KonMari Review

About KonMari

Those who are fans of Marie Kondo know that KonMari is both a lifestyle brand and a decluttering method created by the Japanese organization expert herself. The company offers books, organizational tools, and items to help tidy up your home. 

KonMari boasts a 841k following on Instagram. It has been featured in major media outlets such as Time Magazine, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Vogue Magazine.

Are you looking to experience the “magic of tidying up”? This KonMari review can help you out. Join us as we take an in-depth look at the brand, Marie Kondo’s philosophies, customer reviews, and more, so you can decide if it’s time to do some cleaning up.  

Overview of KonMari

KonMari was launched in November 2019 by tidying consultant Marie Kondo. Her fascination with organization began in childhood and led her to create a cleaning consulting business at just 19 years old. 

Her mother’s collection of lifestyle magazines paired with a close relationship with her grandmother inspired Marie to “cherish what you own and to live with intention and care.” 

The KonMari concept involves finding items that bring joy into your life, and discarding those that don’t. This was made famous on the #1 Netflix show in 2019—Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. 

Adopting these ‘KonMari’ philosophies allows you to put some thought into your belongings. Plus, the online boutique sells items that you can look forward to coming home to everyday, such as soft slippers, tea sets, crystals, ceramics, and more. 

Now that you know more about the brand, this KonMari review will go over a few highlights: 

Highlights

• Many tips and tricks to help transform your life through organization 
• Offers home items to make your living space cozier 
• Books are generally well-received among reviewers 
• Marie Kondo offers consultation services and certification courses 
• 30-day return policy

The KonMari shop offers helpful organizational books, wellness products, home items, and more, to help you towards living a better life filled with self-love and care. These products incorporate Japanese culture and customs to further your tidying journey. 

This KonMari review will discover some best-selling books written by Marie Kondo herself, as well as some home items that will make your space cozier. Pour yourself a cup of tea and keep reading! 

KonMari Books Review

Marie Kondo has written extensively about the KonMari method. She actually discusses many of these concepts on her Netflix show when guiding people through the basics of decluttering. So, let’s find out more about the contents of these popular KonMari books. 

KonMari The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Review

Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is a #1 New York Times and international bestseller. This guide introduces the KonMari method and provides step-by-step instructions on where to begin. 

Kondo uses a “category-by-category system” that will help readers develop long-lasting habits. Basically, it streamlines the act of clearing out objects that no longer serve any purpose in your life. 

Feeling lost about how to part ways with sentimental belongings? The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up might help you peacefully let go of a few things to make room for the new. The book retails for $17 on KonMari. 

KonMari The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story Review

The next book in this KonMari review is The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story. The graphic novel features a young Japanese woman named Chiaki who uses Kondo’s methods to improve her career, home, and personal relationships. 

Chiaki lives in a disorganized and uninspiring apartment. After hearing some complaints from neighbors about her balcony, she enlists Kondo’s professional help. In kid-friendly illustrations,  the consultant offers her client many fun and inspirational teachings to get her life back on track. 

The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story features works by the award-winning artist Yuko Uramoto, selling for $15 on the KonMari website.

KonMari Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up Review

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up is a ‘companion’ to the previous book. It features an illustrated KonMari Method manual—complete with folding instructions for all of your clothes and pictures of an ideal wardrobe. 

Spark Joy can help “simplify your life”. Kondo answers some frequently asked questions as she weighs in with further advice on the types of items you need to have around. She also offers tips on kitchen tools, sentimental memorabilia, and cleaning supplies. 

This $19 guide is great for visual learners because of the detailed diagrams it features. Honestly though, anyone can take a leaf out of Kondo’s book. 

KonMari Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life Review

Joy At Work: Organizing Your Professional Life was co-written by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshien, an organizational psychologist. This guide uses the KonMari method and supplementary research to optimize “productivity, success, and happiness” by helping you discard clutter in your professional environment. 

Everyone can relate to having a disorganized desk at some point, whether it’s a sprinkle of papers, memos, or just plain clutter. Consider Joy at Work as a clever assistant that can suggest ways of creating a space that’s actually useful to you. 

Let’s face it, we all know someone who has 10+ red notification flags on their smartphone screen. The book advises you on how to empty email inboxes and other ‘digital clutter’ for some peace of mind. 

