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In a world increasingly obsessed with minimalism and organization, two popular methods have gained significant attention: the KonMari Method® and Swedish Death Cleaning. While both approaches aim to create a more organized space and promote mindfulness about our belongings, they stem from different cultural backgrounds and philosophies. I will explore the similarities and differences in the two methods, after a quick summarization of each one, based on my takeaways from the two books cited below and my professional experience.

A common way to shorten Japanese names is to combine the first syllable of the surname with the first two syllables of the given name, so Marie Kondo’s nickname is KonMari, which is now registered. The KonMari Method® is Marie Kondo’s organizing philosophy, and KonMari® Consultants like me have been trained and certified in that particular method.

Swedish Death Cleaning (or döstädning) is a well-known concept in Sweden and in Scandinavian culture at large, in which you eliminate unwanted items from your home so that your loved ones are not burdened with the task after your passing.

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS

The KonMari Method®

The KonMari Method® is a celebration of joy and mindfulness in organizing. Marie Kondo's approach, explained in detail in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, emphasizes the emotional relationship you have with your belongings, advocating that you should only keep items that "spark joy." The method encourages individuals to touch each item, consider its value, and make conscious decisions about what to retain. This philosophy promotes creating a personal sanctuary and cultivating happiness and self-care through mindful organization. The main question to ask yourself is, “Does this item spark joy?”

Swedish Death Cleaning

On the other hand, Swedish Death Cleaning is rooted in a cultural perspective on death and legacy. Popularized abroad by Margareta Magnusson, author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, this method encourages individuals, particularly older adults, to declutter their possessions while they are still capable, so that their loved ones don’t have to deal with a mountain of belongings after they pass away, while grieving. The process focuses on gently assessing items and determining what to keep, discard, or pass on, often fostering a sense of closure and emotional readiness for the future. The two main questions to ask yourself are, “Will I ever need this again?” and “Will anyone I know be happier if I save this?”

SIMILARITIES

Despite their different cultural contexts and philosophical underpinnings, both the KonMari Method® and Swedish Death Cleaning share common goals.

1. Mindfulness and intentionality: Both methods advocate a mindful approach toward belongings. They encourage individuals to assess and reflect on what they own and why they keep it.

2. Decluttering: At their core, both methods aim to declutter spaces. They seek to eliminate excess belongings that don’t bring value or happiness to one’s life. And both methods advocate doing this once, with lasting results, as opposed to doing a bit here and a bit there for years on end.

3. Emotional connection: Each approach recognizes the emotional weight possessions carry. Both methods prompt individuals to consider their feelings toward their items and how those feelings impact their living spaces.

4. Prioritization: Both methods emphasize the importance of prioritization—whether it’s the need to reduce clutter to ease the burden on loved ones or the decision to keep only joy-sparking items.

5. How to live one’s life: Despite using different vocabulary and framing things differently, both methods have the same end goal: to allow you to spend more time on the things that matter to you (i.e., living your ideal life or planning for an easier, calmer future). While it is true that Swedish Death Cleaning enables acceptance and grief, it is steeped in positivity and joy, just like the KonMari Method®.

DIFFERENCES

While the similarities are notable, there are also differences between the two methods.

1. Cultural context: Swedish Death Cleaning arises from the Swedish perspective on mortality and legacy, while Marie Kondo’s philosophy is grounded in Japanese culture’s emphasis on simplicity and mindfulness. The inevitability of death is central to Swedish Death Cleaning, while Kondo’s approach is focused on joy and meaningful living.

2. Target audience: Swedish Death Cleaning is primarily aimed at older adults who wish to prepare for their death and reduce the burden on their families. In contrast, the KonMari Method® is aimed at anyone, regardless of age, seeking general organization in their life.

3. Process: The KonMari Method® is structured around a specific order of categories (clothing, books, papers, miscellaneous, and sentimental items) to promote an effective decluttering process; decluttering is done by category, not by room. Swedish Death Cleaning lacks a formalized step-by-step structure but instead promotes a more personalized, introspective approach depending on individual circumstances and emotional readiness. However, both start with easy wins and keep sentimental items for the end.

