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Tidy up your house for Idul Fitri, the KonMari way
Here are some tips to prepare your home for hosting friends and families during Idul Fitri, courtesy of the KonMari method.
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Illustration of an organized home. (Shutterstock/File)
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dul Fitri is coming and you may be panicking over the state of your house. Here are some tips to prepare your home for hosting friends and families during Idul Fitri, courtesy of the KonMari method.
The KonMari method was created by Marie "KonMari" Kondo, whose books The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy revolutionized the way people look at their belongings and the home.
1. Gather all your things in one place
Take out all your things, from the bedroom to the living room, and put them in one place. You can categorize them and sort the things you want to keep from there. KonMari argues that when you tidy up your house per room, you are going to end up keeping more than when you put all your belongings in one place first.
2. Don't buy more storage
When your house looks messy with the abundance of things, the first thing that comes to mind is buying another storage bin. This is a mistake, according to KonMari. By buying more storage, you are actually only hiding your mess instead of cleaning it up.
3. Tidy up means clean up
Tidying up in KonMari's dictionary covers more than just sorting your things back to its place; it's also about cleaning up and decluttering. When your house is a mess, it probably means that you have too many things you do not actually need. Start from clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous things (including stationery), and lastly, sentimental items.
"Let them go with gratitude," says KonMari.
4. It's okay to throw away gifts
KonMari argues that the function of a gift is to be given, not to be kept. If you don't like the gifts your aunt or your friends gave you, you can throw them away. Or better yet, re-gift them.
5. Keep only the things that "spark joy"
Some criticize KonMari for her borderline-obsessive treatment of her things (the ones she keeps, anyway). You do not actually need to hug or love your belongings, but you must only keep those that you really like.
"When we surround ourselves only with things that spark joy and shower them with love, we can transform our home into a space filled with precious artefacts, our very own art museum," advices KonMari. (asw)
