You’ve likely heard of the KonMari Method, but you might be wondering if it’s just another passing trend. Its lasting power comes from its unique framework. Instead of tidying room by room, you tackle categories—all your clothes, then all your books, and so on. This allows you to see the true volume of what you own and make conscious decisions. A tidying consultant can help you stick to the process, but the real transformation happens when you let go of what’s weighing you down. The final, and often most daunting, task is removing those items. At Junk Smiths, we specialize in making that last step easy, clearing out the clutter so your home’s new, joyful chapter can begin.
Tiffany Ng first heard of Marie Kondo in 2016. Less than a year later, she had tidied her home using the KonMari Method; she quickly began the first steps to becoming a certified consultant not long after. Today, she is a certified KonMari consultant living in Los Angeles, CA. She is known as The Tidy Teacher, and helps clients to create homes that “spark joy”.
This methodology, which asks the client to see if an item “sparks joy”, focuses on keeping possessions that bring benefit to our lives. We don’t want to keep things around that weigh us down, which makes professional junk removal a great way to follow Kondo’s teaching. Junk Smiths offers junk removal, home demolition, and concrete removal; whatever your needs, we’ll get the job done! We can get your home tidy in no time, with same and next day appointments.
I first heard about the KonMari Method from my friends when they watched “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life”. Emily Gilmore was decluttering her home based on what “sparked joy”. I actually bought Marie Kondo’s books as a gift for my sister-in-law since they were bestsellers; my thought was that I could just briefly peruse them for tips before I wrapped them. But, I ended up getting hooked and keeping them for myself!
When I was reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” I thought it would be such an honor to do what Marie Kondo has done for her community in Tokyo and other parts of Japan. I learned that she had trained a few former clients to be her apprentices and become KonMari Consultants. When I completed my own tidying festival in February 2017, I actually felt sad because I had thoroughly enjoyed the process and didn’t have anything else to tidy. That’s when I knew I wanted to become a KonMari Consultant, so that I could support others in their own tidying festivals. I visited the KonMari website and found out that a Consultant Certification Course was being offered in Los Angeles later that year in July. I signed up immediately!
Marie Kondo mentioned that our three basic needs are food, clothing, and shelter; yet, little is truly taught about how to maintain an orderly space that is long-lasting. I think people all over the world have the desire to have a tidy, orderly space because a space that is cluttered can cause a lot of stress and frustration, not only with practical issues like finding items, but it can also hang over like a dark cloud on one’s mentality. It’s like a heavy weight of unresolved business in one’s life. Rather than with a bunch of rules that focus on what to discard or trendy tips that only focus on one aspect of your belongings, the KonMari Method is extremely simple and positive: you decide what to keep based on whether it sparks joy, and with the things you keep, you store them properly.
She created an empire around the concept of tidying, and it could change your life.
Most people can only dream about amassing the kind of success Marie Kondo has at just 34-years-old. The #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, star of Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People, has become a household name because of her categorical style of tidying. Referred to as the KonMari Method, this approach shifts how to organize and let go of items that aren’t benefitting us. “It’s such a different way of organizing. By gathering everything within a specific category, you can actually see what you have so you don’t feel overwhelmed,” says Charlotte-based KonMari consultant Shannon Huneycutt. “People can finally get a handle on decluttering and organize what they have. There’s an automatic ‘wow’ sensation you experience with KonMari, like an energizing jumpstart that motivates you to continue.”
Although her story seems like that of an overnight success, Kondo’s lifelong interest in organizing had early beginnings as she formed a tidying consulting business at 19-years-old while still a student in Tokyo. Fifteen years have passed since then but Kondo is still finding success in helping bring order to people’s homes, and lives, as well. Her consultancy program was established in 2016, and now, more than 200 certified consultants later, you can have your home KonMari’d using the same decluttering techniques. “I began the process to become a certified consultant in August 2017 and finished a year later,” says Huneycutt. “I was a teacher before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Eventually, I wanted to return to the workforce and was looking for a way to become a certified organizer. My husband actually mentioned Marie Kondo to me and encouraged me to read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”
Shannon Huneycutt, owner of Spark Joy Charlotte, is a certified Bronze-level KonMari consultant.
