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The space is transformed by using paint and other materials found fairly inexpensively at a home supply store. Doors were removed, wheels added, and writing spaces created. This effort was not just done by one person, but an entire team. It really does take a village!

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A group of individuals and volunteers worked very hard for multiple days  to repaint, change out the storage, purge, and build.

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Ailee Chan - Slack 2      What an amazing group of people working together towards the same goals, to create a learning space that is able to accommodate the type of 21st Century teaching and learning we are trying to achieve here. The place was stripped bare and every area of that same space was recreated and redesigned to make space for newer and more modular furniture that allows change and flexibility for the teacher and most of all, the students. 

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Ailee Chan - Slack 2      What an amazing group of people working together towards the same goals, to create a learning space that is able to accommodate the type of 21st Century teaching and learning we are trying to achieve here. The place was stripped bare and every area of that same space was recreated and redesigned to make space for newer and more modular furniture that allows change and flexibility for the teacher and most of all, the students. 

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This was such a team effort from the design stage to the implementation stage.  I loved how they got the students involved in the collaboration of redesigning the classroom.  This classroom was gutted and then
they were able to start fresh.

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Change always occurs during "disorientation". In this instance, it was the deconstruction of the classroom. By removing everything and starting fresh, you allow yourself to see the room in a new way.

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The room is deconstructed. Students, volunteers, community members, and a whole lot of people full of ideas and know-how worked on choosing the materials, colors, and resources that went back in the room. Each surface from ceiling to floor to desks to cabinetry was taken into account as the space was redesigned for classroom learning and interaction.

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The entire space was emptied (cabinets and all) and every item sorted and determined if it was a critical item. I did this a couple years ago when I moved into my new position, but now that I have a better idea of what it's like at this school and in these positions, I need to do it again. While the cabinet items were being sorted, volunteers repainted and added components to enhance the space. Everything was brightened and lightened and color added.

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Everything was taken out of the room. Of the contents removed, a choice had to be made to either keep or dump it. With help from many volunteers, the room was transformed first with paint, then structures were built and put in. The final stage is for the students to complete the transformation.

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After ideas were collected (video part 1) the room is basically gutted and all items are evaluated to determine how necessary they are (I can relate to this, I just my office desk out and realized how much I hoarded, i mean accumulated, that I realized I never used). This seems to be where the idea for the new room largely comes together. Ideas are whittled down to plans that will actually be implemented.

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Everything was taken out of the room.  While the design team was working on the inside of the room, the teacher had time to decide which things he would keep and which he would purge, using the thought process if he hadn't used  an item in a year it should be tossed (for me this is really difficult because in any given year I might be teaching German one year but not another to then teach it again two years later.  Therefore I may have things that I haven't used in two years but may need again later).  I  think the two biggest things they did to the room was put coasters on the legs of the tables to make them move very easily and taking the clutter from the walls.

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Everything was taken out and the classroom was painted with both neutral and bright colors. The teacher needed to decide what he really wanted to keep and what could go. We all know as teacher, it is really hard to get rid of anything! They created areas along the perimeter for students to utilize. They also repurposed the furniture and put them on wheels. We all know how expensive movable furniture is, so this was a great way to make what the teacher already had movable

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They gave purpose to all areas of the room, moved things around that can be up and out of the way, cleaned out anything not used in the last year.  They also made many of the work spaces flexible with wheels. These changes added flexibility and foster creativity with new opportunities to collaborate.

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The design team utilized the furniture available while maximizing space. The took the learning goals, students interests, and teacher needs into consideration and created a beautiful classroom.

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The design was created after much input and then the room was basically taken down to bare bones and recreated.    Attention was given to collaborative spaces and design aspects such as whiteboards.  Color was added strategically and anything unnecessary was eliminated.

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The design was created after much input and then the room was basically taken down to bare bones and recreated.    Attention was given to collaborative spaces and design aspects such as whiteboards.  Color was added strategically and anything unnecessary was eliminated.

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The team came up with a design that maximized the space.  They removed anything unnecessary and rearranged many of the other items.  They also made the classroom visually pleasing and energizing for the students.

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Th obvious areas that were addressed were the decluttering of the space and the painting of the room. They spent many hours working on this. The constructed work station areas and then and arranged the classroom to be student-centered and focused on learning.

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The transformation of course started with the declutter. This is vital for all of us. Then the paint was used to add mood to the room. Finally adding a working space with white boards that the kids can use freely will allow an element of creativity. I really like the "Solve" word on the wall for inspiration.

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36! Thirty-six students in one class, and a small room at that. It ain't right! But the transformation that was possible should take away any excuses and inspire every teacher to reimagine their learning environment. This classroom was redesigned through a collaborative process in which students, teachers, and design experts considered possibilities, participated in visual listening, identified key leverage points, developed plans, and carried them out. And for $1,000!  Every aspect of the space was reimagined using the design principles of display, storage, personality, teaching zone, and desk management. Colors popped, the back wall was activated, collaborative spaces were enabled. About that class size...raise taxes, pass bonds, write grants, tap volunteers, crowd  fund and just find ways to bring those numbers down!

