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Marie Kondo on Netflix

JAileen

Veteran

Has anyone watched it? I watched the first episode, with a family with two little kids. There was only a little about thanking your things for their service before you got rid of them. As for sparking joy, the couple really just went with did they really like a given item or not.

Marie Kondo herself is adorable. She speaks little English, though, and the subtitles were few and often misplaced. I enjoyed the show anyway.

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42 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

rachylou

Veteran

Omg, Lol, my brother is visiting and is watching my Netflix and he found that! He’s lecturing mumsey now on what she needs to do and she’s telling him off for moving her collection of Burger King cups...

Anonymous

I just heard about this Netflix show this morning and can't wait to see it. I need a kick to inspire me to finish mt closet edit. besides it is past time to go through every drawer and shelf for a good cleanse.

Anonymous

I saw a different first episode (Japanese couple with their grown son). No subtitles. Frankly, I was disappointed and expected more. All three of us sat and watched it the other morning though - sort of mesmerized by the amount of stuff all over their house - and then retreated to our separate corners of the house and commenced cleaning and decluttering. I wanted better production values and something a little more sophisticated and instructional than what I saw - however, I guess this is what's popular in reality tvland ?

JAileen

Veteran

Hmmm, we watched our first episode and did not immediately start cleaning or tidying. I do think I’ll start going through my closet. This is the first day of my husband’s eased in retirement (reducing down to three days a week for several months), and so my routine has been thrown into an uproar. He’ll be out birding, of course, but I have things to do, yet I don’t want to miss anything.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Is there a difference between "really liking" something and that thing "sparking joy"? Your description of the episode seems to draw a distinction, but it isn't one I can see.

The only thing I can think of that truly sparks joy in my life is seeing my son smile after accomplishing something. Doing archival research is a distant second, along with receiving praise/feeling like I've done something worthwhile with my research. But material possessions? Cars? Clothes? Furniture and knick-knacks? There were some we wanted to hold onto, and they do frequently bring warm smiles. But true joy? No. Life would go on if they weren't there.

JAileen

Veteran

Marie talked about items sparking joy, but the people asked themselves if they really liked something. They were interpreting.

Anonymous

Thanks for the information, JAileen. I will definitely look into this.

Fashintern -- I think it is a very individual term used in the book/websites. All you really have to do is understand the meaning behind the words and decide for yourself whether an article in your life adds value to your life and merits keeping. What makes me happy may not make you happy and vice versa.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I started to watch this but lost interest quickly and gave up. It just wasn't for me I guess. I think I'm pretty organized already and I didn't like the whole "lost in translation" thing going on.

texasgal

removed

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sorry I seem to have misinterpreted your first post, JA. I haven't seen the show, but what Texas Gal says about it is my impression of what Kondo is all about--getting at emotional/relationship issues via the physical layers we've built up to insulate ourselves.

Texas Gal, so sorry for your loss. I'm sure the cleaning out was hard physical and emotional work. I hope the Kondo "letting go" process you describe helped made it healing too.

Anonymous

Dying over here.....lol.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don't have Netflix, so won't be watching the show, but found this article about it, and explaining Kondo, interesting. https://www.theatlantic.com/en.....lix-show-k I thought of TexGal when I read the part about the horse.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Interesting article Fashintern. I haven’t watched the show.

rachylou

Veteran

Texasgal, I saw you removed your post, but I still wanted to give you my sympathy. When my dad died, it was such a tremendous task...

Gail

Veteran

Watched the first two episodes last night, I already read the book.
I think that it will get a bit repetitive. Sentimental items and clothes are my sticking point. I have so many clothes that I may need to spill into two rooms if I gather them all up lol. I used to use her folding method but got sloppy and need to redo. I found that it does save space and I can see what I have better. I don't fold my jeans as I have plenty of room to to hang. I am planning on starting with my coats and jackets again in the near future as I bought two new items in this category and feel as though some need to go.
I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed with disorganization as we are in the middle of a master bathroom reno and right now so the contents of the bathroom and entire linen closet are in my bedroom and overflow into other bedrooms, suffice to say it is a mess. The good news is that it's almost complete !

