KonMari Wardrobe Method: Organise Drawers with Vertical Folding

Organising your wardrobe with the Japanese KonMari technique has become popular because it turns chaotic drawers into spaces that are clear, practical and attractive. The approach relies on mindful choosing, vertical folding and storing clothes with consistent order.

Why does the KonMari method help with a wardrobe?

This method changes where you start, because it tells you to organise by category rather than by room. Instead of tidying one drawer in isolation, you gather every item of clothing together so you can see the true volume of what you’ve accumulated.

Marie Kondo is known for the KonMari method, which encourages you to keep only items that can spark joy or genuine satisfaction. Applied to a wardrobe, that principle makes it easier to separate useful, loved and functional pieces from anything that has been forgotten.

The technique took off for the following reasons:

• Category: every item of clothing is assessed at the same time, so excess can’t be hidden.
• Vertical folding: each piece stays visible inside the drawer.
• Visibility: you stop losing T-shirts at the bottom of stacks.
• Satisfaction: the criterion supports keeping only what you actually enjoy wearing.
• Space: drawers are used more efficiently and are simpler to maintain.

How do you choose which pieces should stay?

Start by removing all clothes from the wardrobe, placing them on the bed, and judging each piece one by one. Seeing everything together creates a useful shock: it highlights duplicates, neglected items and impulse buys that take up space without any real use.

Next, hold each item and ask whether it still fits your routine, your body and how you feel when you wear it. The point is not to throw things out because of trends, but to keep clothes that offer comfort, usefulness and satisfaction.

What is the step-by-step for vertical folding?

Vertical folding turns T-shirts, light tops, underwear and gym kit into small rectangles that stand upright. That way, each item faces you in the drawer, and you don’t have to pull apart a stack to find a specific piece.

Vertical folding with a shop-like effect

The item needs to stand up by itself.

When the fold is firm, the clothing sits in the drawer like files in a filing cabinet.

The aim is to see everything from above, without digging through hidden layers.

To fold, smooth the T-shirt flat, bring the sides into the centre, tuck the sleeves in, and create a neat, narrow strip. Then fold it into three sections until you have a firm rectangle that can stay upright.

Fold in this order:

• Lay the item flat on a smooth surface.
• Fold both sides towards the centre, lining up sleeves and seams.
• Create a long rectangle with no loose edges.
• Fold into two or three sections, depending on the height of the drawer.
• Store it vertically, with the folded edge facing upwards.

How can you make better use of drawers and shelves?

In drawers, the technique works best when clothing is grouped by type-such as T-shirts, lightweight trousers, underwear and training clothes. Simple dividers help keep straight rows and stop everything slipping back into the old mess.

On shelves, low boxes or baskets can recreate the same “drawer” effect. Heavy items, structured coats and clothing that creases very easily can be hung up instead, which better preserves the drape and shape.

To keep the result, organise things like this:

• Sort clothes by category before putting them away.
• Use boxes or drawer dividers for very large drawers.
• Keep the most-used items in easy-to-reach places.
• Hang delicate items, formalwear, or anything that warps when folded.

Why does this technique reduce shopping and accumulation?

Like the Japanese technique that went viral worldwide, the KonMari method reveals what you already own at home. When everything is visible, repeat purchases drop and your wardrobe gains clarity and control.

The advantage shows up after the tidy-up, when you start choosing more carefully what you wear and what you buy. Fewer forgotten pieces means less waste, fewer overfilled drawers, and a routine with a cleaner, more practical look.