Can You KonMari Your Garage? The Surprising Answer
First, it was the book, and now we have the popular Netflix series. Marie Kondo’s KonMari method of tidying up is everywhere. But many articles misapply her work, diluting “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” into just another way to clean.
So, can you KonMari your garage? The short and simple answer is a resounding “yes.” You can apply these principles to any part of your home.
However, the real power of the KonMari method is its core promise: to tidy up all of your belongings once and forever, ensuring you never have to do a major purge again. That’s the real “life-changing magic” of her method.
The good news for us is that one of Kondo’s main categories, “komono,” is for miscellaneous stuff found in the kitchen, bathroom, and yes—the garage! This means the garage already has a dedicated place within the method.
Even if you don’t follow the entire system to the letter, the KonMari philosophy provides incredible inspiration and guiding principles for your decluttering project.
Start With Your Mindset: It’s More Than Just Cleaning
The physical act of getting rid of items is rarely the biggest challenge. More often, the true barriers are the internal struggles we must face. Organizing experts agree that your mindset is the most significant hurdle to overcome.
Watch an episode of “Hoarders,” and you’ll see extreme examples of this principle in action. The problem isn’t knowing how to clean; it’s what we think and feel about the things we own.
Marie Kondo emphasizes a mindful, gratitude-based approach that helps relieve the stress of clearing things out. This process also serves as a constant reminder of why you’re tackling this big project.
Tidying becomes a skill and a discipline you master for life. According to Kondo, you are training yourself to notice and release attachments to things that no longer serve you, while also seeing what brings you true joy. It’s a skill that can help you in all parts of your life.
As she famously states: “Tidying is the act of confronting yourself. Cleaning is the act of confronting nature.”
Step 1: Picture Your Ideal Garage
Before you touch a single item, you need a clear vision of what you want the end result to be. Vague goals like “I want it to be cleaner” are not strong enough. You need a crystal-clear picture of your desired garage to know what you’re aiming for.
This isn’t just wishful thinking; it’s a core principle of the KonMari method for creating lasting change. Imagine the projects you’ll complete, the classic car you’ll finally have room to work on, or the simple peace of parking without navigating around clutter.
You must also have a clear understanding of why you want this change. Why do you want a dedicated space for woodworking? Why do you want a clean and stylish garage floor?
The KonMari method is a journey to self-knowledge. According to Marie, you will realize you want these things because they will make you happy. This insight must come from you: “I want to get rid of all this stuff so I can be happy.”
Embrace the ‘Tidying Festival’: A One-Time Event
Clearing out a huge portion of your belongings should be like jumping into an ice bath: sudden, bracing, and powerful. It needs to be done in as short a time as possible, planned and prepared for like a special event.
Items being donated must go to the donation center that day. Items destined for the trash get tossed that day. Marie Kondo views tidying not as a chore, but as a special one-time event with permanent, life-changing effects.
She argues that clutter comes back because we think we’ve tidied when all we’ve really done is shuffle things around. This is why, no matter how hard you try, the mess eventually returns.
The common advice to “do a little each day” only creates the illusion of tidiness. The underlying chaos is just waiting to erupt again. This piecemeal approach also fails because it’s hard to stick to things for a long time; missed days quickly turn into missed weeks.
This idea of purging was inspired by a book called “The Art of Discarding” by Nagisa Tatsumi. If you’re interested in the origins of Marie Kondo’s work, it is a worthy read.
“If you use the right method and concentrate your efforts on eliminating clutter thoroughly and completely within a short span of time, you’ll see instant results that will empower you to keep your space in order ever after.” -Marie Kondo
Face Your Clutter: What’s Really Holding You Back?
Since you are reading this article, we can assume you know *how* to throw something away. The issue is almost always mental. We tell ourselves stories about our possessions—common excuses that prevent us from letting go.
These excuses often sound like this:
- I might need it someday.
- It’s too good to just throw out.
- This was a gift from my favorite aunt.
- It used to belong to a loved one.
Mementos and keepsakes are particularly difficult because they pull at our emotions. We fear that if we get rid of the physical object, we will lose the memory itself. This simply isn’t true; precious memories will last much longer than the things associated with them.
Then there’s the guilt pile. My mother kept a figurine from a long-gone friend that she never even liked. These feelings of guilt and obligation are real barriers, whether it’s a gift you never used or your child’s third-grade art project.
Step 2: Create the Pile by Category
This is where the physical work begins. To truly KonMari the garage, you need to get everything out into the middle of the floor or onto the driveway. Don’t work corner by corner; this is a common mistake in most tidying efforts.
Instead, follow the KonMari hallmark: tidy by category. Group all similar items together. For a great visual demonstration of this process, check out this video.