The KonMari Method, developed by Marie Kondo, is much more than a simple decluttering checklist; it’s a transformative philosophy for your home and life. The entire approach is built around one simple question you ask of each item: “Does it spark joy?” Instead of focusing on what to get rid of, this method encourages you to decide what to keep based on the positive feelings an item gives you. This shift in perspective is powerful because it addresses a core human desire for peace and order in our personal spaces. It’s an intentional way to curate a home filled only with belongings that you truly love and value, making your environment a genuine reflection of you.
A cluttered space often contributes to stress and frustration, making it difficult to relax or even find things when you need them. Kondo’s approach is popular because it directly tackles this mental burden. By creating a tidy home, you’re also creating a more peaceful mind. As KonMari consultant Shannon Huneycutt explains, the process creates an “automatic ‘wow’ sensation… like an energizing jumpstart that motivates you to continue.” This positive reinforcement makes the journey feel less like a chore and more like an act of self-care, allowing you to focus on what truly matters without the weight of physical and mental clutter holding you back.
Ultimately, the KonMari Method is about personal growth. Once you’ve thoughtfully decided which items no longer serve you, the final step is to thank them and let them go. This is where the real transformation solidifies, but it can also be the most daunting part. Looking at piles of unwanted items can feel overwhelming all over again. That’s where a professional service becomes a game-changer. At Junk Smiths, we handle the final removal, taking away everything from old furniture to bags of miscellaneous clutter. We make the last step easy, so you can immediately enjoy the peace and joy of your newly organized space without any lingering hassle.
Netflix subscribers quickly binged the eight-episode season of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo that premiered on the platform on January 1. As a result, viewers tagged their organization transformation posts with #TidyingUpWithMarieKondo. Just four months following its’ release, the hashtag has already been used over 35,000 times on Instagram. Not to mention, Kondo’s “spark joy” ideology has brought people to examine their possessions in a new light. Does this item spark joy? If the answer is ‘no’, then, according to Kondo, it’s time to get rid of it. Donation centers, like Goodwill, reported increases as high as 367% compared to annual averages following the show’s premiere.
Perhaps you’re looking to join those who have tidied their home already. But before you do, you should know how to tidy.
It might feel like the organizing world turned upside down when Marie Kondo, the queen of tidying, announced that her home is no longer perfectly neat. But instead of seeing this as giving up, it’s better to view it as a beautiful evolution of her core message. In her book, Kurashi at Home, she introduces the Japanese concept of “kurashi,” which translates to “way of life.” This philosophy encourages finding joy in your everyday routines and moments, rather than focusing solely on the end goal of a pristine home. It’s about how you live within your space—how you brew your morning tea, the way sunlight hits your favorite chair, or the simple pleasure of a clear kitchen counter.
This shift doesn’t cancel out the KonMari Method; it enhances it. The original goal was always to create a home that supports a joyful life, and tidying was the path to get there. Now, the focus is broader, reminding us that organization is a tool, not the final destination. For many of us, especially those facing a major life transition like a move, managing a rental property, or clearing out an estate, the idea of “kurashi” can feel distant. That’s where getting practical help comes in. Clearing out the clutter is the first step, and when the job is too big to handle alone, bringing in professionals to remove old furniture or debris can create the blank slate you need to start building your own joyful way of life.
So, what prompted this change? Life. After the birth of her third child, Kondo realized that her priorities had shifted, a feeling many parents and busy professionals can relate to. In an interview, she shared that her focus is now on enjoying time with her family, accepting that a perfectly tidy home isn’t realistic or even the most important thing right now. This perspective is incredibly freeing. It’s a powerful reminder that our homes should serve us and our current season of life, not the other way around. The pressure for perfection is off, replaced by a gentler, more sustainable approach to creating a happy home.
This evolution highlights the true essence of her work: balance. As Kondo explained, the purpose of tidying is to spark joy in your life, and her new approach simply recognizes that joy can be found in many ways beyond a perfectly organized closet. For homeowners, real estate agents, or property managers, this mindset is key. Clearing a space isn’t just about hauling junk away; it’s about preparing that environment for its next, joyful chapter. It’s about making room for what truly matters, whether that’s a new family, a successful sale, or a peaceful living space.
