I just finished reading “the life-changing magic of tidying up” by Marie Kondo.  The book has gained such popularity that of course I had to see firsthand what it was all about.   I do have to say that out of the many organizing books that are out there this one is worth picking up.  While I won’t spoil the whole book for you here are a few of the major points.

Sort by category, not by  location:

The general theme behind her book is to gather all the like items from your house and sort by category not by location/room.  For instance, if you are going to sort your medicine then gather it from all areas of the house-the bathroom, kitchen, linen closet or wherever and organize it at once.  I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with this method!  This is the best way to organize and makes it easier to find items when they are in one general location instead of scattered all over the house.

“Does this spark joy?”

Her main mantra is ” does this spark joy?”  She believes that every item you own should spark joy.  I think this is a good way to gain a different perspective while tackling the organizing process.  It really makes you think hard about whether or not to keep something.  However, I do have to say that not EVERY item in my house sparks joy.  Most of us have cleaning products, first aid supplies, laundry detergent and other necessities that we need to run a household.  So while this philosophy works great for clothing, artwork, decorative items, books and other miscellaneous categories that are more personal it does not apply to everything in my opinion.

Never pile things: vertical storage is key.

Marie believes that everything is much more functional stored vertically.  I do have to say that this works great in dresser drawers.  Rolling or folding your shirts, leggings and other items makes them so much easier to see and access when they are stored vertically and each one is visible.  And the best part of this system is that it is a real space saver!

A few other philosophies….

There are also many other philosophies shared throughout the book.  Some of these may not be for everyone but it definitely makes for an interesting read.  For example, the fact that your socks need a rest after being worn and should always be folded flat.  Or that you should thank each item you own on a regular basis . Another one is that you should remove all soap, shampoo and conditioner from your shower after each use and wipe them down and store in the bathroom cabinet.  The thought process behind this is that it keeps your shower much cleaner and the items from building up a residue.  While this is a great thought I find it totally impractical for most people.  If I did this I would find myself in the shower and wet with no soap or shampoo!

Those are just a few of the highlights so if you are up for some organizing or “tidying” inspiration I would recommend the book.  You don’t have to agree with all aspects of the book to still enjoy it!