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I really like how the re-imagination of the space was lead by design thinking. It doesn't seem like anything was forgotten simply because of the collaborative nature of the design process. Color was used to change the "feeling" of the room, storage was re-thought and simplified. I like that the doors were taken off the storage to bring those spaces into the room and make them immediately usable. It looks like they put casters on the legs of the tables to make them more flexible and movable. Finally, they created more collaborative space with white boards in one corner, which will change the way students learn.

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The space is transformed many different ways throughout the implementation stage. First there was decluttering done. I like the rule of if you have not used it in the last year, you can most likely get rid of it. Then they began painting. The paint color brought new life to the space. They also re-imagined the space by using what they had and adding to it to create new work spaces the teacher might never have imagined before.

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The space is transformed in a number of ways. New paint changes the color scheme to make the space brighter and more inviting. Eliminating clutter gives the class a cleaner look and creates more room. The addition of new "studio spaces" around the edges of the room allows for new, informal student collaboration.

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The space is transformed during the implementation stage by first brainstorming what they wanted out the of the classroom and how they could achieve that by making changes to the space in the classroom. The team took a lot of things into consideration, which I loved...they talked to the teacher, the kids, a variety of adults with different backgrounds and together they decided what should stay and what needed to change. The team focused on collaboration and teacher mobility within the space. I love how all the different points of view and skill came together to create the learning space.

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This part of transforming the classroom was to eliminate clutter, by finding the ways to make the classroom most efficient. I like that the professionals actually continued to consult with the teacher throughout the process. Implementation includes acquiring the supplies needed (free or cost) and beginning the transformation with the manual labour part of it... cleaning, painting, construction.  I am currently doing a purge of my classroom resources in my garage, so I could completely relate to the teacher's comment about the classroom throwing up!  I guess I need to go back through my stuff though because I kept stuff that I hadn't used in the last year.  Ugh!

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Taking everything out of the classroom and putting on the floor and having Steve decide what he has used in the last year and what he hasn't served to declutter the classroom. The design team created a space focusing on collaboration and enabling the teacher to move around the classroom more freely. They have also repainted the classroom and got lots of people in to help with that. It feels like everyone has a stake in this classroom. Also they have included whiteboards that the children can use to write ideas on to aid their collaboration and ownership of the space.

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Once everything unnecessary was removed, the team could work from scratch. They rebuilt more functional wall space and through careful furniture placement, they opened up the room creating a learning space that appears to be more practical and useful than the previous design. I love what can happen through determination and community support!

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I was impressed by the speedy teamwork in the video! They took out all of the furniture and clutter quickly, applied paint to add color, added whiteboard walls (!), and tweaked the furniture to be more flexible.  I'm excited to see the final product, as I anticipate it being much more exciting and appropriate for supporting student collaboration, teacher feedback, and the classroom community!

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The designers start by clearing out the room, including all of the supplies, so that there was room for the transformation.  Their design reflected what they learned by observing the class, and gathering information from the teacher and the students.   Once the team emptied the classroom, they painted the surfaces, adding color, built new cabinets, and installed new white boards.  Then they moved furniture back in, but I noticed that some of it was now rolling!

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The designers became observers and really watched how the students and the teacher moved around the classroom. They then asked the teacher how he used the space and together during the solution session came up with some ideas and a plan of action. The walls were cleared off and the teacher got rid of materials he hadn't used in a year. They really focused on making the classroom a space for the student to learn and become active learners in. The classroom has much more movement space now and is so much brighter. The new classroom really will allow students to work to their highest potential, while having the ability to move around and for the teacher to move around more as well.

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They asked the teacher how he uses the space and came up with ideas on how to make it work. They identified what was important and focused on that. The then emptied the space and started with a clean slate.

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They watched how the teacher used the space before diving in. This led to a very personalized and specific plan of action. I love how the teacher some how got the school board's approval to change the classroom. This really shows that the school board has trust in teachers and their expertise.

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Very thoughtful and planned renovation was done for the given room. The walls were cleared off unnecessary material, the walls were painted with brighter color. This more light in the room. The teach'er's desk was given that glass top with a white background making it reusable white board. The students desks were rearranged to create more movement space.

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After a thoughtful planning stage the group began to reorganize the room by removing cleaning the actual space as well as the items that were stored in the space. Upon seeing the room for the first time I felt it was cluttered and had wasted space on the perimeter of the room. The team made good use of the walls of the classroom the bright color and de-cluttering of space gave the students a clean palette to work with.

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The input gathered from so many different people really was incredible. They all focused on creating a space that was easy to move about it and had several places to be productive. Taking everything out of the classroom is a great way to help focus on what is truly necessary and put only those materials back into the classroom. The color they used help to give the room a cohesive, purposeful feel. I am curious to see how it will look and feel with the students present and working  in the space.

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There was an emphasis on de cluttering and mobility. Wheels put on desks and everything taken off the walls. Really making the outside walls usable space. Brighter colors were used as well as modifying the storage space. My favorite part is the front wall where they got rid of the chalkboard and made more space to see elmo

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In this implementation stage I noticed that they first cleared the room--which is a great idea! Then had him sort his materials into trash or keep piles! How many of us need to do that?! lol They used paint to freshen the space up, created work stations with dry erase boards for student group use. I had imagined a different design for the desks, but they seem to work better in the space than before. All in all, very cool. As I watched the video I could see some of those ideas happening in my room!

