Spark Joy: Kondo encourages readers to focus on keeping only items that "spark joy" in their lives. This criterion helps in decision-making during the decluttering process.

Tidy by Category, Not Location: Instead of tidying room by room, Kondo suggests tidying by category (clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous items, sentimental items) to ensure a thorough decluttering process.

Thank Your Belongings: Kondo advises expressing gratitude to items you are discarding for their service or role they played in your life, which can help let go of them with appreciation.

Vertical Storage: Utilizing vertical storage, such as folding clothes to stand upright, maximizes space and visibility, making it easier to find and access items.

Follow a Specific Order: Kondo recommends a specific order for decluttering categories, starting with clothing, followed by books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items, which gradually increases in emotional attachment.

Discard Before Organizing: It's important to discard items first before organizing what remains. This prevents clutter from accumulating again and ensures that only items you truly love and need are kept.

Visualize Your Ideal Lifestyle: Visualizing your ideal lifestyle and living environment can help motivate and guide the decluttering process, keeping you focused on what truly matters to you.

Create a Clutter-Free Environment: Kondo emphasizes the benefits of a clutter-free environment, including reduced stress, increased clarity of mind, and improved overall well-being.

Embrace Simplicity: Simplifying your living space by decluttering allows you to appreciate and enjoy the items you choose to keep more fully, leading to a more fulfilling and intentional life.

Make Tidying a Habit: Finally, Kondo suggests making tidying a regular habit rather than a one-time event. By incorporating tidying into your daily routine, you can maintain a clutter-free and organized home effortlessly.