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Gail, if nothing else, the bathroom stuff is in prime position to get Kondo'd!

Sal

Veteran

I watched episode 1. It was ok. I agree with the general principles of declutterung and editing- it does make like simpler.

What I find too simplistic is-
- glossing over the waste afterwards. Bundling in black bags - where does it go?
- overbuying - do people go back to that? Sometimes an edit means a chance to refill?
- maintenance is not as easy as it looks:)

I might watch another episode. And funnily enough the 13 yr old son tidied and rearranged his room the next day unprompted after watching with me!!!!

Anonymous

Good point, Sal. I have noticed that a good purge can trigger a "restocking" or "rebuying" phase.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I watched the first three episodes and enjoy it in general, but I wish there were more helpful hints, explanations, and how to’s. They spend a little too much time on greeting each other and chit-chat, but she is adorable. I’ve always had a fascination with these cleaning out and home makeover shows. I feel like the producers are still feeling their way a bit with this series, and there is room for improvement, but I’ll certainly watch the rest of the episodes.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I did watch the first episode together with hubby, but did not feel compelled to watch the rest. I think the show was too focused on the couple dynamics. While I recognize that managing a busy life with two kids can take a toll on a marriage, and it is nice that this couple is getting some help at least on the home management front, this therapeutic focus of the show didn't do anything for me. I wanted to see more how tos, helpful tips, etc. as well, like Janet said. I did already read the book by the way. This couple did a good job though, so kudos to them.

bella

(website)

Veteran

One good tip I use from Kondo is using boxes to organize. We have a temporary living situation (maybe I could tell you about that in a seperate thread), and I have no inclination to invest money in organization stuff, but I was able to make pretty functional organization tools from amazon boxes, or shoe boxes. So yes to that.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Bella, from what I'm reading about the show, and what I've heard about Kondo elsewhere, I thought she didn't want to be the fly lady of storage and was all about using stuff to help yourself get on with your life, instead of letting it get in your way. I haven't read the book yet. Is it less focused on life stuff and relationships and more on how to fit stuff in your closet better, and that sort of thing?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I have read the book (several years ago) and watched most of the episodes of the show. What I love about her approach, is that it's not about minimalism or getting rid of things. It's about consciously choosing to keep things. That's why she wants people to touch and interact with every possession they have.

People do end up getting rid of things, because they realize those items no longer add anything to their lives, but KonMari is really about interacting with your possessions, respecting them for the joy and function they bring to your life, and letting go of them of them if they no longer bring you positive benefits. I find that really inspiring.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Yes, that's true. She's not about storage solutions, etc. Everything in your life has to be there because they spark joy. But the next step is about taking care of things, respecting them in a way. So she thinks the clothes should be folded a certain way, they need to be accessible, we should be able to see them on the shelves etc. That's where boxes come in. She is very much fond of dividing big spaces (like drawers) into small compartments so that everything stands or sits the way they are supposed to and are not crashed by other items.

rachylou

Veteran

That’s a lovely way of putting it Jenn - interacting with one’s things.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

So that's a "no" on people relationships?

RobinF

Veteran

Hubby and I watched the first two episodes in the last few days and I thought it was good. I was happy that she didn't have them go out and buy all kinds of organizational tools or fancy closet organizers, so it is something one can do with what is on hand. And it seems to point out that we can enjoy our stuff more if we don't have as much stuff, which is a good lesson for me. I also was interested to see that a lot of her methods of clearing out are what I do by instinct, to empty it all out, sort and put back what you want to keep. I thought that was what everyone does but maybe not? It does make me want to do some cupboard cleaning next weekend...

JAileen

Veteran

I’ve still only seen the first episode (we’re in the middle of Hinterland and it has a stronger pull), and thought I wasn’t affected, but I did go through my closet and culled a number of things I haven’t worn for awhile.

Anonymous

I read the book, but haven't seen the show. I get "sparking joy" with clothes or hobby supplies, but most household things are utilitarian-but needed. I prefer "do I use this often" or "does this annoy me for some reason" as reasons to keep or pass things on.

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