A Stylish and Organized Closet: Marie Kondo Inspired

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Japanese folding style, specifically from Marie Kondo. In her book Spark Joy, Marie Kondo shares the secret to folding clothes: never overlook or ignore it. Clothes are simply rectangular pieces of fabric patched together. Any item can be folded into a rectangle, including pants, underwear, and socks.

This Japanese expert encourages treating folding as an art form, folding clothes into neat, self-standing rectangles (imagine them as files in a row). Her space-saving techniques are popular because they work simply. Once you’re done, all your favorite clothes and items will be in view. A tidy space makes life easier, and surrounding yourself with things you love, Marie promises, will turn your home into your personal paradise.

Check out Calibee’s video and article to learn Marie Kondo’s tips for organizing your wardrobe!

1. How to Fold T-Shirts

Step 1: Lay the shirt flat with the front facing down if it has images or logos on the chest.

Step 2: Fold one side of the shirt toward the center, then fold the sleeve back. Repeat on the other side to form a rectangle.

Step 3: Fold the top of the shirt down toward the bottom, leaving about a 5 cm gap at the bottom.

Step 4: Fold it in half again. Store the shirt upright. If it stands up, you’ve succeeded.

Another Marie Kondo folding rule is to gently smooth your hand over the shirt after each fold before moving to the next step. This helps the shirt, no matter the style, retain its shape longer. It also reinforces her strategy’s idea: folding clothes properly reduces stress on the fabric and maximizes storage space.

This folding method can also be applied to long-sleeve shirts with a small adjustment. After folding the sleeves back in Steps 2 and 3, fold the sleeves down along the body of the shirt before continuing. The result will be a neatly folded shirt. If it leans or falls over, adjust it (the rectangle may be too wide or the height of the folds too low or high). Experiment until the shirt can stand upright, an achievement Kondo calls the “golden point of folding.”

2. How to Fold Pants

The KonMari folding principle for long pants is to fold them neatly and store them in a drawer, while trousers or pants with creases should be hung up.

Step 1: Lay the jeans flat.

Step 2: Fold the pants widthwise.

Step 3: Fold the crotch area inward.

Step 4: Fold the pants in half again, leaving a gap at the waistband.

Step 5: Divide the pants into 3 sections and fold so they can stand up when placed upright.

Similarly for shorts, fold the legs in half, then fold the crotch area inward and fold the shorts in half. For thicker shorts, just fold one leg over the other and then fold in half.

3. How to Fold Socks

Step 1: Stack two socks on top of each other.

Step 2: Fold in half twice.

Step 3: Store the folded socks upright.

Knee-high and over-the-knee socks should be folded similarly, folding from four to six times, depending on their length. Adjust the number of folds to achieve the right height for your drawer.

4. How to Fold Underwear

When folding underwear, which is often made from lightweight, thin material, Marie Kondo’s method focuses on folding them as small as possible. The bottom part is the most sensitive and should be folded inward, while decorative details such as those in the waistband should be visible.

Step 1: Lay the underwear flat on a surface.

Step 2: Fold it lengthwise.

Step 3: Fold both sides inward and roll up.

(This process can be applied to bikini, thong, and boyshorts.)

Folding underwear not only improves aesthetics but also protects these items from bacteria and dust that are not visible to the naked eye.