“People around the world have been drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness, but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and forward-looking.” (KonMari.com)
Signed copy of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying”, courtesy of Shannon Huneycutt
Kondo clearly outlines her process of tidying within her best-seller; these six rules serve as a framework to the KonMari Method that help you to intentionally tidy your home like never before.
According to Huneycutt, tidying is “one-and-done”, meaning that everything should have a place it is kept. “This helps simplify daily cleaning, since everything has a home.”
Kondo recommends taking a minute to close your eyes and visualize what this would look like. Inspiration is everywhere: Pinterest, design magazines, home improvement networks, and more!
Before you can put everything in its’ place, you must determine what stays (and what goes). It can be difficult to part with some of our belongings, especially if they are sentimental possessions. This rule is closely related with the sixth and final rule; but, ultimately, it is important to downsize before you can make the decision for where something will be kept.
Possibly the most eye-catching aspect of tidying, Kondo instructs you to start your “tidying festival” by category, like clothing, first. “With the KonMari Method, one embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime tidying festival, which is like a special event where one tidies up once and for all,” says Tiffany Ng, a Bronze-level consultant in Los Angeles, CA.
Since this style of organization is vastly different for many Americans, it can be hard to rid ourselves of papers, miscellaneous items, or things we’ve received from our friends and family. By beginning with clothing, we’re becoming accustomed with the KonMari Method and preparing ourselves for the harder decisions we will encounter.
You’ve probably never put much thought into this question, but it’s a central idea surrounding Kondo’s methodology.
The KonMari Method is most often used to tidy homes, since this is where most of our possessions are kept. However, it can be applied anywhere!
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“I started reading the book when it first came out in 2014, actually with my husband, hoping that it would make him want to keep our home more orderly,” confided New York KonMari consultant Lisa Tselebidis. According to Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up will finally help you declutter your home and lead to a calm, improved mindset as well. If you’re interested in the self-starter approach to KonMari, you only need to crack open the cover.
It seems hard to predict how successful a show will be but Tselebidis thinks that’s one of the biggest reasons the KonMari Method has captured the attention of people worldwide. “Why do I think it’s gotten so big? Well, first of all, it was on Netflix! It’s also pretty unconventional compared to the way we think about our things in America, which is a good indication something will gain so much popularity. People can relate to the disorganization they saw on the show. Marie comes into a home with a very non-judgmental attitude and really touches the soul of the people she meets,” says Tselebidis. “It’s not about the stuff; it’s about tidying up to live a life that makes you happy.”
Given the participation that ensued following the show, it seems simple enough to understand the basic methods that make up KonMari in order to tidy your own home. In fact, breaking down the process in real, cluttered homes may have made the phenomena even more relative. However, given that the Netflix show isn’t all-encompassing, it could be good to follow a KonMari checklist as well (especially if you haven’t read the books).
For Huneycutt, and others with an affinity for organizing, consulting is a perfect fit. It seems that they, similar to Kondo, were drawn to tidying at a young age. Tselebidis says that she always had a more minimalist style, but KonMari isn’t the same thing. “For some consultants, organization didn’t come natural. KonMari helped them completely change their methods. I always felt unfocused whenever I had clutter around, so I was never messy, per say, but KonMari took my organization to the next level.”
Each consultant falls within a specific level. At the earliest stages, a KonMari Method consultant is certified green with minimum requirements of 10 tidying sessions with two clients. “Rankings are based on the number of hours you have completed with clients. You begin at green and reach higher ranks as you complete more hours with more clients. I have been a certified bronze consultant for about three months and have over 200 hours of tidying completed with my clients. From there, the levels progress to silver, gold, platinum, and then, finally, master.”
Consultants help facilitate the KonMari Method, without you needing any knowledge of the KonMari system. You’ll likely spend multiple sessions with your consultant, since tidying is separated by item type, rather than room-by-room organization.
