Want to get organized? Marie Kondo's tips for decluttering

Alia E. Dastagir | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Marie Kondo shares her secret to decluttering Professional organizer Marie Kondo says there's one thing to keep in mind when decluttering. The best-selling author and star of the Netflix series "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" shared tips with USA TODAY in 2016.

Marie Kondo's name has become synonymous with decluttering. The Japanese author and professional organizer has developed a cult-like following since she first published The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, the 2014 mega-bestseller which has become a bible in the mainstream minimalist movement.

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“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life," she wrote in Tidying Up.

Kondo — who in 2016 returned with more tips in the follow-up book, Spark Joy — spoke with USA TODAY about decluttering, recluttering and the movement she sparked to clean up America's homes.

Why do you think people have become so interested in decluttering and minimalism?

"With the arrival of the modern era of mass production, people came to possess much more physical items than before. This, of course, made our lives easier and more convenient, but as a result, many people began to own a lot of things — sometimes even more than necessary. I think that the recent interest in tidying is showing that people began to shift their mindset, and are now feeling the need to possess only what is necessary and lead a simpler life."

When we declutter, what do we ultimately make room for?

"When decluttering, we are making space both physically and mentally. People need space to live, whether it is in their physical environment or in their mental state. When there is no space, we feel suffocated and lose sight of what environment we find comfortable, or what space we want to live in. By decluttering and making space, we allow ventilation, whether in our rooms or in our minds. As a result, we create the chance to rethink what we want and the ideal life that we each want to lead."

How do we know when we have decluttered enough?

"You will know when you go through every single item you own, and ask yourself whether each item sparks joy for you. If you do this even once, and reaffirm what sparks joy for you, you will learn to trust your decisions in choosing what sparks joy, thus finding peace with what you have left."

How do you keep yourself from filling your home again with things that don’t spark joy? In other words, how do you prevent re-cluttering?

"My advice is to designate a place for every item you own once you are done tidying. If every item has a home, all you have to do is to put them back in its place after use to prevent clutter."

Why do you think it's so hard for people to part with the things they've accumulated over their lives?

"When trying to let go of things, people often feel as though they are also parting with the effort it took to possess the item and the memories that come with it. But even if the things are gone, it doesn’t mean that the memory is gone. The experiences you had using the item and memories surrounding it are with you. If you can feel gratitude for that item for letting you experience those things, you feel less guilty about letting it go."

Some people have questioned why anyone would need a professional to help them throw things away. What do you say to those critics?

"Professional tidying consultants are not helping people throw things away; rather, they are helping people hone their senses to what they want to keep and what to let go of. That is why, after a tidying lesson, some people decide to let go of many of their possessions, while some others decide to keep everything they have. Ultimately, tidying professionals are helping their clients hone their decision-making skills."

There are some who find the mainstream minimalist narrative to be classist. Do you think the concept of decluttering can sometimes demonize poor people for whom minimalism is not a choice?

"I sometimes get the question, 'I don’t have the budget to buy new things that spark joy. What do I do?' My advice is to value what you already own. Look around you, and express gratitude for what you have. By appreciating the work those items do for you and taking good care of them, you find joy in items as mundane as scissors or frying pans. Being able to appreciate what you already have — this [is] one of the important, positive effects of tidying."