Spark Joy by Marie Kondo book review

I loved The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, so when I got the opportunity to review Marie Kondo's follow up book, I took it!

From Kondo's website: A comprehensive, illustrated manual on how to declutter and organize specific items throughout the house, from kitchen and bathroom items to work-related papers and hobby collections. User-friendly line drawings illustrate Kondo’s patented folding method as it applies to shirts, pants, socks, and jackets, as well as images of properly organized drawers, closets, and cabinets. Kondo also add in-depth advice on moving, packing, and dealing with necessary objects that may not spark joy—answering all the questions she's gotten since her first book. This manual is perfect for anyone who wants a home—and life—that sparks joy.

The book is divided into three parts: KonMari master tips, The tidying encyclopedia, and Life-changing magic. I really liked the following quote from her preface: "Life truly begins only after you have put your house in order."

Since I recently moved to a new house and hope to keep it more organized than the last one, I was interested in reading about filling your home with joy. She devotes about 20 pages to that topic and I learned a few things, like "the act of discarding things on its own will never bring joy to your life. Discarding is not the point; what matters is keeping these things that bring you joy."

I enjoyed the illustrations on how to fold clothes. Now I just need a dresser to put my clothing into and I can start practicing her techniques! 

After I read her chapter about organizing the kitchen, I decided to deep clean a few things and reorganize some drawers. Kondo has inspired me to do this on a more regular basis.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this follow up book vs. her first one. A lot of the advice is common sense and perhaps best for someone who is truly very disorganized.

After reading both titles, I have found myself asking if certain items I own bring me joy and as a result, I've donated a few pieces.

If you are very disorganized or need assistance organizing certain areas of your home, then this book is for you.

I received the title through Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.