Categories are:
“Some people think following the KonMari Method means you have to get rid of everything, which isn’t the case. You still need practical things, like a toolkit, for example, because it serves a purpose. Ultimately, KonMari is about living your life with people and things that you love–that’s why it’s “life-changing”. What kind of life do you want to live? The KonMari Method ensures that you’re living it to the fullest and being happy,” says Huneycutt.
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If you love the idea of the KonMari Method but feel overwhelmed tackling it alone, hiring a guide might be the perfect solution. Certified KonMari Consultants are professionals trained to help you implement the method in your own space, either in person or virtually. They won’t make decisions for you, but they will provide the structure, accountability, and emotional support needed to work through each category. Think of them as a personal trainer for tidying. Once you’ve sorted through your belongings and decided what to let go of, the final step is clearing it all out. For large piles of unwanted items, furniture, or miscellaneous junk, a professional service like Junk Smiths can make that last step seamless, hauling everything away so you can immediately enjoy your newly organized space.
The cost of hiring a KonMari consultant varies based on their experience level and location. According to House Beautiful, a higher-ranking consultant might charge around $100 per hour, sometimes with an added travel fee. While it’s an investment, many people find the cost is well worth the expertise and motivation a consultant provides. You’re not just paying for a few hours of organizing; you’re paying for a guided experience that teaches you a lifelong skill for maintaining a tidy home and a clear mind. It’s a one-time project that pays dividends in daily peace and efficiency for years to come.
This is a common question, and the short answer is no. As you can imagine, Marie Kondo is quite busy managing her global brand and isn’t available for private consultations. However, she has poured her knowledge and philosophy into a comprehensive training program for others. You can hire one of her officially certified KonMari consultants, who are all trained to apply her exact methods with the same care and attention to detail. These consultants are her trusted representatives, ready to bring the life-changing magic of tidying to your home.
For some, tidying isn’t just a chore—it’s a passion. If you complete your own tidying festival and feel inspired to help others do the same, becoming a certified KonMari Consultant could be a fulfilling career path. The certification program is designed to do more than just teach the six basic rules; it equips you with the skills to run a successful organizing business. The training focuses on how to effectively guide clients through their own emotional and physical tidying journeys, turning your passion for order into a professional service. It’s a structured path for those who truly believe in the method and want to share its benefits with their community.
Before you can sign up for a certification course, you have to do your homework. The first step is to fully immerse yourself in the philosophy by reading Marie Kondo’s two key books: *The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up* and *Spark Joy*. The second, and most important, prerequisite is to tidy your own home completely using the KonMari Method. This isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a requirement. The idea is that you can’t authentically guide someone else through the process until you’ve experienced its transformative power for yourself. It ensures every consultant has a deep, personal understanding of the challenges and joys their clients will face.
The path to becoming a consultant is a dedicated, multi-step process. It begins with an intensive, multi-day course that covers the KonMari Method in depth, along with business fundamentals. After the course, you’ll conduct practice tidying sessions with at least two clients to apply what you’ve learned in the real world. Finally, you’ll submit reports from these sessions for evaluation. This hands-on approach ensures that every certified consultant has both the theoretical knowledge and the practical experience needed to effectively support their future clients. It’s a thorough process that maintains a high standard for all consultants who represent the brand.
Pursuing this certification requires a financial commitment. According to the official KonMari website, the certification course costs $2,998 USD if paid at once, though payment plans are available. This fee covers the initial training and evaluation. Once you are certified, there is an annual membership fee of $500 USD to maintain your status as an official consultant. This ongoing fee grants you access to the global consultant community, continuing education, and the right to use the KonMari brand in your business—an essential part of building credibility and attracting clients who are specifically looking for this unique tidying method.
It seems inevitable that you will eventually discover something that doesn’t spark joy in your home. In the Tampa Bay area alone, an additional five million pounds of donations were received after subscribers watched the series, so you can certainly expect to have at least some donatable or unwanted possessions. “For example, when you gather all of your clothes, every single article, into one big pile, you may realize that you don’t want to live with so much,” says Ng. Whether that’s furniture, clothing items, or miscellaneous goods, you need an effective method to remove your unwanted items.