Bring similar items out from the house as well. You often have no idea how much of a single item you own until you see it all at once. Do you know how many garden trowels you have? You will when all five are sitting in a pile on the garage floor.
Following Kondo’s specified order is crucial. It builds momentum, making it easier to tackle harder categories. Start with clothes, then books, papers, komono (miscellaneous), and finally, sentimental items. If you start with items that have an emotional pull, you’ll throw off the entire process.
Step 3: Does Your Garage Gear ‘Spark Joy’?
Now, interact with each item one by one. You know that one wrench you always reach for first? Then there’s the other one you use when you need two. And then there’s that third one you always grab by accident before tossing it aside for the one you actually like. That third one needs to go.
This is the main idea of the “spark joy” test. As you handle each object, ask yourself: Does it give you a little zing of joy? While it might feel strange to ask this about a broom or a hammer, the process is surprisingly effective.
Some things are easy to let go of, but others give us pause. This pause is usually our rational mind creating excuses (“I might need it someday,” “It would be a shame to get rid of this.”).
To truly declutter, you must push past those thoughts. The “spark of joy” is a feeling you sense, and your gut feeling will get stronger as you move through each category.
The Power of Gratitude: How It Helps You Let Go
It might sound silly, but you should genuinely thank your possessions before letting them go. Even when we throw things out, we can do so with a sense of gratitude. This practice helps honor the purpose an item served, making it much easier to part with.
I’m not saying you need to get weepy over every spare screw you’re tossing. But gratitude is the cure for the anger and shame we often feel about having so much useless stuff taking up our space and energy.
Some items are easy to discard, but others remain due to an unresolved attachment. Facing these feelings is a huge part of being able to finally let go.
Be honest with yourself. Do you really need to keep that half-used paint roller? Overcoming the fear of being wasteful is a key step in reclaiming your space. We often know some things need to go, but our rational minds invent reasons to keep them.
Step 4: Give Every Item a Permanent, Simple Home
The final step ensures that your hard work leads to a peaceful, usable space. At its heart, this step is about treating your remaining belongings with the respect they deserve. Many people skim over this part, but it’s vital for long-term success.
Every professional mechanic I’ve ever met takes amazing care of their tools. They are cleaned and put back in their proper place. This isn’t just a chore; it’s a form of meditation and mental regrouping.
Even in the intense world of professional chefs, as described by Anthony Bourdain, a clean work environment is everything. They use the term mise en place, which means “everything in its place.”
With this in mind, the idea of treating your tools or holiday decorations as loyal friends and helpers becomes less crazy. Objects want to be used and need to be cared for. If you aren’t doing either, do both of you a favor and let them go.
How Should I Store Everything That’s Left?
Remember the golden rule: you cannot organize your stuff before you purge! Buying storage containers first is what got you into this mess. This purge-first rule is non-negotiable for success.
If you’ve purged correctly, you’ll find you have more room than you think.
“Once you learn to choose your belongings properly, you will be left only with the amount that fits perfectly in the space you currently own.” – Marie Kondo
Now is the time to plan for smart storage. Avoid cute, gimmicky storage “hacks.” My father once nailed jar lids to the ceiling to store random screws he rarely used. He would have been better off with a few organized boxes. When it comes to storage, simplicity is always the best policy.
Some items do need special treatment. Sturdy boxes for delicate ornaments, duffel bags for wrapping paper, and proper racks for bikes or kayaks will protect your items and keep them manageable. Store similar items together to prevent scattering them all over the house.
Follow the ‘Easy to Put Away’ Rule
Clutter happens when things don’t get put back in their place. This is why the final KonMari principle is so powerful for long-term success: make everything easy to put away.
Simple, uncomplicated storage ideas are the key. Use squares and rectangles over round containers, as they store more efficiently. Making items easy to see and access also makes them easy to put away.
If the garage is a shared space, give each family member a personal area. This simple step can reduce conflict over shared spaces. Now, little Billy knows exactly where his bike goes (good luck, but it’s a start).
You can even use a large box with smaller boxes inside to organize small items like screws and nuts. This helps you ditch those flimsy multi-drawer chests that always get stuck or blocked.
How to Keep Your Garage Organized for Good
The KonMari method is best used as a whole-home event, not just for one room. Putting things in a storage unit or taking them to a relative’s house just kicks the can down the road, letting you avoid the real work.
As any decluttering expert will tell you, the process isn’t just about the physical items in your garage. It’s about facing yourself and your relationship with “stuff.”
This deep, internal work is the only way to make a lasting change in your space and achieve long-term success.
You will finally have a garage that “sparks joy” and serves its true purpose, freeing up mental and physical space for the things that truly matter.
