KonMari Clothing Organization: Mastering the Marie Kondo Method

Welcome to our monthly deep dive into the five categories of the KonMari Method™. Each month, we'll explore one category in detail, providing you with comprehensive techniques, professional insights, and advanced strategies to help you master Marie Kondo's transformative approach to organizing.

We're beginning with clothing—the first category in the KonMari Method and the foundation upon which all other organizing work builds. Clothing surrounds us daily, influences how we present ourselves to the world, and offers an excellent starting point for developing the skills and mindset needed for successful tidying.

Why Clothing Comes First

Clothing is the first tidying category of the KonMari Method™ for a good reason: We live in it. This category provides immediate, visible results while teaching fundamental KonMari principles that apply to all other categories. The techniques you learn here—discernment, gratitude, and intentional care—will serve you throughout your entire tidying journey.

The Foundation: KonMari Clothing Organization Folding Mastery

The KonMari folding method revolutionizes how we store and interact with our clothing. By folding clothes neatly and standing them up vertically — rather than stacking them or worse, piling them in a chair — you'll prevent wrinkles, save space and express gratitude for every item that sparks joy.

Essential Folding Techniques

Short-Sleeve Shirts and T-Shirts: Fold one side toward the center. Fold the other side the same way. Fold in half lengthwise — and leave a little gap at the edge. (It's all about the gap!) Fold in half or thirds. Stand the tee upright.

Long-Sleeve Items and Sweaters: Fold one side toward the center. Fold the sleeve to fit within the rectangle's width. Fold the sleeve back flush with the edge of the rectangle. Fold the other side the same way. Fold in half lengthwise — and don't forget the gap at the edge. Fold in half or thirds. Stand the sweater upright.

Pants and Shorts: Fold the legs in half. Fold the legs upward toward the waistband — and leave a gap at the edge. Fold in half or thirds. Stand pants upright.

For visual demonstrations of these techniques, reference our comprehensive folding guide with tutorial videos from Marie herself.

The Te-Ate Principle

An essential element of KonMari folding is te-ate—the Japanese word for healing, which literally means to "apply hands." Practicing te-ate is a key step in the KonMari fold – smoothing your hands over each item as you fold transmits your energy into it and gives you a chance to express gratitude.

This practice serves multiple purposes: it removes excess air from the material, eliminating wrinkles and making your items easier to fold. The warmth of your palm causes the fibers on the garment to stand up and pulls the clothes taut.

Advanced Folding Strategies

Addressing Common Concerns

Time Investment: Like most new skills, it takes time to learn the KonMari Method for folding clothes. The investment pays dividends through reduced decision fatigue, improved garment care, and streamlined morning routines.

Structural Integrity: Using Marie Kondo's method for folding clothing creates compact, tidy squares that stand upright on their own. Success depends on proper technique and appropriate drawer capacity.

Optimal Storage Capacity: Marie recommends what she calls "the 90 percent technique." "The rule of thumb for storage is 90 percent," Marie writes in "Spark Joy." "Once you've chosen the things you love, the correct approach is to fill your drawers to the point where they look full but not stuffed."

Hang vs. Fold?

T-shirts should always be folded. As a general rule of thumb: Marie recommends folding everything you can because it saves space. However, certain items benefit from hanging:

"Hang any clothes that look like they would be happier hung up, such as those made of soft materials or highly tailored cuts," Marie says, "These we should hang willingly." This list includes blouses made of lightweight materials, such as viscose or silk, dry-clean only trousers or delicate dresses.

Specialized Techniques for Different Body Types

Plus-Size Considerations

The KonMari Method adapts beautifully to all body types and garment sizes. For plus-size clothing:

To keep the fabric from creating too much volume or bulkiness, minimize any overlap when folding to ensure the garment stays as even as possible. For larger items, Marie recommends reducing the number of folds to prevent bulkiness.

Storage flexibility is key: If your drawers are full, it's perfectly fine to hang your clothes! Try sorting garments by thickness – keep ones made of thinner materials in your drawers to optimize space and hang the rest.

Alternative Storage Methods

In general, Marie advises against stacking possessions because the items at the bottom of the pile usually get neglected. But if stacking works best in your space, do so joyfully. Keep the stack small – no more than three items – and occasionally move items around so they all get a chance to be on top.

