Understand the method before starting
Marie Kondo’s approach asks you to consider the life you want at home and keep belongings that support it. Its six rules cover commitment, an ideal lifestyle, finishing the discarding decisions, sorting by category, following the category order and considering whether an item brings joy.
The checklist on this page is Rustica’s practical planning aid, not an official KonMari checklist or a claim of affiliation. Read the method’s own explanation for its full approach.
Reference: The official KonMari Method overview.
Prepare a sorting area
- Choose a surface large enough for one manageable group of items. Keep exits and walking routes clear.
- Set aside separate containers for items to keep, donate, recycle or handle another way.
- Identify a place for belongings owned by someone else. Let that person make the decision.
- Plan where outgoing items will go and check that the recipient accepts them.
- Keep essential documents, medication and daily-use items accessible while the room is in progress.
If a whole category will not fit safely in the room, work in manageable groups while keeping a record of the entire category. The practical goal is to know what you own, not to create a pile that prevents you from using the space.
Use a category progress sheet
| Category | Examples to gather | Record before moving on |
|---|---|---|
| Clothes | Hanging clothes, folded items, shoes and accessories. | What needs hanging space, drawers or shelves. |
| Books | Books from shelves, desks and bedside tables. | The shelf area the retained collection actually needs. |
| Papers | Loose papers, folders and documents in different rooms. | A secure home for records you need to keep. |
| Miscellaneous items | Kitchen tools, hobby supplies, household equipment and similar groups. | Where each group is used and how often it is needed. |
| Sentimental items | Keepsakes, personal letters and meaningful photographs. | Which items to display and which need protected storage. |
This is an example worksheet, not a document-retention policy. Check the requirements for records before discarding them. Avoid applying one person’s preferences to shared or inherited belongings without agreement.
Measure what stays before buying organizers
A shelf that looks generous in an empty closet may not fit a tall appliance, a stack of linens or a storage box. Measure the largest retained items and group the rest by how you use them. Write down both the shelf depth and the clear space above it.
- Measure the items that set the minimum shelf height and depth.
- Count the hanging items that need full-length clearance.
- Allow drawers and pullout baskets to extend without hitting the door.
- Keep frequently used items within a comfortable reach.
- Check that storage boxes can pass through the opening without awkward tilting.
Choose closet access after the storage plan
A door can hide shelves, but it cannot fix a shelf layout that is hard to reach. With sliding closet doors, check the portion of the closet you can access at one time. Place drawers where a parked panel will not block them.
The bifold, bypass and bi-parting comparison helps you plan panel movement. For a smaller room, compare the swing space and wall space needed by each option before moving a dresser or desk.
Keep the room useful after the reset
Give incoming items a destination. Put returns and donations in a place where you will notice them, and empty that area regularly. If a cupboard becomes difficult to use, check whether too many categories share one shelf or whether the most-used items are behind something bulky.
An organized room does not have to look empty. A favorite object can stay in view, while everyday equipment stays close to where it is used. Judge the storage by how well it works on an ordinary day.
Planning a client project?
Designing storage and closet access for a client? Rustica’s trade program for interior designers explains professional eligibility and how to apply.