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This video is a great example of transforming a space to make it flexible and workable for the students. Many teachers I know have a reputation for collector things and cluttering up their space. I like how fresh paint and mindset can change the way a classroom operates to enhance the learning experience of the student. I particulary like the input from the students and how they help to be apart of the transformation. If students have ownership of what they have created they would be more likeley to respect the environement and become an active learner. This would help them to be more passionate about learning and not just be a school to get stuck in the cycle of the system.

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How unbelievably lucky this teacher is to have had this experience. Wow! What a transformation! With  a new coat of paint to invigorate the room and a decluttering session with a profession, his space is completely workable now. I am interested to see how the space looks when the 36 students enter. I am sure they will fill it in a bit. I love the advice to get rid of anything that you haven’t used or hasn’t been useful in a year’s time. I need a session like that. Again, I am curious to see the flow of the room when the kids are there and he’s teaching a lesson or kids are having a work session. It will make for an interesting comparison.

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I liked the idea of asking yourself if something has been used in the last year. I shudder to think how many things I have that wouldn't pass that test. The wheels will help, but I think those desks have to go. The primary design consideration for that poor fellow is 36 kids. Still, he did improve the flow of the space, which was the No. 1 teaching problem from my observation point.

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The space is brightened up with a new coat of paint and some custom work spaces to maximize the space.  I really like the focus on use of bright colors and transforming the furniture to be more flexible.  I'm excited to see the overall reveal, but it was clear during implementation that the designers kept the goal of collaboration in mind as they prepared large white board areas in which the students could work.  I'm also really inspired and encouraged to see the adjustments they made to existing furniture and space as I feel that that is usually the largest constraint for educators who want to transform their learning spaces.

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The space definitely needed a fresh coat of paint and the shelving moved around and added. I love the wheels added to the tables....that is something that a few of our classrooms have and I love it. I would have got rid of the chalkboard for the whiteboard as well...it is much easier to use and clean.
Moving everything out of the room and tossing what you haven't used in a year is also a smart move.

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I love that they asked students, teachers, and people in the community for their input. It truly was a collaborative experience. After they received feedback, they cleared the space and sketched out ideas. They also worked with the teacher to toss things that he hadn't used in a year. They prioritized what was most important in the new space so that they could focus on making the space work. I love the wheels on the tables, the lack of clutter, and using the cabinets for learning. There is not a space that is not being used.

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During the implementation stage they started by brainstorming what was they wanted out the of the classroom and how to make that the most effective use of the space. They also decided what aspects of the learning environment from the past they were going to want to use in the future of the classroom. The space was transformed by first creating studio situations to create peer to peer learning and allowing more flexibility throughout the classroom for the students and the teacher. They also created a space that required very little from the teacher and students once they return to the classroom.

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The space was transformed by starting as much as possible with a blank canvas. Everything was removed. The teacher then went through every single item and questioned its value. This was a smart move on the designers' part because once all the miscellaneous junk is out the room, putting it back in is more significant than keeping it out. The designers then questioned how the look and layout of the space could enhance teaching and learning and made all their decisions from that starting point

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During this stage, the team emptied the classroom completely so they had a bare canvas. Next, the team held brainstorming sessions to get many different ideas about what could be done. Steven had a chance to look at these ideas and give input as to what he thought would work best. Finally there were many volunteers who helped implement their ideas. I loved the introduction of color and the tables/desks on wheels. The corner stations were also a great way to allow for small groups to work together, but still allow for the students to feel like they were part of the whole class.

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They added white board to make collaboration more dynamic for the students rather than always staying at their group tables. They can use the corner space to do group brainstorming, and the best part is the white board is big enough to make it visible to the teacher so he can see their process and monitor their progress. The storage idea was interesting, in the sense that teachers do hoard A LOT. Personally, I have everything digital and I don't keep student work. But I know it can be tempting and can over-clutter a classroom or teacher's desk. The 1 year rule is a great idea!

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I like how their first step was to take everything out and have the teacher evaluate what was to go back in through the basic guideline of "have you used it in the last year?" If the answer was no, the item did not come back into the room. I find teachers can be  hoarders because you never know when you might want to use or need something again, but this tends to pile up over time and cause a lot of excess clutter. The paint looks like it will brighten the space. Having the neutral walls and then the colours on the cupboards will make the space feel bigger and brighter.  It was nice to see how many people were involved. It was really great that they asked the students for their input. I find I think about my students when I'm setting up my classroom, but I don't ask them if my decisions help their learning or if there are changes they would like to see. That is something I will try to incorporate in the future.

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I like how they took EVERYTHING out of the room and you had to look and think about what you wanted to put back in. I know I sometimes open a file drawer or a cabinet and see stuff I haven't used in a few years and instead of purging it, I just shut the door again. I also like how they had so many people involved in the solution session because it takes a village sometimes to create change and figure out the correct solution. I liked how the students and community were involved because it will give them ownership which could promote more learning.

