In the world of professional organizing, the methodology championed by Marie Kondo is often misunderstood as merely a system for tidiness. In reality, the KonMari Method is a precise psychological and philosophical journey, and its sequence is crucial. The directive to start with clothing—before books, paper, or miscellaneous items—is not arbitrary; it is a proven, strategic imperative designed to maximize success and cultivate the necessary decision-making muscles.
If you are seeking to transform your life through organization, understanding why the closet must be your first battlefield is the key to unlocking true, lasting clarity.

I. The Psychological Rationale: Honing the Joy Muscle

The KonMari Method requires you to confront every item and ask: “Does this spark joy?” This question is a difficult mental exercise that requires quick, decisive emotional judgment.

1. Low Stakes, High Repetition (The Training Ground)

Clothing is the ideal starting category because, while abundant, it generally carries lower sentimental weight than photographs, letters, or family heirlooms. Discarding a sweater that doesn’t fit is less emotionally taxing than discarding a childhood journal.
• The Imperative: Starting with clothing provides a vast field for repetition without emotional burnout. You practice asking the “joy” question hundreds of times, quickly honing your ability to recognize and trust your immediate gut reaction to an object. By the time you reach high-stakes categories (like komono or sentimental items), your “joy muscle” is strong and your decision-making is swift.

2. Immediate, Visible Rewards

The impact of organizing a closet—a space often overflowing and visually chaotic—is immediate and profound. When you finish the clothing category, the sheer volume of space reclaimed and the visual clarity achieved provides a powerful hit of momentum and motivation. This rapid, visible success reinforces the value of the process, making you far more likely to commit to the remaining categories.

II. The Logistical and Physical Necessity

Clothing serves as a practical, physical foundation for the rest of the home organization project.

3. Defining the Current Identity

The KonMari philosophy asserts that your current possessions should reflect the person you are today and the life you aspire to lead. The closet is the most direct representation of your current self and your daily role. By curating your clothes first (as defined by your Wardrobe Mission Statement), you establish a clear, focused identity filter.
• The Advantage: Once you have defined your visual identity through your clothing, you gain a clearer perspective on the roles your other possessions (books, accessories, tools) must play. You have established a baseline of personal commitment.

4. Clearing the Necessary Space

Clothing often occupies the most prime, visible, and high-volume storage areas in the home (closets, dressers, laundry rooms). Successfully tackling this category first yields a tremendous amount of usable space that is immediately beneficial for organizing the rest of the home.
• Practical Benefit: After the clothes are processed, you gain storage units (dressers, drawers, closet shelving) that can be temporarily utilized for sorting, staging, or housing the overflow of smaller items from later categories. The clothing category literally creates the physical workspace necessary for the subsequent steps.

A Final Word on Clarity: Trusting the Sequence

The success of the KonMari Method hinges on its precise order. By starting with clothing, you are not merely tidying a rack; you are engaging in a sophisticated, structured training exercise. You build the emotional strength to confront the past, you clarify your present identity, and you generate the physical and psychological momentum required to successfully tackle the more challenging, sentimental categories that follow.
The closet, therefore, is not just a place to store your clothes—it is the Gateway to Clarity, and the key to ensuring your organizing journey is transformative, not just temporary.