It's time to leave Marie Kondo

Media have called me “Australia’s Marie Kondo”. So why is it, that after almost 10 years I am handing in my official KonMari Method badge?

Ultimately it's the next step in my war against the Joy of Throwing Away. Keep reading to understand why.

It has been almost 10 years since I met Marie Kondo. I was fortunate to be part of her first master’s program and the first Australian to train under the KonMari method. When I read "The Life-changing magic of  tidying up," I, like many others, was captivated. I love her simple philosophy, the Japanese bento box organising style, and most importantly, the focus on joy. I immersed myself in her straightforward yet dedicated process for a complete home overhaul. I turned my house upside down and talked to everyone about it; I was a true believer—a genuine Marie Kondo purist. Right down to religiously folding - not balling - my socks.

In the beginning, it was all about joy.

For years, I helped people tidy up their spaces—revamping living rooms, clearing out closets, and transforming storage rooms back into guest bedrooms. My clients learned to let go of anything that didn't serve them, making room for objects, people, and hobbies that brought joy into their lives. I absolutely loved witnessing these transformations, and I still do. Experiencing firsthand the joy that comes from owning less is incredibly rewarding. The positive emotional responses from my clients and their families during these home transformations motivated me to grow Home Sanctuary. 

But I couldn't ignore the waste.

Weekend after weekend, I loaded my car with endless bags and boxes of discarded items from my clients—mountains of things shipped off to op shops and other charities. The truth is, I was taking my clients' waste and passing it on for someone else to manage.



6,000 kg of clothes goes into landfill every 10mins in Australia - War on Waste, ABC

Read "Recycling Your Old Clothes In Australia – H&M vs Manrags, what you need to know"

My Realisation About Op Shops

Op shops are undervalued resources in our community. They help keep many items out of landfills by extending their lifespan. However, op shops also create a false sense of hope—that someone else will want the things we no longer need. The saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" is popular, but it often doesn’t hold true. Unfortunately, a significant portion of what we donate ends up in landfills, and this uncomfortable reality weighed heavily on me.



The Tipping Point - "Joy Of Throwing Away”

By 2019, Marie Kondo was gaining widespread recognition through her Netflix show, quickly becoming a household name. The KonMari Method®, which encourages discarding items that don’t "spark joy," started to make me uneasy. I realised that this growing decluttering mindset was contributing to waste, and I felt I was part of the problem.

As a result, I began to slow my clients down when it came to their enthusiasm for discarding items. I encouraged them to make more mindful choices to avoid becoming overwhelmed by what I called the "Joy of Throwing Away." A phrase I made for the euphoric feeling that can come from an excessive focus on discarding, rather than appreciating the joys of needing less or the simple act of decluttering.

This common misconstrued interpretation of Kondo's method of decluttering became my nemesis. I would open Instagram to lines of plastic bin bags or cars crammed with donations, boasting the tagline “tidying-up”. It made me sick. So I changed. I began educating myself and my clients about waste—where it goes, how it is processed, and Australia's position on the sustainability scale. Unfortunately, the results were not promising. Australians consume significantly more environmental resources than our fair share. While we enjoy a high standard of living, we are not leveraging our educated workforce to find better ways to live in harmony with the planet.

My next step against joy of throwing away.

Hanging up my official Marie Kondo hat in the next step towards eco-decluttering. A movement to combat the joy of throwing away.

Late last year, I declined the invitation to be listed as a Master KonMari Consultant by KonMari Inc., the now American home organising group. As of 2025, I will no longer be working under the official KonMari Method® banner. I love Tidying Up and am incredibly grateful for everything I have learned from Marie Kondo. I will be forever grateful to have started this journey with her. However, I have now embraced sustainability as a core value and it's time to take the next step.

I will continue to use many principles I have taught over the years, but my focus will now shift to Sustainable Home Consulting. 

What's not changing at home sanctuary?

Australia-wide Sustainable Home and Tidy Consulting 

Our loved First Step | Personal 1:1 offering hasn’t changed. In fact if anything it is getting better the more experience I have with a growing family. Starting your 2025 home goals has never been so easy. 

Our most popular 10 Week Program

I created this program for families and individuals who are dedicated to making long-term, sustainable changes. Our Sanctuary Sessions | Personalised 10-Week Program is here to stay. 

The infamous Home Sanctuary 10 Day Challenge

Let's face it, the #homesanctchallenge is ingrained in our DNA now. We continue to maintain, tidy and refine it. It is not going anywhere! (sign up here)