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I loved watching the transformation of the space take shape. I think that all too often we get content with the space that we have to use and don’t stop to reevaluate the potential of the space from time to time. I like the idea of the solution session because it gives the teacher outside perspectives that help to open his eyes to new possibilities. The transformation gave the teacher more flow and access within the classroom. It provided more useable space for small group work and it eliminated the clutter and distractions getting in the way of learning.

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It seems to me that the lesson to take away from this space transformation is planning. The designers started with a blank slate, with no preconceived ideas. Instead they gathered information from observing and asking others, explored solutions, and made choices and decisions. In the same way, the space was emptied to offer a blank slate, and choices and decisions were made for what to return to the classroom. A great deal of student and
community support made this project happen.

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It was quite a huge undertaking to completely take a part a room and then fix it over the weekend with extra time used for brainstorming ideas. The room is transformed by completely removing all signs from walls, taking all furniture out of the room, taking down some of the cabinets. The fact that it was a team effort definitely helped. It was not just one teacher working, but numerous people working together to make the work happen. They even had volunteers that offered helpful material in the process as well. The new paint, new storage space, new work areas, and mobile desks, will definitely help keeping the room more mobile for the class.

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The team of people really helped and I think being able to do this in a weekend in super important because f this was a little by little transformation it might loose steam. The purge that went of stuff is soooo important. Too many of us have too much useless stuff. I recently took over for a woman who had been in her job for 12 years and she took a few boxes of things that she deemed hers but left me with 10 floor to ceiling shelves that were full of stuff. With the help of four other people we boxed things up and carted away resources that were amazingly out of date. In place of all that stuff we now have a great round table and chairs where we can collaborate and be creative. We have to remember this space belongs to the kids as much as it does to us!

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A huge thing that they did was declutter the space.  Teachers use their classrooms and dumping areas for all the stuff they accumulated over the years.  It creates a classroom that is overstimulating for students.  The team also worked with color to transform and brighten up the classroom.  Finally they added moveable desks so that students could quickly and easily transform the learning space.

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There were a lot of helpers involved in the space transformation. First the room had to be emptied and cleaned. Next volunteers helped with painting, purging and organizing. A crew of builders worked to build and install new fixtures. The group worked at bringing in personality and functionality of the space. They had a plan and within a relatively short period of time thanks to all the helpers they were able to execute most of their design concepts. They didn't finish everything, but some of the work could be finished later by the students and teacher.

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Emptying out Steven's classroom was the first step, followed by determining what to keep or toss. Then they began to bring in color, new storage spaces and the whole team worked together for several hours to transform the space. The designers, builders, the teacher and even some students took part in the process. Tables were brought back in on wheels in order for there to be more flexible grouping and the perimeter of the classroom was being put to use for learning spaces. Overall, there was a transformation of the space to make it more useful and to increase flow within the room.

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During the implementation stage, the space was transformed through a group effort involving designers, planners, the teacher, and volunteer helpers. It was a process of really evaluating what was important both in terms of layout, but also in what the teacher needed to keep/toss out; and what resources he needed to impact the learning of his students. They changed seating, added color and interest to the room, and designed way for student to collaborate and learn together.

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The space is immediately transformed just by removing everything from the room. By taking out the "stuff," I feel that one can better imagine the possibilities. As teachers, we often put things away until we are able to deal with it. But often, that time never comes. So this was an opportunity for the teacher to decide what was really needed in his room. A fresh coat of paint and removing the shelf doors, really opened up the space allowing it to become fresh and new. Even before we see the final result, you can tell that the space is changing.

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As I read over the posts of colleagues I observed patterns of purging, emptying out, student voice, collaboration, and placing student achievement as the ultimately priority in creating this new space. I believe there has been a cultural shift towards individualism reinforcing the ideas of "doing it alone". This was a great example combatting this cultural paradigm when all these individuals came together to produce something much powerful than going at it alone.

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The space transformation was done with a lot of help and involved the students, which gave the students value and ownership. I'm jealous! They had a design team, which is nice. The  design allowed a sense of mobility in the classroom for all. Placing the teacher in middle gave me a sense of equality in relation to space. The pile of papers and clutter were gone, which opened up a little more space. Clutter is a norm for me, so it was an eye opening moment for me. The transformation was one geared with the learner perspective in mind.

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Space is not implemented as much as space is created. As a travel fanatic, packing only the essentials has become a habit in my daily life. Living in a rented apartment means that I only fill up with possessions I absolutely need (no TV and hot water for 4 years and counting), and once in a while I find myself tossing away things I have no need for. This habit has carried over into the classroom, where I spend a fair bit of time tossing away things which start to clutter up - be it stationery, designs or leftover paper.

Space is a premium, and only when we see it do we appreciate the value of the extra real estate. Starting with nothing and adding back what we absolutely cannot live without, should be the guiding rule in redesigning a classroom.

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I think the most important part of the implementation stage was to think critically about the learning and teaching goals and consider what was getting in the way of those goals being
met. Getting clear about those goals ultimately set the stage for what came next - the clearing out of whatever was keeping those goals from being met. Having multiple perspectives explore solutions to those obstacles really enhanced the process, since creativity is about eliciting multiple perspectives and different ways of solving problems. Through that discussion, a re-creation of the space could be imagined, ultimately facilitating the successful redesign of the space.

