Has Marie Kondo sparked your joy yet? Since the airing of the Netflix Original series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, which features the Japanese author and organizational guru herself, millions have been clearing out closets and clutter throughout their homes.
The series is based on Kondo’s 2014 best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, which describes her tidying method: “KonMari” which focuses on the organization of five categories — with clothing as the first.
Now, with millions doing KonMari, which requires you to throw out items that don’t necessarily bring you joy, thrift store donations have been booming everywhere.
Instagram/ @amysavin
According to Sara Gaugl, Value Village’s official spokesperson, store donations have jumped since the debut of now-viral series on New Year’s day.
“While Value Village typically sees an increase in activity this time of year, we have experienced a rise in clothing and household donations during the first few weeks of 2019,” said Sara Gaugl. “It’s great there is enthusiasm to declutter inspired by Marie Kondo, and we encourage people to pass along items that no longer spark joy to others.”
Instagram/ @mariekondo
To make your thrifting experience even more successful, Gaugl also recommends checking out some fashion or home décor magazines for inspiration and current trends before hitting your favourite thrift store.
With secondhand stores rapidly replenishing their racks, there’s truly no better time to shop for fabulous, previously-loved fashion finds.
Besides clothing and accessories, be on the lookout for rare books, kitchen and home appliances and decor.
“Finding the perfect item takes time and a bit of luck, you never know what you’ll find. Each Value Village store puts thousands of new pieces on the floor each day, so make sure you are thrifting often.”
Instagram/ @mariekondo
Kondo’s KonMari method also focuses on the decluttering of sentimentals, books, paper, and Komono, which include items from the kitchen, bathroom and garage. So don’t be surprised to the trendy juicer you’ve always wanted.
“Our volume is up 80 per cent compared to last year,” said Paula Wilkie, the Carousel Consignment in Kitchener in an interview with CBC. “They say: ‘We just want it out of the house, we want it out of our sight.'”
Tidying up to benefit others? If you don’t consider that as life-changing magic, then you’ve definitely never gone thrifting. To help you score the best finds, check out our 11 pro thrift shopping tips.
Featured image: Instagram/ @mariekondo
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Who doesn’t love coming home to a clean and tidy home? Keeping your place organized can be very difficult, coming from someone who struggles with it herself. Living in tiny Toronto apartments makes it gets difficult to keep things uncluttered and organized. Here are a few tips and tricks that have helped me to keep everything in order (without having to do too much extra work.)
1. Everything Has A Place
The Hack: Everything has a place, even your mail or lipstick.
Why You Should Try It: When everything has a place, it’s easy to clean up and easy to find items. I know where everything I own is inside my home, even which side of the drawer it’s in. For example, I keep my makeup in my makeup organizer next to my sink; extra toiletries are in a bin in the closet; loose papers/mail are in files in my nightstand; winter sweaters are in the basket at the top left of my closet. When you live in a tiny apartment, you don’t want to pile things in the corner. I also utilize ALL the space in the room. If there is an empty wall and nowhere to put my bags, put in wall hooks and hang them or use a coat hanger. My bed is on a bed frame that fits suitcases underneath, which store my summer clothes.
2. Clear Plastic Boxes
The Hack: I use them in bathroom cabinets, my desk, and anywhere else I can. I have a variety of clear plastic boxes in different sizes to store things like extra soap, hair ties and clips, chapstick, pens, and highlighters. I use clear plastic boxes so I can see what’s inside. Use an index card with a list of the contents inside so you can read through the box.
Why You Should Try It: It’s important to have backups of everything so you never run out when you need it most. Avoid piling up those extras and having cabinets and desk drawers look junky. Organize your “extras” with like things together, to keep stock of supplies and access things when needed. Keep everything organzied in a way you’ll remember.
3. Rolled Shirts
The Hack: To keep more organized, after you fold your t-shirts, roll them up and place them side by side in the drawer. This process makes it easier to see what’s in your drawer and saves space.
Why You Should Try It: This prevents your having to pull everything out of the drawer to see what is underneath when you look for something to wear. It’s also asthetically pleasing!
4. Glass Stacking
The Hack: Stack your glasses and bowls in your cabinet upside down to increase cabinet space
Why You Should Try It: Most apartment cabinets are tiny and there is never enough space so this creates a lot of extra room.
5. Off Season Clothing Swap
The Hack: Make sure to get a bed frame with lots of space underneath for storage. Then buy big plastic bins and store your off-season clothes in them. When the seasons change, I switch the clothes in my closet with the clothes in the bin.
Why You Should Try It: Most of us don’t have walk-in closets, so this is a perfect way to make extra space for your clothes. With more room in your closet, you can hang up everything and not leave them on the floor when picking out an outfit.
6. Shelf Layering
The Hack: Put up racks within kitchen shelves to create layers of storage.
Why You Should Try It: This is a basic organizational hack but hanging extra shelves in your closet to create layers of shelving for sheets, sweatshirts, etc.
7. Constantly Purging Clutter
The Hack: Purge everything constantly.
Why You Should Try It: Nothing is more annoying than being in a rush and not finding something in the clutter. The most practical way to avoid this is to constantly go through your things and throw out extra items. Keep only the necessities. If you haven’t worn something in a year, you’re probably not going to wear it again.
8. Non-Typical Storage
The Hack: Utilize storage in a non-typical way. For example, use nice-looking baker shelving in a bedroom instead of the kitchen or a wine crate to store books!
Why You Should Try It: Creates more storage space while putting a unique touch to your room.
Featured Image: Instagram/@laura_lily
What are other things you do to organize your home? Let us know in the comments!
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We all have those items; the ones that no longer have a place in your home but you just can’t seem to let go of. Maybe it’s old baby clothes, knick-knacks awaiting a new home or a past season’s wardrobe; whatever it is, you just don’t have room for it in your house right now.
So what do you do? Click over to Second Closet!
Second Closet is a new Toronto company that is changing the way people organize their homes. The storage-based company knows the problem of being a closeted hoarder all too well, and has come up with the perfect solution for items in limbo.
With just a click of a button, Second Closet will send you a box (or two or ten,) for you to keep items that no longer have a place in your home, and pick it up with whenever you’re ready to say goodbye. Then, when you’re ready to bring those items home, Second Closet will drop them right off to your desired location for no extra charge — it’s super simple and it’s all done online.
Your beloved items are safe and stored in a temperature-controlled space, and you get extra space in your home. All you have to do is pay a small fee for storage, which starts at just $3/month depending on how much you’re storing. The service is already picking up speed, with some using it for in-between moves, making room for what’s in season, and the like.
If this sounds like a service for you, you can learn more about Second Closet here.
Featured Image: Flickr/Nicolas Huk
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