80: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo: Expectations vs. Reality

Can home owners (who lack organizing superpowers) realistically be expected to manage the Tidying Up process? What does decluttering really look like in reality? How is the process different if you work with a professional organizer? In this episode of The Architecture Happy Hour Podcast, Architects and hosts Laura Davis and Holly Hall review the Netflix series called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and get candid feedback and helpful tips from professional organizer, Traci Olivares of Totally Organized.

See show notes at www.hpdarch.com/ahh80.

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The Tidying Up Movement

By now you’ve probably heard of Marie Kondo and her #1 New York Times best-selling book called, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Her second book published in 2016, Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up continued her popularity in the tidying up and organization arenas.

In January 2019, perfectly timed with the dawn of New Year’s resolutions everywhere, Netflix released the television series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. In HGTV style, each of the 8 episodes featured different families, couples, or single home owners struggling with their own decluttering challenges. We binged watched every episode eager to glean valuable tips and methods for transforming our own homes.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/konmari-netflix/Tidying+Up+with+Marie+Kondo+_+Official+Trailer+%5BHD%5D+_+Netflix.mp4

Marie Kondo’s tidying up process centers on the KonMari Method™. Followers of the method are instructed to sort through their belongings in categories rather than by location. According to Marie Kondo’s website, “Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.”

1. Clothes
2. Books
3. Papers
4. Komono (Miscellaneous: Kitchen, Garage, Bathrooms, Kids’ Toys, Office)
5. Sentimental

Professional organizer, Traci Olivares of Totally Organized joined us to discuss the show. Here’s what we learned:

In this Episode

1. If you have no idea where to start, follow Marie’s steps. Traci prefers to personalize the process to the home owner’s needs. If the Office, for example, is the place that is causing you the most pain, stress, and anxiety, then start there.
2. Be honest about what you have in your home – gather all the things in one category to really see what you need to deal with.
3. Look at the empty space in a new way. Think about where you use items. Things may not go back in the same location.
4. Don’t make the mistake of just organizing individual drawers or cupboards without examining the location of the items in relation to where and how often the item gets used.
5. Do the things in your home “Spark joy?” Keep only items that you love, that bring you happiness, and that you want to have with you into the future.
6. Express gratitude to the items leaving. Rather than feeling guilty or punishing yourself for having all this “junk,” try to feel positive about giving someone else the opportunity to use these things.
7. Before tackling your “Tidying Up” project decide what your reason is. Do you want less stress, an easier time getting ready in the morning, more independent kids, more time to entertain and have friends in your home, better relationship with your spouse? Visualize what you want the result to be.
8. “Clutter is postponed decisions.” Quote by Barbara Hemphill.
9. Storing things takes time, energy, and space. The more resources you put towards maintaining your stuff, the less you have available for yourself and others.
10. Psychology plays a big role in our issues around holding on to things. Acknowledge why you might be resisting letting go and give yourself permission to change.

Organizing Tips from Traci Olivares

1. Organize by “like kind” and group things together so everyone knows that’s where “that thing” goes.
2. Limit the number of items that fit in one space. Dedicate a specific location or container for things.
3. Useful items are good, but how many do you really need? Only keep a reasonable amount and then don’t buy/keep more.
4. Put items where you use them, so there’s a better chance they will get put back.
5. Break the work into smaller sessions so it’s not overwhelming.
6. The secret to continued success is daily picking up to maintain the organization.
7. Deal with items such as shoes, mail, or dirty dishes as you encounter them. Don’t let them build up to create a bigger mess.
8. Folding and storage systems must be sustainable and consistent – don’t use systems you can’t maintain.

Links

Totally Organized, Professional Organizing Services in the Dallas, Texas area by Traci Olivares

Container Store Elfa storage systems (Holly’s favorite)

Before & After

Who doesn’t love some before and after photo inspiration? Photos provided by Traci Olivares.

Are you ready to get started Tidying Up?

about your hosts

hpd architecture + interiors principals Laura Davis and Holly Hall are both registered architects and interior designers in Dallas, Texas specializing in residential design. Laura and Holly co-host the popular podcast, The Architecture Happy Hour, where they share their thoughts and tips on architecture and interior design, from helping owners select the right architect to never being too late to begin a career in architecture.

Each month, Laura and Holly organize the successful, monthly, networking happy hour also called The Architecture Happy Hour. A social networking community in the Dallas, Texas area, the events are hosted by a different business each month. The group is for professionals in architecture, interior design, real estate, and construction and is focused on creating relationships and offering business referrals to people they know and trust.

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