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I think the best way for a teacher to see their room differently is to empty it out. It allows you to see the space more objectively. It is also helpful for us to see all our stuff on the hallway and see how much we can have so we can pair it down. The redesign seems more possible without all the stuff in the way. FInally, it allows you to decide on a theme and color scheme without just putting everything you have up on a wall some where. The room should look organized and inviting, not over-decorated.

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Read from the Book

IntroductionIn this book, I have summed up how to put your space in order in a way that will change your life forever. Impossible? A common response and not surprising, considering that almost everyone has experienced a rebound effect at least once, if not multiple times, after tidying. Have you ever tidied madly, only to find that all too soon your home or workspace is cluttered again? If so, let me share with you the secret of success. Start by discarding. Then organize your space, thoroughly, completely, in one go. If you adopt this approach-the KonMari Method-you'll never revert to clutter again. Although this approach contradicts conventional wisdom, everyone who completes my private course has successfully kept their house in order-with unexpected results. Putting their house in order positively affects all other aspects of their lives, including work and family. Having devoted more than 80 percent of my life to this subject, I know that tidying can transform your life. Does it still sound too good to be true? If your idea of tidying is getting rid of one unnecessary item a day or cleaning up your room a little at a time, then you are right. It won't have much effect on your life. If you change your approach, however, tidying can have an immeasurable impact. In fact, that is what it means to put your house in order. I started reading home and lifestyle magazines when I was five, and it was this that inspired me, from the age of fifteen, to undertake a serious study of tidying that led to my development of the KonMari Method (based on a combination of my first and last names). I am now a consultant and spend most of my days visiting homes and offices, giving hands-on advice to people who find it difficult to tidy, who tidy but suffer rebounds, or who want to tidy but don't know where to start. The number of things my clients have discarded, from clothes and undergarments to photos, pens, magazine clippings, and makeup samples, easily exceeds a million items. This is no exaggeration. I have assisted individual clients who have thrown out two hundred 45-liter garbage bags in one go. From my exploration of the art of organizing and my experience helping messy people become tidy, there is one thing I can say with confidence: A dramatic reorganization of the home causes correspondingly dramatic changes in lifestyle and perspective. It is life transforming. I mean it. Here are just a few of the testimonies I receive on a daily basis from former clients. After your course, I quit my job and launched my own business doing something I had dreamed of doing ever since I was a child.Your course taught me to see what I really need and what I don't. So I got a divorce. Now I feel much happier.Someone I have been wanting to get in touch with recently contacted me.I'm delighted to report that since cleaning up my apartment, I've been able to really increase my sales.My husband and I are getting along much better. I'm amazed to find that just throwing things away has changed me so much. I finally succeeded in losing ten pounds. My clients always sound so happy, and the results show that tidying has changed their way of thinking and their approach to life. In fact, it has changed their future. Why? This question is addressed in more detail throughout the book, but basically, when you put your house in order, you put your affairs and your past in order, too. As a result, you can see quite clearly what you need in life and what you don't, and what you should and shouldn't do. I currently offer a course for clients in their homes and for company owners in their offices. These are all private, one-on-one consultations, but I have yet to run out of clients. There is currently a three-month waiting list, and I receive inquiries daily from people who have been introduced by a former client or who have heard about the course from someone else. I travel from one end of Japan to the other and sometimes even overseas. Tickets for one of my public talks for stay-at-home parents sold out overnight. There was a waiting list not only for cancellations but also for the waiting list. Yet my repeater rate is zero. From a business perspective, this would appear to be a fatal flaw. But what if my lack of repeaters was actually the secret to the popularity of my approach? As I said at the beginning, people who use the KonMari Method never revert to clutter again. Because they can keep their space in order, they don't need to come back for more lessons. I occasionally check in with graduates of my courses to see how they are doing. In almost every case, not only is their home or office still in order but they are continuing to improve their space. It is evident from the photographs they send that they have even fewer belongings than when they finished the course, and have acquired new curtains and furnishings. They are surrounded only by the things they love. Why does my course transform people? Because my approach is not simply a technique. The act of tidying is a series of simple actions in which objects are moved from one place to another. It involves putting things away where they belong. This seems so simple that even a six-year-old should be able to do it. Yet most people can't. A short time after tidying, their space is a disorganized mess. The cause is not lack of skills but rather lack of awareness and the inability to make tidying a regular habit. In other words, the root of the problem lies in the mind. Success is 90 percent dependent on our mind-set. Excluding the fortunate few to whom organizing comes naturally, if we do not address this aspect, rebound is inevitable no