Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondō

Title: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up

Author: Marie Kondō

Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Format: Hardcover

Source: From the publisher

On Sale Date: May 5, 2015
Rating: ★★★

Synopsis from the publisher:

Japanese decluttering guru Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has revolutionized homes—and lives—across the world. Now, Kondo presents an illustrated guide to her acclaimed KonMari Method, with step-by-step folding illustrations for everything from shirts to socks, plus drawings of perfectly organized drawers and closets. She also provides advice on frequently asked questions, such as whether to keep “necessary” items that may not bring you joy. With guidance on specific categories including kitchen tools, cleaning supplies, hobby goods, and digital photos, this comprehensive companion is sure to spark joy in anyone who wants to simplify their life.

Review:

I was introduced to Marie Kondō's decluttering style through her first title, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up earlier this year. Her follow up Spark Joy, gives readers a bit more insight and even more tips on how to life a happy life through a tidy home. The book begins the six basic rules of tidying:

1. Commit yourself to tidying
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle 
3. Finish discarding first
4. Tidy by category, not by location
5. Follow the right order (Clothes, books, papers, komono & sentimental items)
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy

The list itself seems fairly straight forward, but as one can imagine, it's much harder than it looks. I tested the above theory and localized it to my home office. I know this is against Kondō's teaching and that one should commit to an entire home, but I also believe in achievable goals. I was excited at the get go and followed steps 2-5 flawlessly. Where I failed was the commitment. My office was tidy in two days of uninterrupted cleaning. Three days later, we hosted a house party for my 4 year old's birthday. Young Jedis filled our home and that was the end of my tidying journey... I went back to my old habits of dumping my purse and other items on the floor and my desk was once again covered papers and electronics. Sad to say that this cleaning journey was not as successful as the one I began in January which was to keep my drawers tidy. But, I'll keep pushing on and continue the effort struggle.

I've been asked a couple times which of the two books one should read first. My answer: it depends. The two books compliment each other perfectly. However, if you're only interested in reading one, here are my thoughts:

The Life-Changing Magic provides general tips on how to create and maintain a tidy home. There is a strong emphasis on clothes. How purge, fold and place them. The book also includes many anecdotes on Marie Kondō's past and how she became the tidiness pro that she is today. It sparks a light in the reader to start their tidying journey. The one thing I found that was missing were pictures. Thankfully, Spark Joy includes them.

Spark Joy gets into the nitty gritty of cleaning up. It includes step by step photos on how to fold all types of clothing and how to properly place them in their respective drawers. There's also a strong focus on komono (miscellaneous items). Everyone has a variety of knick knacks around their home and Marie Kondō provides some insight and tips on how to manage them.

Overall both books follow the same underlying principles. Don't be afraid to discard your things and most of all, keep the ones that spark joy.

Have you attempted any of Marie Kondō's tidying methods? Which ones work best for you? Let me know in the comments.

I received a finished copy of Spark Joy from Penguin RandomHouse Canada. My opinions are my own.