How to Declutter Your Home for the New Year

After the business of the holidays, you might be looking to step into the new year clear-headed. A great way to do that is to declutter your apartment home. If the thought of tackling your bulging closet or your overflowing junk drawers sounds like a bore, don’t worry. With the KonMari method of cleaning, not only will you save time, but decluttering will soon become an enjoyable experience.  
 
Developed by tidying expert Marie Kondo, the KonMari Method is based on categorical tidying, meaning tidying by category instead of by location. There are five different categories: clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items. In a nutshell, the KonMari Method means systematically going through these categories, keeping the items that 'spark joy' and throwing away those that don't. The goal is to have a house full of items that spark joy, promoting a more introspective and happy lifestyle.  

The Basics

There are six basic rules to help you get started.  

1. Commit yourself to tidying up 
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle 
3. Discard first and don't forget to thank each item for fulfilling its purpose 
4. Don't tidy by location, tidy by category 
5. Follow the right order: clothes, books, papers, komono, and finish with sentimental items 
6. Hold the item and ask yourself if it sparks joy 

How to Put it Into Practice 

To start, remove all your clothes from your closet and put them on the floor. One by one, hold each item of clothing and ask yourself if it brings you a feeling of joy. If it does, put it back in the closet. If it doesn't, thank the item in question, call for a black garbage bag, and move on. According to Marie Kondo, thanking an item for its service helps relieve any guilt you might have felt in giving it away. The point is to not let any guilt taint the happiness you will feel once you are 100% surrounded by items that do spark joy.  
 
Once you finish all the categories in the same way and have a pile of black garbage bags in the back of your car, it's time to head over to the Goodwill. The sense of freedom you will feel is worth all the tears, sweat, heartbreak, and joy that went into decluttering and organizing your belongings. If you want to reward yourself for all your hard work, check out our blog post on great drinks to enjoy in the new year. If you are interested in scheduling a tour of our apartments, don't hesitate to contact us.