matter how much is discarded or how cleverly things are organized. So how can you acquire the right kind of mind-set? There is just one way, and, paradoxically, it is by acquiring the right technique. Remember: the KonMari Method I describe in this book is not a mere set of rules on how to sort, organize, and put things away. It is a guide to acquiring the right mind-set for creating order and becoming a tidy person. Of course, I can't claim that all my students have perfected the art of tidying. Unfortunately, some had to stop for one reason or another before completing the course. And some quit because they expected me to do the work for them. As an organizing fanatic and professional, I can tell you right now that no matter how hard I try to organize another's space, no matter how perfect a storage system I devise, I can never put someone else's house in order in the true sense of the term. Why? Because a person's awareness and perspective on his or her own lifestyle are far more important than any skill at sorting, storing, or whatever. Order is dependent on the extremely personal values of what a person wants to live with. Most people would prefer to live in a clean and tidy space. Anyone who has managed to tidy even once will have wished to keep it that way. But many don't believe it's possible. They try out various approaches to tidying only to find that things soon return to "normal." I am absolutely convinced, however, that everyone can keep his or her space in order. To do that, it is essential to thoroughly reassess your habits and assumptions about tidying. That may sound like far too much work, but don't worry. By the time you finish reading this book, you will be ready and willing. People often tell me, "I'm disorganized by nature," "I can't do it," or "I don't have time"; but being messy is not hereditary nor is it related to lack of time. It has far more to do with the accumulation of mistaken notions about tidying, such as "it's best to tackle one room at a time" or "it's better to do a little each day" or "storage should follow the flow plan of the house." In Japan, people believe that things like cleaning your room and keeping your bathroom spick-and-span bring good luck, but if your house is cluttered, the effect of polishing the toilet bowl is going to be limited. The same is true for the practice of feng shui. It is only when you put your house in order that your furniture and decorations come to life. When you've finished putting your house in order, your life will change dramatically. Once you have experienced what it's like to have a truly ordered house, you'll feel your whole world brighten. Never again will you revert to clutter. This is what I call the magic of tidying. And the effects are stupendous. Not only will you never be messy again, but you'll also get a new start on life. This is the magic I want to share with as many people as possible.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why can't I keep my house in order?
You can't tidy if you've never learned how
A tidying marathon doesn't cause rebound
Tidy a little a day and you'll be tidying forever
Why you should aim for perfection
The moment you start you reset your life
Storage experts are hoarders
Sort by category, not by location
Don't change the method to suit your personality
Make tidying a special event, not a daily chore
Finish discarding first
Start by discarding, all at once, intensely
and completely
Before you start, visualize your destination
Selection criterion: does it spark joy?
One category at a time
Starting with mementos spells certain failure
Don't let your family see
If you're mad at your family, your room may be the cause
What you don't need, your family doesn't either
Tidying is a dialogue with one's self
What to do when you can't throw something away
Tidying by category works like magic
Tidying order: follow the correct order of categories
Clothing: place every item of clothing in the house on the floor
Loungewear: downgrading to "loungewear" is taboo
Clothing storage: fold it right and solve your storage problems
How to fold: the best way to fold for
perfect appearance
Arranging clothes: the secret to energizing your closet
Storing socks: treat your socks and stockings
with respect
Seasonal clothes: eliminate the need to store off-season clothes
Storing books: put all your books on the floor
Unread books: "sometime" means "never"
Books to keep: those that belong in the hall of fame
Sorting papers: rule of thumb-discard everything
All about papers: how to organize troublesome papers
Komono (miscellaneous items): keep things because you love them-not "just because"
Common types of komono: disposables
Small change: make "into my wallet" your motto
Sentimental items: your parents' home is not a haven for mementos
Photos: cherish who you are now
Astounding stockpiles I have seen
Reduce until you reach the point where
something clicks
Follow your intuition and all will be well
Storing your things to make your life shine
Designate a place for each thing
Discard first, store later
Storage: pursue ultimate simplicity
Don't scatter storage spaces
Forget about "flow planning" and "frequency of use"
Never pile things: vertical storage is the key
No need for commercial storage items
The best way to store bags is in another bag
Empty your bag every day
Items that usurp floor space belong in the closet
Keep things out of the bath and the kitchen sink
Make the top shelf of the bookcase your personal shrine
Decorate your closet with your secret delights
Unpack and de-tag new clothes immediately
Don't underestimate the "noise" of written information
Appreciate your possessions and gain strong allies
The magic of tidying dramatically transforms your life
Put your house in order and discover what you really want to do
The magic effect of tidying
Gaining confidence in life through the magic of tidying
An attachment to the past or anxiety about the future
Learning that you can do without
Do you greet your house?
Your possessions want to help you
Your living space affects your body
Is it true that tidying increases good fortune?
How to identify what is truly precious
Being surrounded by things that spark joy makes
you happy
Your real life begins after putting your house in order

