A Crucial Update — The Marie Kondo Method and Minimalism are NOT the Same

This is a crucial update — because many people seem to be confused — The Marie Kondo method of tidying — commonly referred to as KonMari, is different from minimalism.

Before we go into this spiel berating all those who love to comment and write about the KonMari method — without actually reading her book or doing their research — let’s acknowledge this truth.

The KonMari method can indeed lead many to a path of minimalism. But it doesn’t always, and it is certainly not a requirement.

An Unintentional Mascot for Minimalism

Marie Kondo, since her steady rise to fame began, has been associated with and often painted as the mascot of minimalism. Those who see the aftermath and the effects of her method assume she is a minimalist, and they go along with that assumption and continue to write about her — many times without actually reading her book or trying the method out themselves.

However, as many fans of the KonMari method will tell you, she never actually identifies as a minimalist and never encourages her clients to do so either. Marie Kondo may identify as someone who would like to live in a more clean and tidy space; she may even be a minimalist in her personal life. But she never claimed minimalism as a step or requirement to accomplish her tidying method. Minimalism is not her method or her end goal for readers.

What the KonMari Method Actually Does

Kondo’s method of tidying, detailed in her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,’ involves sorting through different categories in your house and holding each item individually to figure out if that item is useful and or sparks joy. The key here is that she encourages her followers to KEEP the things that bring them joy and only to get rid of the items in their homes that do not serve them or bring them joy.

“We should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of.” — Marie Kondo

Let’s answer some common questions and misconceptions when it comes to this method:

• So, do you have to own a specific number of items? — No
• Will the Kon Marie method turn me into a minimalist? — Maybe, but it is not a required outcome.
• Is the KonMarie method about minimalism or tidying — Tidying.
• Is the KonMarie method about getting rid of a lot of stuff? — No, it is about keeping the things you love.

As you scour the internet for answers to some of these questions, this video helps explain the differences quite a bit. The KonMari method is about decluttering and tidying in a way that leaves you with your most favorite things at the end.

“Imagine yourself living in a space that only contains things that spark joy.” — Marie Kondo

Sentimentality v.s. Functionality

I am a huge Marie Kondo fan, and her book got me started on a journey. This journey has turned toward minimalism, and I am currently exploring that arena. However, I always love to acknowledge the fact that the Marie Kondo method was just the catalyst the thing that got me started — it was in no way a requirement for her method, and the two things are not the same at all. Here is a link to my own KonMari decluttering processes.

I would say the essential difference between the KonMari method and traditional minimalism would be that KonMari is more focused on sentimentality, while minimalism is focused on functionality. KonMari encourages you to keep the things you love, to keep what sparks joy. Whereas minimalism is a little more to do with keeping the things that serve you, the things that are the most functional and usable.

Reason for the Confusion

I believe the biggest reason for the constant confusion over these two things is that decluttering is often one of the steps taken toward a more minimalist and simple life. Therefore, if Marie Kondo’s method is about decluttering, it must mean she is a minimalist, right? Well, no. That is where everyone gets confused. Just because it is a step for minimalism does not mean that the decluttering KonMari process is going to lead one into a minimalist life. You can actually have one without the other.

Because decluttering is a crucial step for both methods, I thought I would include this article, which explains how decluttering can benefit your life.

Hopefully, that clears some things up for everybody. The crucial update has been delivered! Good luck on your journey! Whether it be toward minimalism or not.