Joy At Work: Organizing Your Professional Life retails for $24. 

KonMari Wabi-Sabi Kintsugi Repair Kit Review

So, we’re past the books in this KonMari review. Next up is the Wabi-Sabi Kintsugi Repair Kit. According to the website, kintsugi is the “Japanese art of golden joinery”, which entails using gold-dusted lacquer to repair damaged items such as ceramics.

The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection, is embodied within this set. It includes the following items:

• Two bowls for you to break and practice with 
• Instructions leaflet 
• Gold pigment
• A cloth for protection 
• Glue
• A pair of gloves 
• An application tool 

Contrary to popular belief, the KonMari method doesn’t just urge people to throw items away. With this $25 Wabi-Sabi Kintsugi Repair Kit, you’ll have enough materials to fix some of your previous broken household objects too! This will help create unique pieces around your home that are even more beautiful than they were initially. 

KonMari Sasawashi Slippers / Room Shoes Review

Slipping into some soft, cozy slippers when you’re finally home really eases the mind. The Sasawashi Slippers are versatile enough to be used during any season. By taking off your shoes at the door, you can keep your living space free of mess and dirt. 

The Sasawashi fabric is made of washi paper and a type of Japanese bamboo called kumazasa—known for its antibacterial, deodorant, and anti-allergen properties. So, you’ll have fresh feet and clean floors. All that’s left to do now is to brew a strong pot of tea. 

You can get the Sasawashi Slippers for $67. Intended for indoor use only, the sizes range from small to extra large. 

KonMari Traditional Uchiwa Paper Fan with Bamboo Handle Review

Maybe you’ve got some unwanted ‘house guests’ nestling their way into your rotting fruit. The Traditional Uchiwa Paper Fan can help deter fruit flies and other insects from infesting your living space. 

The tradition of creating this paper fan has been in practice since the 1600s. Handmade Japanese paper, a bamboo handle, and a persimmon tannin coat maintain its durability. The coating even “deepens to a rich, saturated hue” as time goes on. 

For $44, this paper fan can also blow away cooking steam or keep you cool on a summer day.

KonMari Palm Leaf & Leather Generous French Market Tote Review

Looking for a more eco-friendly way to carry your groceries? The Palm Leaf & Leather Generous French Market Tote might be an ideal solution. Made in Morocco, it features a herringbone pattern resulting from hand-woven date palm leaves. 

The top of the bag is reinforced for maximum durability, so you can carry semi-heavy loads of laundry, produce, or any other items. The $60 tote is also detailed with leather tabs and double straps, so you can use it as a shoulder bag on long walks.   

KonMari All Natural Herbal Foot Cream Review 

Regular self-care is an important pillar of health and wellness. Whether it means washing your face and hair, having a spa day for yourself, or taking a walk, the All Natural Herbal Foot Cream can allow you to relax and unwind. 

Hydrating ingredients like urea, organic sesame oil, and oat extract soften your hard-working feet. The cream also has a scent that can help you sleep better at night. 

The brand recommends applying this $19 All Natural Herbal Foot Cream after a shower or foot scrub to get the best results. You could even slip on a pair of socks after applying the cream for 30 minutes to create a luxurious foot mask. 

Who Is KonMari For? 

KonMari was created for people who are looking to bring order to their lives and homes using Marie Kondo’s tips. It’s also for those who are interested in adopting Japanese customs and art forms into their everyday routines. 

The company doesn’t seem to have a target demographic. Still, it seems to mainly attract millennial and generation x adults who are a fan of the Netflix show and enjoy utilizing Kondo’s lifestyle tips.  

Comparison: KonMari vs. Ferm Living 

Marie Kondo rose to popularity because of her Netflix show and unique cultural spin on tidying up. That being said, there are other stores dedicated to creating a space you can feel at ease in. So, this KonMari review looked at a competitor, Ferm Living, to see how the two brands match up. 

First, we’ll go over some of the similarities between the two companies: 

• Share similar philosophies in cultivating comfortable and productive spaces
• Both take inspiration from respective cultures
• Both have a free shipping minimum
• Both have minimalist approaches to designs

On the surface, KonMari and Ferm Living are pretty similar. But, we found significant differences as we dug deeper: 

• Ferm Living is a furniture and decor company 
• Ferm Living adopts Danish styles and concepts 
• Ferm Living offers a short 14-day return policy
• Ferm Living offers international shipping 

KonMari offers more organizational tips and Japanese-inspired home goods. In contrast, Ferm Living provides minimalist and Scandinavian style furnishings, lighting, and decor. The price points are similar, although FL does ship internationally. So, which one’s caught your eye?

