How tidy are you in your home?
A – You only need to pick up a few things things before guests arrive
B – The beds are never made and the dishes always need to be cleaned
C – Stop and do not come in my home until I have spent the day cleaning!

If you strive to be tidier, consider this book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (by Marie Kondo).

This author has de-cluttered her home of “stuff” by keeping only what gives her joy and by organizing by category (not space).

Kondo says to get rid of things if you do not love them. It can be tough to part with possessions, but in the end, you will be happier not holding onto things that do not bring you pleasure. You will enjoy the clean spaces in your home and knowing where everything belongs.

She also advises to sort and purge by category. Instead of cleaning one clothes closet at a time, she instructs to sort all clothes at once. (Her rationale – especially for clothes – is that clothes are stored and kept in many places and that if you do not purge at once, you will be constantly battling clutter.)

Other tips from the author include stacking clothes sideways (standing up) in drawers for easy access as well as folding and rolling clothes for tidy effects.

See some before and after photos from Kondo’s work here.

If the purging in your home includes furniture and household goods, consider contacting Second Story Auctions and sell your unneeded items online!