The Revolutionary Approach to Undergarments

Sock Folding Transformation

Traditional sock storage methods can damage elasticity and create clutter. Marie believes that rolling socks into balls, as many of us do, does not allow the socks to rest. Folding them shows respect for how much they support you — they literally help you walk through the world — while also preventing them from stretching out over time.

The technique is straightforward: If you've rolled or folded them together by inversing the top of the socks, start by unfolding them. Place one sock on top of the other. Follow the same principles for folding other clothing.

Leggings and Athletic Wear

Generally, you can treat leggings the same way Marie recommends folding stockings, depending on thickness. To fold leggings: If you've rolled or tied them, start by untying them. Give them room to breathe and rest! Fold them in half lengthwise. Then fold either into half or thirds, making sure the waist protrudes slightly.

Seasonal Storage Strategies

The KonMari Approach to Seasonal Transitions

Unlike traditional storage methods, the KonMari Method™ recommends that you don't store seasonal clothes out of sight in a garage or basement. Instead, as the seasons change, move out-of-season items to higher shelves or into the back of your closet.

After decluttering and choosing to keep only items that spark joy, the KonMari Method encourages us to store all of our clothing together in our main closets and drawers regardless of seasonality. This approach helps us grasp what clothes we have year-round, so we don't forget about them.

Pre-Storage Preparation

Give winter clothing some thoughtful care. Wash or dry clean coats and sweaters, replace lost buttons and repair tears. Doing so expresses gratitude for the items that kept you warm through the coldest season.

Optimal Storage Solutions

Use breathable fabric cubes or bags to store clothes on a top shelf. Clothing needs to breathe, and breathable storage also decreases wrinkles. You'll also want to press down or deflate bulky knits to store them in a more compact space.

Fold clothing using the KonMari fold, and if using storage bags, press down to eliminate air to make them even smaller.

Mindful Discarding Practices

Beyond Simple Donation

The best way to show our belongings the care and respect they deserve – even after you decide to part ways – is to rehome or repurpose them joyfully.

Strategic Rehoming Options

Start by asking family members, friends and community members if they are interested in what you're discarding. Even if they no longer fit you or your style, cherished items and the memories attached to them may still feel especially joyful to a loved one.

Choosing a specialized apparel donation program – wedding and prom gown closets and secondhand career wear initiatives, to name a few – is another powerful means of using clothing to cultivate joy for those who need it most.

I love hosting clothes swap parties like this one!

Creative Repurposing

For items that cannot be rehomed, get creative with repurposing! Give these items a new function by turning them into furoshiki, cleaning rags, reusable makeup rounds, beeswax food wraps and tote bags.

Quality Assessment for Donation

Before giving an item up, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable giving it to a friend, family member or neighbor. If not, it may be time to repurpose or recycle the item instead.

Organizational Systems and Maintenance

Drawer Organization Strategies

While it depends on the size of your drawers and your clothing items, Marie often recommends using drawer organizers to divide larger spaces that contain multiple clothing types. Consider hikidashi boxes or adjustable drawer dividers for optimal organization.

Visual Identification Systems

Once you've dramatically reduced your closet to include only the clothing that sparks joy, you'll find it's very easy to recognize the items you have even when they're file folded. Often, the same "color" isn't the same at all when you place two items next to each other!

Tactile Recognition Method

If all else fails, run your hands over each row. You'll quickly find the familiar texture of the shirt you're after, and it's also a nice opportunity to quietly express gratitude for the items you love!

Moving Forward: Sustainable Practices

After you have finished mindfully discarding your clothing, be sure to shop intentionally moving forward. If it matches your ideal lifestyle, try purchasing only from brands that support ethical consumption and eco-friendly production practices.

The clothing category establishes patterns of discernment, care, and gratitude that will serve throughout your entire tidying journey. Mastering these techniques and principles creates a strong foundation for approaching the remaining categories with confidence and skill.

Next month, we'll dive deep into the books category, exploring advanced organizing strategies for personal libraries, digital resources, and knowledge management systems that spark joy and support your ideal lifestyle.