Afterword
About the author
Index

Editorial Reviews

#1 New York Times Best SellerAmazon's Best Book of 2014 in Crafts, Home & Garden"Ms. Kondo delivers her tidy manifesto like a kind of Zen nanny, both hortatory and animistic." -- The New York Times". . . a literal how-to-heave-ho, and I recommend it for anyone who struggles with the material excess of living in a privileged society. (Thanks to Ms. Kondo, I kiss my old socks goodbye.) ... To show you how serious my respect for Ms. Kondo is: if I ever get a tattoo, it will say, Spark Joy!" -- Jamie Lee Curtis, TIME "This book lives up to its title: it will change your life." -- B.J. Novak, People"This book is a cult. A totally reasonable, scary cult that works, doesn't kill people (a bonus), but does drastically change your life. In this case - for the better." -- Buzzfeed"The most organized woman in the world." -- PureWow". . . the Japanese expert's ode to decluttering is simple and easy to follow." -- Vogue.com". . . her voice . . . is by turns stern and enchanted, like a fairy godmother for socks." -- The Wall Street Journal"Reading it, you glimpse a glittering mental freedom from the unread/uncrafted/unworn, buyer's remorse, the nervous eyeing of real estate listings. Life's overwhelm, conquered." -- The Atlantic "All hail the new decluttering queen Marie Kondo, whose mess-busting bestseller has prompted a craze for tidying in homes across the world . . . one proper clear out is all you need for the rest of your life." -- Good Housekeeping (UK)"How could this pocket-sized book, which has already sold over 2 million copies and sits firmly atop the New York Times Best Seller list, make such a big promise? Here's the short answer: Because it's legit. . . . Kondo's method really can change your life - if you let it." -- TODAY.com "Kondo challenges you to ask yourself whether each object you have is achieving a purpose. Is it propelling you forward or holding you in the past?" -- USA Today". . . a brief and bracing practical guide to tidying up your home." -- Financial Times"[It is] enough to salute Kondo for her recognition of something quietly profound: that mess is often about unhappiness, and that the right kind of tidying can be a kind of psychotherapy for the home as well as for the people in it . . . Its strength is its simplicity." -- The London Times

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the life-changing magic of tidying up: the japanese art of decluttering and organizing

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The Life-changing Magic Of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art Of Decluttering And Organizing

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This #1 New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?

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I really was excited to see how this all panned out. I see the connection to how "decluttering" and redesigning our own living spaces has become something we see every day on TV, in magazines and online (pinterest!) so it makes sense to apply it to a classroom. I keep thinking about the popularity of this book when it came out https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/9781607747307-item.html?mkwid=sZqQV5rz0_dc&pcrid=79790336342&pkw=&pmt=&s_campaign=goo-Shopping_Books&gclid=Cj0KEQjw8pC9BRCqrq37zZil4a0BEiQAZO_zrA3qyeBFDxC8uv__hjJpnrji-8mSaamHznAY35K1u5caAsP38P8HAQ I think there is a TV show in here somewhere! HGTV should get on this!

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The really cool part of this whole process was how it took a group of people to come to a consensus on how to improve the teacher's classroom space. It really emphasized how when a teacher acts alone, they are missing out on the possibilities. It was courageous of this teacher to invite others into his classroom to transform things. In addition, I imagine emptying it out and going through and getting rid of unneeded materials was cathartic. Ultimately it looks as if he was able to create a classroom he could make the most of with the whole community being involved in its transformation.

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Oh how I love redesigning learning spaces!  I've taught in 2 different classrooms and am on my 4th office space as an instructional coach.  The ideas they shared in the video resonates with the process I go through each time I move my space.  It is SO easy to keep years and years of materials- which pile up.  It is necessary to go through and keep the essential items to help create the space for yourself and students!

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Like everyone else mentioned, the most striking part was the emptying of the room.  The part that hit me in the gut was the keep or toss.  Teachers have such a hard time getting rid of things that "might" be useful!  I really like the use of bright colors to liven up the space too.  Wish I didn't hate painting so much! :)

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The room was emptied out and cleaned. They add white boards for collaboration. I like they they involve kids and adult volunteers. They added wheels to the desks and cleared out clutter (e.g. things the teacher hasn't used in at least a year). It looks like it will make a huge difference.

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The entire classroom was emptied out and cleaned prior to the implementation. The teacher purged his collected materials to eliminate the clutter. The biggest changes I noticed were the new and colorful paint along the walls as well as wheels on the bulky tables to allow for more movement.

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I like how the teacher got rid of material that he has not used in a year. We, as teachers tend to hold onto a few things and to go through and empty out in order to put it back in gave the teacher time to see what is unnecessary. Everything was out then painted, construction, and finally filled back in with what was needed.

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The room was emptied out and the teacher got rid of things that he hasn't used in a year or more. Color was then added to the room. New counters were added and a larger whiteboard space was created, both in the front and in other parts of the room. Then the tables were pushed together to create larger groups, which improved the flow in the room.

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The classroom is emptied out. Then a plan was discussed and created. Next the teacher did some organizing, he was asked to get rid of anything he hasn’t used in the last year. Then they added color to the walls and shelves, added lots of areas with white boards and built extra places to sit and meet along the walls.

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The entire classroom was emptied out and placed in another room where the teacher could sort through everything. Everything was taken off the walls, and technology was taken out of the room. They put fresh coats of paint on all the walls and cabinets using bright colors. New counters were also added to allow more working space for students. Also, a new dry erase student center was added.

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The classroom was cleaned out. The teacher tossed everything that was not useful or effective. Fresh paint and bright colors made the space welcoming and provided a blank slate for re-designing the furniture and walls. Construction of counters and other physical changes took place to create the infrastructure of the room. The walls became learning spaces, too. Cool!

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Starting fresh from scratch with an empty classroom was key. Also playing keep or toss allowed them to help with storage before it even came back into the classroom. And we all know that teachers are border line hoarders anyways. I loved the dry erase walls and the dry erase teacher station.

