Cover An uncluttered entrance overlooks a body of water (photo: Pexels)
An uncluttered entrance overlooks a body of water (photo: Pexels)
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Discover how timeless decluttering traditions from KonMari to feng shui can refresh your home and promote a more harmonious life
In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, creating a sanctuary of order and calm within our homes has never been more essential. The allure of the latest trends and must-have items often leads to clutter, slowly overtaking our living spaces and disrupting the harmony we cherish.
Yet, time-honored philosophies offer a remedy to this modern challenge. Drawing from the precision of Japanese organization and the energy-balancing principles of feng shui, these traditions provide not only practical solutions for decluttering but also demonstrate how a thoughtfully curated home can uplift both your environment and your state of mind.
Read more: 7 stress-free tips to declutter your home during the New Year
KonMari (Japan)
The KonMari method gets a lot of flack for being a rather aggressive approach to clutter, but it has maintained its popularity for a reason: it works for people who have a real problem with excess, a.k.a. hoarders.
Popularized by Japanese “tidying expert” Marie Kondo through her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, and TV series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, the KonMari method emphasizes decluttering by category rather than by location.
Traditional decluttering methods often encourage tackling one room at a time, which can lead to a fragmented process where items are moved from place to place without truly being assessed. In contrast, the KonMari method suggests grouping items into categories such as clothing, books, papers, and sentimental items, then going through each category individually.
The key principle is to only keep items that “spark joy.” This method encourages people to reflect on their possessions and make conscious decisions about what to keep, while also expressing gratitude for items that are let go. Compared to simply throwing things out, the Konmari method makes the process of decluttering meditative and even relaxing, since meant to promote mindfulness and simplicity in living.
Spring cleaning (United States)
Any HGTV viewer would know about spring cleaning, a very Western concept with deep historical and cross-cultural roots. Many ancient cultures observed rituals of cleansing and renewal that aligned with the arrival of spring. For instance, in Judaism, the pre-Passover cleaning involves the thorough removal of chametz or leavened bread from homes, symbolising the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
Similarly, Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox, includes khaneh tekani (shaking the house), a comprehensive cleaning ritual to usher in the new year with a sense of freshness.
In Thailand, the Buddhist festival of Songkran, held in April, incorporates the cleaning of homes and temples, accompanied by ritualistic water pouring intended to wash away misfortune.
In the US it involves the thorough deep-cleaning of the home, often targeting areas that are neglected during routine cleaning. This can include dusting hard-to-reach places, scrubbing carpets, washing windows, and purging clutter from closets, attics, and garages. The process symbolises shedding the remnants of the past—be it dirt, dust, or unnecessary possessions—and making space for new beginnings.
Swedish death cleaning (Sweden)
Döstädning, or Swedish death cleaning, is a practice that encourages individuals, especially older adults, to declutter their homes before passing away to avoid burdening loved ones. The focus is on sorting through possessions and making it easier for heirs to manage. While it may sound like a morbid practice, it’s also a considerate one that alleviates the burden on loved ones who would otherwise be left to sort through a lifetime of possessions.
While döstädning is often associated with older adults, the principles can be applied by anyone at any age (the 2023 television show The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning is proof). The focus is on decluttering items that are unnecessary, unused, broken or damaged, hold negative memories, or are difficult or unpleasant for others to deal with, such as intimate items and personal letters.
Feng shui (China)
Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that focuses on creating harmony and balance in one’s environment. Decluttering is an essential aspect of feng shui, as it is believed that clutter can block the flow of chi (life energy), leading to stagnant energy, blocked opportunities and even feelings of stress, fatigue or illness.
Clutter in feng shui can be categorised into three types: physical, emotional, and mental. Physical clutter, the most apparent, includes disorganised items like piles of papers, unused possessions and broken objects. Emotional clutter refers to items that hold negative memories or emotional baggage, hindering personal growth. Mental clutter, often amplified by a disorganised physical space, manifests as indecision, worry and a lack of focus.
Key principles include prioritising the entryway, considered the “mouth of chi,” by ensuring it is clear and welcoming. Focusing on key areas associated with specific life aspects is also crucial: the bedroom for restful sleep and healthy relationships, the kitchen for nourishment and abundance, the living room for social connections and family harmony, and the home office for focus and career success.
L'art de ranger (France)
In France, decluttering is viewed as an art form that combines tidiness with an appreciation for beauty and function. Similar to KonMari, l'art de ranger encourages keeping only items that are both useful and aesthetically pleasing.
According to this philosophy, an object's worth is determined by its ability to serve a practical purpose while also enhancing the space's aesthetic. This might manifest as choosing a beautifully crafted tool over a purely utilitarian one or opting for decorative items that also offer practical storage solutions, such as a stylish basket.
Aligned with a broader French cultural appreciation for quality and craftsmanship, l’art de ranger promotes investing in fewer, higher-quality pieces that offer longevity and enduring enjoyment rather than accumulating numerous inexpensive or trendy items. This emphasis on quality naturally curtails the accumulation of clutter.
In a world that often feels cluttered and chaotic, the act of decluttering can feel like a much-needed release. Whichever decluttering philosophy you choose to abide by, remember that the process itself is a personal one—so give yourself some grace and don’t just throw things away for the sake of tidiness or aesthetics.
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