Do decluttering methods work? An expert's guide to the most popular
While charities have been swamped with unwanted donations, 'before and after' transformations have proven irresistible to audiences keen to recreate similar results at home. But just as the dust settles on the latest organising method to hit peak popularity, a new approach comes to the fore.
But do they work, or are they just promising an unattainable illusion of perfection?
Lissanne Oliver has been a professional organiser for more than 20 years. A specialist in clearing deceased estates and downsizing, she has walked thousands of clients through the process of letting go of possessions that no longer serve them.
Here is her take on the four most popular decluttering methods.
KonMari
Still the most popular method doing the rounds, KonMari uses a five-step plan of sorting possessions into categories based on whether they have purpose, or 'spark joy'. Those that fail the test are 'wished well' and discarded. Categories start with clothing, then books, papers, komono (miscellany) and mementos. Kondo sent shockwaves through book loving circles by claiming each household should have no more than 30 books. Two years ago, she added further fuel to the fire, admitting she had given up on a tidy house after the birth of her third child.
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Pros: Oliver says her approach – responding to possessions on an emotional level – has merit but you needn't stick to the categories she has proposed.
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It's the apparent solution to everything from crafting a beautiful home to maintaining a clear and calm mind. Decluttering has always been part of the home organiser's arsenal but since the launch in 2019 of Marie Kondo's Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, it has gone into overdrive. While charities have been swamped with unwanted donations, 'before and after' transformations have proven irresistible to audiences keen to recreate similar results at home. But just as the dust settles on the latest organising method to hit peak popularity, a new approach comes to the fore. But do they work, or are they just promising an unattainable illusion of perfection? Lissanne Oliver has been a professional organiser for more than 20 years. A specialist in clearing deceased estates and downsizing, she has walked thousands of clients through the process of letting go of possessions that no longer serve them. Here is her take on the four most popular decluttering methods. KonMari Still the most popular method doing the rounds, KonMari uses a five-step plan of sorting possessions into categories based on whether they have purpose, or 'spark joy'. Those that fail the test are 'wished well' and discarded. Categories start with clothing, then books, papers, komono (miscellany) and mementos. Kondo sent shockwaves through book loving circles by claiming each household should have no more than 30 books. Two years ago, she added further fuel to the fire, admitting she had given up on a tidy house after the birth of her third child. Loading Pros: Oliver says her approach – responding to possessions on an emotional level – has merit but you needn't stick to the categories she has proposed.