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During the implementation stage the classroom is emptied of everything.  The team then painted and started working on the wall space.  She also worked with the teacher to look at what materials he has and "declutters" his resources.  The team (including students) spends the final day on painting, adding storage and setting up the learning spaces.

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The space is completely emptied and cleaned.  The teacher was advised to toss anything that hadn't been used in a year. The space was painted to add color.  "Studio situations" were added in corners to give student teams a place to go and whiteboard space to use.

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The space is emptied.
Wall space is identified for display and collaboration (whiteboard/chalkboard).
Seating/working areas are mapped out and built.
Color is added to walls and furniture.
Unnecessary materials are disposed of.
A cohesive design and decoration starts to take shape.

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The space is striped down to its bear bones. The team cleared everything out and then decluttered the “stuff” that the teacher had. Then, they gave everything a fresh coat of paint to have a clean slate. The design team started with specific spaces that had specific purposes like the work spaces in the back corner of the room. Next, volunteers helped construct the bigger items like work ledges and new storage in the classroom. The final steps are to be done later but the team gave the teacher a usable classroom by the end. There was more space around students desks for maneuverability, their desks went onto casters for easy transformation, and the space was less cluttered with stuff.

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The first step in transforming the classroom was to remove everything and thoroughly clean and paint it. Then the team created needed storage space along the walls to open up the middle of the room. Students were able to add bright colors to the new shelves and cubbies, which brightened up the room. The team also utilized wall space for whiteboards where groups of students could move to and work away from their desks adding to the flexibility of the lessons. The teacher’s workspace was reduced to a small area for the Elmo camera. This provided for more room between the groups of tables, which allowed the teacher and students to move more freely around the room and the groups.  The room looked more cheerful, less cluttered and allowed for more flow of movement.

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Jill Kaufman -- Group 1    The bulk of the transformation seemed to take place along the perimeter of the classroom. The design team, which included many volunteers, created a number of studio areas where students could meet away from their desk groups, thereby easing up some of the traffic jams that can happen in the central part of the room.  By taking away some of the cabinet doors, open storage was created.  The teacher's "Elmo" space was freed up allowing him a bigger area to work.  Large white boards were also added to the wall and a lot of cleaning was done to free up space for other things like the kids' backpacks.  

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Jill Kaufman -- Group 1    The bulk of the transformation seemed to take place along the perimeter of the classroom. The design team, which included many volunteers, created a number of studio areas where students could meet away from their desk groups, thereby easing up some of the traffic jams that can happen in the central part of the room.  By taking away some of the cabinet doors, open storage was created.  The teacher's "Elmo" space was freed up allowing him a bigger area to work.  Large white boards were also added to the wall and a lot of cleaning was done to free up space for other things like the kids' backpacks.  

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The space is transformed in various stages. The first stage was to clear the room out and "purge" what was not needed (which can be hard for teachers!). After, when the vision was established, the building could begin. The plan was to create work space for the students and better accessibility for the teacher to move around and popped into groups while they work. The colorful paint on the walls and cabinets made the space more open for creativity and collaboration. Also, it will be nice that the teacher and students will need to finish some of the projects together. This will help the students feel connected to the classroom and the new design!

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It was fun seeing the vision come to life. First, everything was pulled out of cupboards and closets and non-essential items were discarded. Next, new paint colors brought the space to life. The desks were rearranged which created a better flow and added more space for students. The back wall became a writable surface which added another place for students to work. The computers were set up at a counter where students could use them standing up. They utilized the projector by making a really tall whiteboard which enabled the teacher to be more productive. And, they create a teacher's desk that had a more productive work surface. They also moved his desk so he was closer to the students. And finally, they left a few projects for the students to complete which added to student agency.

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I am pretty jealous of how they had professionals and architects help with this effort and with how quickly they moved.  This could be a new show the way they have the remodeling of houses shows.  The took all items out of the class.  Gave the classroom a new paint job of bright white to whiten it.  The opened the cabinets and made them colorful. They got rid of the clutter and reconfigurated the classroom

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The perimeter of the room was put to better use. Many of the things were taken down off the walls and the walls were painted at "quieter" color, while accents were added in bright, attractive colors. There were lots of participants and volunteers and they were able to re-use materials and get donations. They created several work spaces and were able to do all of this and allow for more space to walk around between the tables.

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During the implementation stage they had a number of volunteers and supplied volunteered to transform the pace over a weekend. They changed the space by adding colour to the cubby’s. Making the room lighter by removing the clutter and painting the walls white. They included studio stations along the back wall that includes: a counter, monitors and white boards for students to collaborate and share ideas or brainstorm. The tables were grouped differently, groups of 2 and 4 and wheels were added. The perimeter of the room was more organized and had more space. The room was easier to walk around. The teacher's station was in the middle of the room and every tool was there for easy accessibility.

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The space has changed by adding "studio areas". In these areas students can meet in a group and collaborate with a white board space. The tables have had wheels added to them for mobility and ease of collaboration. The walls and cubbies have been brightened up with colorful paint. There are more spaces to use whiteboards and more whiteboards have been added. During the implementation stage there are many volunteers working on a plan to improve the space.