Quote Of The Day By Marie Kondo: 'I Have Yet To See A House That Lacked Sufficient Storage. The Real Problem Is...'

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Marie Kondo has always worked to create a tidy home. When she was only 5 years old, she found herself transfixed by the impeccable interiors displayed in her mother's lifestyle magazines, and achieving this flawless look became a near obsession. As she grew into a teenager, she threw herself into the study of organization, becoming inspired by "The Art of Discarding: How to Get Rid of Clutter and Find Joy" by Nagisa Tatsumi. This anti-clutter mindset initially formed the core of her own practice, but rather than focusing on which items to throw away, she shifted her perspective to identify the pieces that were worth keeping.

Kondo's KonMari organizing method began to take shape in her late teens, and after running a successful tidying consultant business, she decided to share her findings with the world. Her first book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing," has sold over 14 million copies, and she followed it up with additional titles and even a Netflix show, "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo." 

It's clear that Kondo has plenty of know-how when it comes to transforming a space from cluttered to curated, but she's identified the core of the issue to be something much simpler than many expect. That's why we're focusing on her words as today's quote of the day.

According to Marie Kondo: "I have yet to see a house that lacked sufficient storage. The real problem is that we have far more than we need or want."

This revelation comes from Kondo's first book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." First published in the U.S. in 2014, her debut details the organizational approach she takes with her clients. Within the text, she shares direct instructions for tackling each category of item in the home, observations she's gleaned from her time as a professional tidying consultant, and helpful tips and tricks. The main focus, however, is on how to decide what to keep or throw away. Rather than simply trashing things that take up extra space, she asks readers to hold each item, asking themselves a simple question: "Does this spark joy?"

"The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" became a viral sensation — even those who haven't read the book are likely already familiar with Kondo's name or the KonMari method. It made CNN's list of the most influential books of the decade in 2019 and very quickly achieved the status of the New York Times' top bestseller. With all of this popularity, however, came a downside. The book's message often got watered down, scrutinized, or misinterpreted in a giant game of telephone, but this quote brings us back to the point: We all have too much stuff.

It can be easy to use the size of your space as an excuse for its clutter, but Marie Kondo rejects this idea. Maximizing storage space in a small apartment is, of course, a necessity, but the truth is that we don't really need to hang onto as much stuff as we do. Items that we think might come in handy one day, that are in good shape but don't get used, or that are left over from former phases of our life sit around, collecting dust.

"I recommend you dispose of anything that does not fall into one of three categories: currently in use, needed for a limited period of time, or must be kept indefinitely," Kondo shared in "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." While this advice sounds harsh, it covers all three categories of essentials. Gone are the items that have been unnecessarily lugged from house to house for their chance to one day shine. Once this layer of non-essentials has been skimmed off, it becomes abundantly clear that even tiny spaces have more than enough room to store what's important.

Kondo's quote ties into her KonMari philosophy, too — she's not just focusing on the fact that we have more stuff than we need, but is also noting that we have more than we want. Her approach of identifying whether or not items spark joy leaves space for items that we love but might not actively use, like sentimental pieces of clothing, mementos, and artwork. If you don't feel connected to something and don't need it in your day-to-day, there's no reason to hold on to it.

• "But when we really delve into the reasons for why we can't let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future." — from "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up"
• "I believe the basic principles of tidying can be applied to life as well. At its core, tidying is about cherishing what is truly important to you. That's why, whether it's in relationships or work, letting go of what no longer serves you and focusing on what truly matters can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life." — from a 2025 Big Issue interview
• "My advice seems simple and basic, but I promise you it works. It is just this: Don't give up. Just realize that the more you do, the closer you are to the finish line." — from a 2016 Goodreads interview
• "From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change. That's why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly. It allows you to confront the issues that are really important." — from "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up"
• "Discarding is not the point; what matters is keeping those things that bring you joy. If you discard everything until you have nothing left but an empty house, I don't think you'll be happy living there. Our goal in tidying should be to create a living environment filled with the things we love." — from "Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up"