I never thought I would get excited about folding clothes… but I am! The KonMari Folding Method has turned me into a freak!
OK, I still hate to do laundry and put the clothes away, but there is something very satisfying about seeing the tidy drawer with rows of neatly folded shirts.
If you have drawers overflowing with clothes and can never find the shirt you want, then you NEED to give this method a try! And you’re inner perfectionist will love you for it too!
Table of Contents
What is the KonMari Folding Method?
The KonMari Folding Method is part of the KonMari
Mari Kondo is a Japanese organization expert, who wrote the best selling book – The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Her method of decluttering and organizing your home is a little different to most and it’s been dubbed the KonMari Method.
You can find out all about the KonMari Method here – plus I also have a free KonMari Checklist for you too!
Not sure if KonMari is right for you? Don’t worry! You can still have an organized home!
Check out my post with 5 Alternatives to KonMari
Marie Kondo advises that items should be folded and stored vertically in a drawer (or box). It makes it easier to see all the items you have, rather than having them stacked up in a pile.
Getting Started with KonMari Folding
One thing that Mari Kondo is very clear on, is that you need to completely declutter before you start to try to organize your possessions. Don’t try and sort items and organize them at the same time!
If you want a full description of how to declutter your home the KonMari way – then hop over to this post (and grab your free KonMari Checklist too!).
So once you’ve gone through your clothes and only kept the items that “spark joy”, it is now time to treat those items with respect. It’s not very respectful to just shove them all into a drawer? Or worse still, leave them in a pile on the floor (excuse me while I go and fold my floor clothing pile!).
What to Fold and What to Hang
Exactly what you will hang and what you will fold depends on how much storage space you have. But generally, Kondo suggests that everything is folded, except for formal clothes and special use clothes (like uniforms).
My closet is unusual, as I have a lot of hanging space, but not
You will want to think about the amount of space you have (and how much clothing you are keeping) and decide what to hang and what to fold. You’ll be amazed at how little space clothing takes up once it’s folded the KonMari way!
The Benefits of Marie Kondo’s Folding Technique
There are a few basic principles behind the Marie Kondo Folding Method, but those principles give you a crazy amount of benefits!
Store Vertically
The basic
When we fold our clothes and stack them in a pile on top of it other, it can be very difficult to get to an item at the bottom of the pile. You also forget exactly what you have (maybe that’s why my partner has two identical Batman t-shirts?!).
By folding and storing clothing vertically, it will stay more organized, you can see what you have and it is easier to retrieve the item you want to wear. As a bonus, items folded like this also have fewer wrinkles! Win!
Fold In Thirds
Below I give you instructions on how to fold common items, like t-shirts, pants, and underwear. But what if you have something that is more unusually shaped? How do you fold that?
Basically you want to start by folding the item into some sort of rectangle. Fold in any straps or places where the item is irregular.
Once you have it in a rectangular shape, you are then going to fold it into thirds. Fold one end in, and then the other. That’s it!
Confused? Don’t worry. Watch the video below to see how common items are folded and you will get the idea.
Respecting Your Clothes
Now, I know what you’re thinking… “But Sasha, seriously? I spend too long putting away laundry as it is. Now you want me to do fancy folding too?“
I know, I know! That was my first thought too. But you know what? It’s worth it!
Firstly, it actually doesn’t take that much longer. Once you get the hang of it, you will be super speedy, I promise!
If you want to make it even faster, than you can get a folding board, like this one. It does fold things the traditional way, but then all you need to do is fold the shirt into thirds to finish it off.
But the main benefit behind spending a few seconds longer folding each
In today’s world, we are very consumption-driven. It’s all about wanting more and having more. We don’t take the time to be grateful and respect the items we do ALREADY have. After all, we’ve worked hard to earn the money to buy that item.
So take the few extra seconds to touch your shirt, fold it neatly and carefully place in it the drawer. Be thankful for what you already have!
Folding Clothes The KonMari Way
So here it is! The basic instructions on how to fold your clothes the KonMari way!
How to Fold T-Shirts
- Lay your shirt on a flat surface with the front side facing down
- Fold one side into the center
- Fold back the sleeve
- Fold the other side into the center
- Fold back the other sleeve
- Take the bottom edge, and fold up to the neckline (about an inch below the neckline).
- You now have a rectangle!
- Fold that rectangle into thirds and you will have a neat parcel that will stand upright.
How to Fold Long-Sleeved Shirts
- Lay your shirt on a flat surface with the front side facing down
- Fold one side into the center
- Fold the sleeve over and down
- Fold the other side into the center
- Fold the other sleeve over and down
- Take the bottom edge, and fold up to the neck line (about an inch below the neck line).
- You now have a rectangle
- Fold into thirds
How to Fold Pants
- Lay pants on a flat surface, front side up.
- Fold the right leg over the left one
- Fold in the crotch if it sticks out
- Take the bottom hem of the pant legs and fold up to the waist of the pants (folding them in half)
- You now have a rectangle!
- Fold into thirds
How to Fold Socks
- Lay the socks on a flat surface on top of each other
- Fold the toe end towards the top end of the socks
- Fold into thirds
How to Fold Underwear
- Lay the underwear on a flat surface with the front side facing up
- Fold the crotch up to the waist
- Fold in the sides
- Fold into thirds
Before and After Photos
As I mentioned above, my partner has most of his clothes folded and for months I’ve been trying to encourage him to use the KonMari Folding Method… he just didn’t drink the KonMari Koolaide and didn’t see the point of doing it.
Soooo… while he was out one day, I re-folded all his clothes! Yep! I live a rock-and-rock lifestyle!
He was a little shocked when he went to get dressed the next day (I didn’t tell him I’d done it!), but he is so pleased that I did!
This is what his t-shirt drawer used to look like:
This is what it looks like now!
Not only is it neater, but he can see ALL his shirts and pick out which one he wants to wear. No more digging through the mess to find his favorite shirt.
This is what his sock drawer used to look like:
This is what it looks like now:
Just looking at it makes me smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is KonMari?
KonMari is a tidying and organization practice started by Marie Kondo. Find out more about it here.
What’s so special about KonMari Folding?
Well, to put it briefly… it’s awesome! It will help you keep your clothes more organized, you will be able to see exactly what you have, it will save time when trying to find something to wear and it takes up less space than traditional folding.
How do I fold difficult shaped clothes?
Basically, you want to start by folding the item into some sort of rectangle. Fold in any straps or places where the item is irregular.
Once you have it in a rectangular shape, you are then going to fold it into thirds. Fold one end in, and then the other. That’s it!
Doesn’t all that folding crease my clothes?
It’s quite the opposite in fact. The more you fold the clothes, the less wrinkled they will be… yes, it sounds strange, but it’s true!
Can you come and fold my clothes for me?
Errr… I’d love to, but nope! Although if you do need help decluttering your home, then you should check out my Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Home… it’s FREE!
