Skip to main content

Marie Kondo is a “tidying expert” who helps others get their home organized and clutter-free by focusing mostly on the things that make them happy. Instead of honing in on specific rooms, the biggest tip the Tidying Up star has to offer is that you should prioritize by specific categories, such as: clothing, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and sentimental items. However, as much as she talks about tidying, Marie Kondo sometimes breaks her own rules when it comes to items in her home. Keep reading to learn more about what her house really looks like, along with more information about her new Netflix series.

Marie Kondo sometimes breaks her own rules at home

Marie Kondo breaks one of her own rules
Marie Kondo speaks onstage during the BlueCurrent session at the Cannes Lions 2019. | Richard Bord/Getty Images for Cannes Lions

Even someone as organized as Kondo is not immune to sentimental thoughts. In her exceptionally organized home, and throughout frequent moves for her family, she has things that she holds onto. For example: She loves tea and has a cabinet for it. At any given time, there are typically more than 15 different flavors of tea for her to savor. Reportedly, tea is how she rewards herself for accomplishments.

Kondo opened up with Good Housekeeping about one rule she has broken in her own home. “So … I have this stuffed seal,” Kondo says, smiling. “It’s very small. It was a gift from my father, and even though I’m an adult, I still keep it on my shelf. It’s something I can’t part with!”

The bottom line, according to Kondo: If you have something that would truly make you sad to toss away, it is OK to keep it. The point of using the KonMari method isn’t to deprive yourself, but to bring the joy back to your home. As a bonus, you also get to feel more in control of your home and your possessions because everything will have its spot, even with your kids making messes.

Another way that Kondo doesn’t keep the perfect home? When she walks into her house, she will thank her shoes and tuck them away before putting on slippers. As a result, slippers tend to end up in various places around her home.

What sparks joy for Marie Kondo?

In Kondo’s home, there is plenty of organization and joy. Everything in her home has its place and purpose for being in her life. According to The List, there are three items in her home that “spark joy”:

  • a crystal in Kondo’s bedroom
  • an earthen pot her antique writing desk, which sits in a corner of her main living area rather than tucked away in a private office
  • and of course, her stuffed seal!

‘Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo’ dropped on Netflix on Aug. 31

In 2019, season 1 of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo began with Kondo helping a husband and wife with two toddlers become more organized. Fast forward to 2021, and a new series called Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo dropped on Netflix on Aug. 31.

As Kondo explains in a promo for the series: “I want to help people find joy not just by tidying their homes but in every area of their lives.”

Best in Entertainment