KonMari Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

We’ve now arrived at the exciting part of this KonMari review: what do Marie Kondo’s customers think? Unfortunately, there aren’t any ratings on the company’s main website, so we went searching on other platforms. 

While we didn’t find any testimonials for KonMari’s home goods, there were some book reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. We also came across an article on CNN Business that talked about KonMari as an overall brand. Some people do criticize Marie Kondo’s philosophies, but we’ll talk about that later. 

Here are the average Goodreads ratings for the books in this review: 

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: 3.85/5 stars from 309k ratings (29.5k reviews)
• The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: 4.06/5 stars from 17.8k ratings (1.9k reviews)
• Spark Joy: 3.86/5 stars from 37.8k ratings (3.3k reviews) 
• Joy At Work: 3.47/5 stars from 4.5k ratings (644 reviews)

Readers generally enjoyed the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up guide. These customers have tried and are trying to adapt the KonMari Method into their life.

One reader writes, “This book makes me excited to start cleaning and get rid of clutter! Marie Kondo shares great tips for cleaning, and it’s really inspirational for someone like me who has trouble getting rid of things. I’ve read other books on cleaning and organizing, and none of them made me feel this motivated to clean and keep things successfully tidied.”

Another reviewer says, “I guess all that is left to do is get busy cleaning. Sigh. Really inspired writing, and some good advice.” 

Goodreads users found The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up cute and informative. One reviewer states, “This manga is excellent. The author made it simple but easy to understand, and almost all of the tips can be applied by anyone. I think this is a good start before reading the book or maybe an alternative if you’re too lazy or unable to understand the book.” 

So, it seems like people are really taken by Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method. Of course, a few people aren’t too happy with the decluttering guru’s self-help guides. At the end of the day, though, these methods are not for everyone, and not every person needs to know how to be as tidy as Marie Kondo! 

Is KonMari Worth It?

Getting rid of unnecessary items in your life can make room for more useful and valuable things. It can also help increase productivity and boost your happiness. It’s understandable why KonMari and Marie Kondo have become such a phenomenon. 

Based on this KonMari review, we would say that the brand’s offerings are worth checking out if you have the means. The diagrams in Spark Joy can help organize your closet and your life. Plus, the graphic novel seems like a fun way to introduce younger teens and kids to cleaning up messes and organizing. 

KonMari Promotions & Discounts 

Unfortunately, this KonMari review couldn’t find any active promotions or discounts on the brand’s website. But, you can sign up for the newsletter and get access to helpful tips and future deals. 

Where To Buy KonMari

You can only buy KonMari products through shop.konmari.com. Those looking to learn even more about the minimalist expert can purchase her books at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or on Amazon. 

FAQ

Where is KonMari made? 

This KonMari review found some information on specific product pages that states where each item is made—this includes locations such as Japan, Morocco, and Australia. Keep in mind that products are sourced from multiple brands. 

What is KonMari’s Shipping Policy?

KonMari currently only ships within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). The company plans to extend this radius to Canada and other locations soon though, so don’t lose hope just yet. 

Free delivery is offered for orders $150 and over. If you’re under this minimum, the standard shipping fee starts at $9. Other costs vary depending on your location and are calculated at checkout. 

The company offers three different shipping options. Here are the estimated delivery dates for each:

• Standard shipping: 3–5 business days 
• 2-day shipping: 2 business days 
• Overnight: next business day 

What is KonMari’s Return Policy?

KonMari offers a 30-day window for buyers to claim a refund. Items must be in their original packaging to be considered eligible for a return. 

You can initiate the process through the brand’s online Return Center, and you’ll have to pay a label fee of $10 (this will be subtracted from your refund). The reimbursed amount can take up to 10 days to appear on your bank statement. 

How to Contact KonMari

If you have any questions beyond this KonMari review, you can reach the company’s customer service team at the following email addresses: 

• General inquiries: [email protected]
• Order inquiries: [email protected] 

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