4. Focus: While both methods promote living your best life, Swedish Death Cleaning encourages you to keep in mind the effect your passing (and passing ON of items) will have on your loved ones, whereas the KonMari Method® is focused on you and your current life. Moreover, the KonMari Method® focuses on what you keep, whereas Swedish Death Cleaning (and most other methods!) focus on what to let go.

WHICH METHOD IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Ultimately, the choice between the KonMari Method® and Swedish Death Cleaning depends on individual preferences and circumstances. If you are an older adult or facing significant life transitions, Swedish Death Cleaning may resonate more strongly with you, allowing for closure and preparation for the future. Conversely, if you seek to infuse joy into your existing living space and foster a more positive relationship with your belongings, the KonMari Method® may be your best fit. Think of the method that most resonates with you and motivates you.

Incorporating elements from both methods can also be beneficial. Evaluating what sparks joy while considering the emotional and practical aspects of our possessions can create a uniquely tailored approach to organizing that respects your past, present, and future.

In conclusion, both the KonMari Method® and Swedish Death Cleaning offer powerful insights into organizing and decluttering, emphasizing mindfulness and emotional connection. Whether you are preparing for the future or simply seeking a more joyful space, understanding these methods can help guide your journey toward a more organized life.

Hi there! I’m Amélie, a professional home organizer in San Antonio, Texas. I help people like you declutter their home, organize their belongings, and simplify their life. I love cleaning out a closet and removing a carload of donations from a home! My goal is to help you create a functional space that will make your life easier and more peaceful.

Interested? Check out my personalized services or book your complimentary consultation!

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A lot of people get scared away by Swedish death cleaning because of the word “death” and how morbid it sounds. But death is going to happen to all of us (along with taxes and… butter exploding in the microwave); it’s just a fact of life. So what is death cleaning, exactly?

I read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death-Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson and really enjoyed it. It’s a short, light read that gives lots of explanations and concrete examples. In essence, “death cleaning” is the process of going through one’s things while keeping our death in mind. It has been a longstanding practice in Sweden (where it is called döstädning). Some people do this when they are elderly and feel like they are at the end of their life, but a lot of people do this as a matter of course earlier on simply to feel unburdened. I remember that when I was 12 or so, my friend’s mother turned 50 and went through all her belongings to declutter, because she didn’t want her kids to have to do it someday. I believe she’s about to turn 80 now! And here’s a video by Do It On A Dime on the topic, so that you can see what it might look like in the life of a busy 30-something mother (and fellow professional organizer).

How does death cleaning compare to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you might wonder? Well, you DO pare down to just the things you love, but with the greater goal of making life easier for those you leave behind. It can be so overwhelming dealing with someone’s estate after they have passed, so anything you can do to make that transition easier for your family will be appreciated. An important extra step, though, is to take care of paperwork pertaining to your estate. Make sure you have your affairs in order: an up-to-date will, instructions for funeral arrangements, all relevant paperwork and passwords in a secure-but-easy-to-access location, etc. Even if you don’t have heirs, it WILL be someone’s problem (here’s an example).

In some cases, there might be things you are keeping for the purpose of handing down to your grown children. If they have their own home, consider passing things on now instead of after your death! Not only will it make life easier for everyone, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of seeing your things get used again. And if your kids don’t want those things? Well, at least now you know, and you can find a better place for them.

You can also create a box with things that are deeply meaningful to you, but would be insignificant to anyone else (or that you would prefer no one sees). Label that box clearly with instructions for your loved ones to dispose of it after you are deceased.

In summary, Swedish death cleaning is an act of kindness meant to avoid burdening your descendants with your stuff. It does require you to adopt a minimalist mindset so as to create a simple lifestyle that is easy to manage and that leaves more room for joy. In that way, it is meant to make your life better.