Declutter by Category: Why the KonMari Method Works Better Than Room by Room
- May 3
- 6 min read
By Sue Spencer | Master KonMari Consultant & KonMari Course Instructor | Published: April 2026
You clear the hallway. Then you find more coats in the wardrobe. You sort the bathroom, only to discover more toiletries tucked in a bedroom drawer. A week later, it all looks the same again.
Sound familiar?
This is what I call clutter shuffling, tidying around the real problem rather than solving it. And it's why so many people try to declutter, feel briefly better, then see the chaos quietly return. The way to break the cycle, once and for all, is to declutter by category rather than room by room.
What is Decluttering by Category
Decluttering by category means gathering all items of the same type from across your home and reviewing them together, rather than tackling one room at a time.
So instead of decluttering your bedroom or kitchen, you work through groups of items like all tops, jeans, cookery books or paperwork, no matter where they’re stored. This allows you to see the full volume of what you own and make clearer, more confident decisions.
Why Decluttering by Category Works Better Than Room by Room
At the heart of the KonMari Method is one simple question: does this spark joy?
That question shifts your focus from “what should I get rid of?” to “what do I want to keep?” It’s a simple reframe that turns traditional decluttering on its head. The question is most powerful when you can see everything you own in that category at once – because you can see you’ve got everything you need to support your lifestyle. It gives you the confidence to let go of things you no longer need.
Clutter rarely arrives all at once. I call it slow drip accumulation - things that enter our homes almost invisibly, a duplicate here, something kept "just in case" there. Seeing the full volume of a category, all at once, is often the first time people truly understand how much has quietly built up.
When you gather every item from one category into one place (every coat, every book or mug), there's almost always a stunned realisation:
"I had no idea I owned this much."
Marie Kondo calls this the Power of the Pile, and in my experience, it’s consistently the moment where real motivation kicks in.
Why Category Decluttering Works
Decluttering by category means you make each decision once. When all your coats are in front of you, the duplicates are obvious. You rediscover forgotten pieces and finally decide on all the "just in case" items that have been quietly multiplying due to delayed decision-making. As Barbara Hemphill famously said:
“Clutter is nothing but delayed decisions.”
Decluttering room by room means repeating the same decisions again and again – which coats to keep in the hallway, then the bedroom, then the cupboard under the stairs. Each time, the temptation is to keep things "just in case” because you don’t fully remember what you have elsewhere. As a result, clutter slowly starts to return as you haven’t reviewed everything. My clients consistently tell me that decluttering by category is what made the results actually stick for them.
The KonMari Method Categories in Order
The KonMari Method works through five categories, in this order:
Clothes - starting with everyday items makes decisions easier and gives you an immediate, visible impact on your daily routine.
Books - often tied to identity and aspiration, but for most people, the decisions are still largely practical.
Papers - functional but mentally demanding, so it helps to have already experienced progress with your decluttering.
Komono (miscellaneous) - the largest category, broken down into micro categories so you can declutter your home step by step.
Sentimental items - left until last, so you’ve built confidence in your decisions and have a clear sense of what belongs in your home before tackling the most difficult items.
A Real Example From a Client’s Home
A family asked me to help them with their kitchen, which wasn’t working for them - cupboards were full and surfaces were cluttered. So we did what I always recommend: we emptied everything out.
As we worked through their drinkware, a pattern began to emerge: travel mugs, water bottles, branded cups from conferences and exhibitions – one after another appeared from different cupboards. By the time we’d gathered them all in one place, there were more than fifteen.
Each one had been brought home with good intentions and tucked away wherever there was space. Spread across the kitchen, they went unnoticed, but together, the volume told a different story.
And… none were being used as the couple already had their preferred non-spill mugs for their commute.
Once they saw everything in one place, the decision was easy. The extras were donated, freeing up an entire cupboard.
It’s a perfect example of how clutter can quietly build and how you only really see it when you declutter by category.
How to Declutter Your Home by Category
Start with clothes, which is the easiest category for most people.
Gather every item from that category into one place.
Break it into smaller subcategories, like tops, dresses or jeans, if the volume feels overwhelming.
Pick up each item and decide what to keep based on what sparks joy for you.
Set aside anything that you are ready to let go of. It's helpful to have already decided upon your 'exit plans' for items you no longer need - take a look at my donation and sustainability guide for ideas.
Find a home for everything you keep so it's easy to put away and maintain.
Repeat the process, working through the categories in order.
Micro-Categories – How to Start Small and Make Progress With Decluttering
If gathering an entire category feels like too much, it’s often easier to start with smaller micro categories – breaking each category into manageable chunks:
Not all trousers - just jeans
Not all toiletries - just moisturisers
Not all kitchen items - just utensils
Completing one micro-category will help you get started so you can see some results. I use a category checklist when I work with clients, so every completed step is visible.
Download your free printable KonMari category checklist below.
What Each KonMari Category Looks Like in Practice
Decluttering by Category - Clothes
A natural starting point. Work through tops, trousers, dresses, outerwear, and shoes. You'll quickly rediscover what you actually enjoy wearing and feel the benefit of your decluttering efforts every morning as you get dressed. Follow my step-by-step guide in How to declutter your clothes the Marie Kondo way
Decluttering by Category - Books
Sort by type: fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, children's books, so you can see exactly what you have and separate the books that genuinely matter from the ones you're keeping out of obligation to “read one day." Read my 4 step guide to lighter and happier bookshelves for a guide to decluttering your books.
Decluttering by Category - Paperwork
The KonMari approach simplifies paperwork into three groups: deal with now, keep short-term, keep long-term - everything else can go. There’s no better feeling than Getting On Top of Your Paperwork Once And For All – here’s how to do it.
Decluttering by Category - Komono (miscellaneous items)
The largest category is the one that really transforms how your home functions. Work through it in micro-categories: kitchen utensils, food storage, skincare, cables, craft supplies, sports equipment. As you clear space, you can organise what remains and find a home for the things you choose to keep. Get started with my guide to Declutter your Kitchen Like Marie Kondo.
Decluttering by Category - Sentimental items
Left until last for a reason. By this point, you've made hundreds of "spark joy" decisions and built real confidence. This isn't about erasing the past; this is about choosing which memories you want present in your life now and releasing the rest with intention. Read my Guide to Letting Go of Sentimental Items.
What Changes When You Declutter by Category
The results go well beyond just a tidier home. When everything has been gathered, sorted and joy checked, you know exactly what you own and where it lives. You’ll stop wasting time searching, buying duplicates, or managing things you don't need. Putting things away stops being a chore, because everything already has an obvious home.
You may also start to notice how little you actually need, and that naturally changes how you shop and what you bring into your home.
Common Questions About Decluttering by Category
Why does KonMari use categories instead of rooms?
Because categories reveal the full volume of what you own, making decisions clearer and preventing the repetition that leads to clutter creeping back.
Do you have to follow the order exactly?
For best results, yes. The order is designed to build decision-making confidence, starting easy and working towards the most emotional items.
What's included in Komono?
Everything that doesn't fit into clothes, books, or papers: so kitchenware, toiletries, tech, tools, hobby supplies, and much more. See my KonMari checklist for a full guide.
How long does decluttering by category take?
It depends on the volume of items in your home and how quickly you make decisions. Working through micro-categories allows you to make consistent progress without overwhelm.
Ready to get started?
Download your free KonMari category checklist and begin working through your home one category at a time. And if you'd like support along the way, Book A Session With Me – I’d love to help.
