making your space a truer reflection of you.
Ready for a true transformation in your home and in your life?
Schedule a free, 15-minute call with us to talk about your vision.
Common misconceptions about Marie Kondo’s method
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No–the KonMari Method® is not about getting rid of everything!
Ultimately, this process is about reexamining your belongings very thoroughly using thoughtful parameters like your vision for your life, your style, and what serves you on a day-to-day basis.
Not everyone who finishes this process ends up a minimalist, and that’s not the point. The first step is to look at your life and ask those larger questions.
We provide guiding questions for you to arrive at the decision that’s right for you.
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First, one of our consultants will meet you at home and begin with a tour and interview to learn more about your vision and your life.
During each tidying session (3-6 hours each), your consultant will guide your focus on one category of item in order:
Clothes + Accessories
Books + media
Papers
Komono / Miscellany*
Sentimental, Memorabilia
After each session you will feel lighter, calmer, and more clear.
*Download our checklist for a breakdown of komono / miscellany and the other categories.
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Organizing and decluttering holistically - category by category, rather than room by room - is what distinguishes the KonMari Method® from other approaches to home organization.
The idea is that by working through an entire category all at once, you can see objectively exactly how much you have.
When you understand the volume of your belongings in the context of your vision and goals, it makes letting go and getting organized a lot easier.
Since by definition the KonMari Method® is intended to be holistic, it won’t be as effective when applied room by room.
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The KonMari Method® has six rules–and don’t worry they aren’t as hard and fast as it sounds. Her principles are the following:
Commit yourself to tidying up
Imagine your ideal lifestyle
Finish discarding first (this is the part that most people imagine when they think of the method)
Tidy by category, not by location
Follow the right order (as listed above)
Ask yourself if it sparks joy
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It truly depends. In our shared experience, the amount of time it takes to complete depends on whether people work slowly and thoughtfully or rapid-fire (both are correct, just different).
It also depends on the volume of your belongings and how much available time you are prepared to commit to this effort.
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We’ll be honest, completing a tidying process like the KonMari Method® can be difficult–at times. It won’t be difficult for every session or every decision you make.
The most important thing is to have the greatest possible clarity on your personal vision and stick to it as a guide. Marie Kondo titled her first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, for a good reason–it will truly change your life. Transformations are often difficult, but you might be craving one for a reason.
Have more questions?
Subscribe now to download our decluttering by category checklist
We’ll send occasional updates, tips, and resources to support your decluttering journey.
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We understand how challenging and rewarding this journey can be, because we completed the KonMari Method® in our own lives and continue to apply it every day.
-Erin & Abbie
This work is personal.
It’s vulnerable here. Brené Brown would be proud you’re reading this far.
Erin’s Story
I was already organizing professionally when I started my KonMari journey. My main issue was not organization, it was WHAT I was organizing. I had collected a mish mash of things throughout college and my 20s, and none of it was intentional or truly reflected who I saw myself as. I had several boxes of sentimental items from my father, who had recently passed, and I was moving into my boyfriend’s small home in South Austin. We followed Marie Kondo’s process to downsize our stuff intentionally, merge our stuff smoothly and effectively, and create new organization systems that would work for both of us.
In the process, we became aware of what it was like to allow joy to be our guide, and our lives changed. Ten years later, we are now married, have a toddler named Max, and a little place in Costa Rica where we spend time as a family.
Abbie’s Story
When I began my tidying journey, I was not where I wanted to be in life. Something inside my mind kept telling me I needed a big change and Marie Kondo’s method could help me.
After I completed the method, my life slowly began evolving towards what I’ve always wanted: peace in my physical space and the knowledge that I can take on challenges and finish them. It also led me to Organized For Good and doing work that truly matters to me.
Ready for the power of tidying to transform your space and your life?
