Peter Walsh / Marie Kondo

Peter Walsh and Marie Kondo are two prominent figures in the world of organizing and decluttering, each with a distinctive approach to helping people manage their spaces.

Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizing consultant, is famous for her KonMari method, as outlined in her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” Her method is deeply introspective and emphasizes tidying by category (not by location) and keeping only those items that “spark joy.” The steps of the KonMari method include:

1. Committing yourself fully to tidying up.


2. Imagining your ideal lifestyle.


3. Finishing discarding first before finding a place for remaining items.


4. Tidying by category — clothes, books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally, sentimental items.


5. Asking yourself if the item sparks joy.

Kondo’s method is also spiritual in a sense, encouraging a respectful and appreciative relationship with your belongings, which includes thanking discarded items for their service.

Peter Walsh

Peter Walsh, an organizational expert originally from Australia, focuses on the psychological aspects of clutter. His approach is more about the effect of clutter on emotional well-being and decision-making. His method involves:

1. Identifying the vision** you have for each room in your home.


2. Considering how your clutter is impacting your life and your emotional state.


3. Sorting items into defined categories like trash, donate, or keep.


4. Organizing things in a way that respects the space limits of your home.

Walsh’s approach tends to be practical and is aimed at creating functional spaces that help reduce stress and improve the quality of life. He also often addresses the reasons behind why people hold onto clutter, such as emotional attachments or fears, offering strategies to overcome these challenges.

Key Differences

• Emotional Connection: Kondo focuses on the joy an item brings and is more about personal satisfaction. Walsh addresses how clutter affects emotional and psychological well-being, focusing on the broader impacts on life and happiness.


• Methodology: Kondo is very structured, advocating a specific sequence of actions and focusing on categories. Walsh is more flexible, emphasizing the end-purpose or function of spaces and psychological barriers to decluttering.


• Cultural Influences: Kondo’s method has a distinct Japanese influence, emphasizing minimalism and harmony with belongings. Walsh’s method is more Western, practical, and aimed at maximizing the utility of spaces.

Both methods offer valuable insights into decluttering and can be adapted based on individual needs and preferences.