As the weather gets warmer, and we are fast approaching spring and summer, it is the perfect time to start thinking about that all-important spring clean. De-cluttering is a perfect activity to undertake when entering a new season as it can often signify a fresh start, which is especially relevant come Spring. The wardrobe is one place which could really benefit from a spring clean, and this makes for the perfect opportunity to switch out your thick woolly knits and replace those with a lighter, more spring inspired collection of items.
Who is Marie Kondo?
Tidying expert, bestselling author and Netflix sensation Marie Kondo created the KonMari method of tidying which encourages tidying by category rather than location. The first step in the KonMari method is clothing, making it the perfect method for tidying up your wardrobe. The KonMari method also encourages only keeping items which spark joy; and if they don’t, thank them for what they’ve given you throughout your time together and then let them go.
Why should you use KonMari?
As the very first step in the KonMari method of tidying involves focusing on clothes, it is the perfect method for spring cleaning your wardrobe. The wardrobe may well be an area you often forget about when cleaning, as the old saying goes “out of site out of mind”. However, in order to get the most out of your wardrobe space and the clothes themselves, it is important to keep the area well organised. To completely revamp your storage, consider upgrading to a Wardrobe from Room to Sleep, which will create maximal space for your newly organised garments. Once you declutter and reorganize, you will be able to see your clothes more easily and in turn reap far more enjoyment from them.
Getting Started on your Marie Condo Mission
If you have a vast amount of clothing, you should begin to further subcategorise your clothes into dresses, jumpers, tops etc. Marie Kondo recommends that you begin by removing all of your clothes from your wardrobe, or storage, and pile them on the floor, or a spare bed. The thought process is simply that you have to start with a mess in order to completely declutter.
The next step is to pick up each item of clothing and ask yourself; ‘does this spark joy?’. Marie cautions that you should be careful not to let nostalgia cloud your judgement on whether an item sparks joy or not. Once decisions have been made, you should then take the opportunity to discard of the no longer needed items, donating them where possible.
Now comes the time to put your remaining items back. Marie’s folding method is revolutionary; she folds everything vertically so that each item has the ability to stand unaided. This method means that you can easily see everything and unnecessary scrambling to find specific items should be easily avoidable. Marie also recommends using shoeboxes as handy drawer dividers, to create smaller, manageable sections.
For hanging items Marie recommends having the heaviest items, ones which are either longer in length, darker in colour or thicker in fabric, at the left-hand side of your wardrobe. As you move towards the right-hand side, the items should get gradually lighter in description, which is appealing to both the eyes and the mind.
When your Marie Condo inspired spring clean is complete, you should feel lighter and have a real sense of accomplishment. Your wardrobe will thank you too, and there’s no doubt that your clothes will be easier to find and much less likely to get lost.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