Since you’ve already identified the items you don’t want to hold on to, finding a quick and easy solution to getting rid of everything is the most logical option. Professional junk removal services help to alleviate the stress of finding the proper way to dispose of everything, since some items may be classified as household hazardous waste, or are just too large to remove by yourself.
So, is the KonMari Method your perfect solution to decluttering your home? Well, it could be. If you don’t struggle with keeping your home tidy, you probably fall within the minority of people, which begs the question: why do so many of us have issues keeping our things neat and organized? Perhaps a different perspective will be a sustainable solution to solve your cleaning woes.
Okay, you’ve done the hard work. You’ve sorted through clothes, books, and miscellaneous items, asking the all-important question: “Does it spark joy?” Now you’re left with a pile—or maybe several piles—of things to discard. You’re not alone. After Marie Kondo’s show hit Netflix, donation centers saw a massive influx of items. While donating is a fantastic option, the sheer volume of your discard pile can feel like a whole new project. You have to figure out what can be donated, what can be recycled, and what needs to be disposed of properly. The final step of letting go can be just as challenging as the decision to part with your items in the first place, and the logistics can quickly become overwhelming.
This is where finding a partner to handle the final step makes all the difference. Instead of spending your newfound clarity and energy coordinating trips to various donation centers and recycling facilities, you can hand it all over to a team that specializes in responsible disposal. Professional junk removal services are designed to alleviate the stress of figuring out the proper way to dispose of everything, from that old mattress to bags of miscellaneous clutter. It’s the quick and easy solution that lets you finally enjoy your newly tidied space without the lingering task of removal.
At Junk Smiths, we see ourselves as the final, satisfying step in your KonMari journey. We don’t just haul things away; we’re committed to eco-friendly practices. Our team carefully sorts through your items to ensure anything that can be donated or recycled is sent to the right place. This mindful approach to disposal means you can feel good about where your unwanted items are going. We handle all the heavy lifting and logistics, so you can simply get rid of the clutter and start living in the joyful, organized home you envisioned from the start.
Is the KonMari Method just about throwing everything away? Not at all. It’s actually the opposite. The focus isn’t on what you get rid of, but on what you choose to keep. By asking if an item “sparks joy,” you’re intentionally curating a home filled only with things that you love and find useful. It’s a shift in mindset from focusing on the negative (discarding) to the positive (keeping what matters).
What if something is practical but doesn’t give me a jolt of joy, like a hammer or my can opener? This is a great question and a common point of confusion. “Joy” in the KonMari sense also includes usefulness and purpose. Your hammer sparks joy because it allows you to hang pictures and fix things, which contributes to a better life. The method encourages you to recognize that an item’s value isn’t just sentimental; its ability to make your life easier is a form of joy in itself.
I’m ready to start, but the idea of tackling categories instead of rooms feels huge. Where do I begin? The method is designed to build momentum, so it’s best to follow the prescribed order. You always start with clothing. It’s the least emotionally charged category for most people, which helps you practice making decisions and build confidence. By the time you get to tougher categories like sentimental items, you’ll have honed your “spark joy” intuition and the process will feel much more manageable.
With Marie Kondo’s new “kurashi” philosophy, does this mean a perfectly tidy home isn’t the goal anymore? Exactly. The goal was never perfection; it was always to create a life that sparks joy. “Kurashi,” or “way of life,” is an evolution of that idea. It acknowledges that life gets messy, especially with kids or a busy schedule. The point is that after you’ve done the initial tidying festival, maintaining your home becomes a tool for a joyful life, not a strict rule you have to live by. It’s about balance, not a flawless house.
Once I’ve sorted everything, what’s the easiest way to handle the giant discard pile? Finishing the sorting process is a huge accomplishment, but looking at a mountain of stuff to get rid of can feel like a whole new project. This is where you can really make things easy on yourself. Instead of making multiple trips to donation centers or trying to figure out recycling, calling a professional junk removal service like Junk Smiths is the most efficient final step. We handle the sorting for donation and recycling and haul everything away, letting you enjoy your newly organized space immediately.
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