Expert organiser, Marie Kondo, lives in California with her husband Takumi Kawahara, and their three children.
What’s your favourite time of the day at home?
After I drop off the kids at school, I focus my energy to get all my housework done. This is my favorite time to tidy because it kick-starts my workday and gets me going. I wash the dishes from breakfast and tidy up the kitchen a bit, then do laundry. Then I change out the water for all the single-stem flower vases – I love looking at beautiful flowers – they spark so much joy!
Where’s your happy place at home?
The breakfast nook by the kitchen. I get lots of great natural light from the window and it has a great view into our yard. My family often gravitate towards the kitchen, so it’s a great spot in the house to be in.
What’s on your bedside table?
To help me relax before going to bed, I have crystals, flowers on my bedside table, as well as a small notebook and pen. Crystals and flowers help me recharge my energy after a long day. I also love seeing them first thing in the morning. I recommend having a small but carefully selected, joy-sparking items in a power spot in your bedroom so you can wake up feeling refreshed every morning.
(Image credit: KonMari Media, Inc)
What’s your home addiction?
I have lots of things I love and cherish, but I would have to say scented candles. I like having things with a pleasant scent to cheer me up, get me going or help me relax. My husband is a scent connoisseur and he likes to change up his aroma diffuser throughout the day, depending on if he needs to focus or just enjoy a good book.
What chore do love doing?
My favourite chore, as you might guess, would be folding clothes! My mother taught me that chores are something fun and bring joy and happiness to our family. I love doing all types of chores, but I don’t like it when I don’t have enough time to do them. Right now, with my baby son, it’s been quite tough to get to all of them when I want to, so I turn some chores into a game. My girls and I fold clothes together, it’s like doing origami for them.
What do you do if you have time at home on your own?
Thinking about creative storage solutions! I am a box collector and every time I see a cute box or a sturdy box, big and small, I use my imagination to think of all the items I could store in the box. What’s great about boxes are that the lids turn into trays, so you get double the storage space and they are great to use as a drawer divider.
What do you miss most about your home when you’re away?
My donabe (clay pot) that I use every day to cook rice. The first thing I do to prepare breakfast is to cook rice in this special Japanese clay pot, which stirs up a sense of longing and nostalgia for me. I really miss this ritual when I’m away from home.
Quick fire with Marie Kondo
1. Shoes – On or off? Off
2. Eat – table or on laps? Table
3. Lighting – bright or moody? Moodily lit
4. Quick shower or long bath? Long bath
5. Room decor – Colourful or neutral? Neutral
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