How the KonMari Consultant Program Differs from Other Professional Organizing Programs

The KonMari philosophy was the number one reason our Consultants cited for choosing the Consultant Program over other options. Marie Kondo rooted the curriculum in her unique methodology and one simple yet transformative question: Does this spark joy? The result is professional organizing training that goes much deeper than surface-level tidying projects. 

“Marie’s teaching amalgamates spiritual principles with scientific research to deliver a protocol founded on the creative potential of the spoken word, positive emotion, and one’s sense of touch,” says Celine Rebecca Sumic of Lumen Living. That organizing process helps clients delve more deeply into the causes of their disorganization — and leave that disorder behind forever. 

“Having tried other decluttering methods, [I realized] anything that is not rooted in personal motivation won’t work,” says KonMari Consultant Julie Dumontier of Altermonde. “The KonMari Method is based on a vision you want for yourself, providing you clarity for the future. Therefore, it is a comprehensive method that has long-lasting effects, is rooted in sustainable principles, and enriches people’s lives. I only became certified because of that.”

KonMari Consultant Ann Dooley of Simple Joy with Ann agrees. “I thought I was good at organizing until I tried the KonMari Method and felt the magic,” she says. “I’ve always been interested in helping others organize their homes but felt I had to be an expert at knowing all types of containers and labels. The KonMari Method showed me that organizing isn’t about products. It’s the mindful transformation about choosing how you want to live and surround yourself with things that support your vision.”

When asked, “If you were talking to someone considering the KonMari Consultant Program, what would you say are the best perks/parts of the training?” a staggering 91% of our Consultants said: community. 

After getting certified, every KonMari Method Consultant can join our Slack community, where Consultants regularly pose questions, share discoveries and help each other reason out new scenarios or unexpected situations. Our KonMari Consultant Program team also offers multiple live workshops throughout the year on topics like building a successful business, personal branding, and more. Consultants also often plan meet-ups in their areas and even abroad — last month, many of our Consultants convened in Japan to meet Marie and explore the culture and philosophy that led her to develop the KonMari Method. 

“The best perk is the staff and fellow Consultants,” says KonMari Consultant Raychel Klein of Raybaybay Home Organization. “The support is boundless and available for all levels. The community does not gatekeep, we are not competitors and we see each other as teammates and celebrate each other’s wins (big and small).” 

It’s a beautiful way to feel supported as you develop and grow your professional organizing business. 

Since the publication of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo has been the most recognized professional organizer in the world. Our Consultants agree that getting certified through her professional organizing program makes their businesses more reputable to clients. 

“As a US-based Consultant, the credibility that came with being KonMari certified was huge,” says KonMari Consultant Emi Louie.  “I gained many clients and partnership opportunities directly as a result of being KonMari certified. I consider myself a home organizer and a KonMari Consultant, so much of the work I do is not KonMari-specific. While many of my clients don’t want to do a full tidying festival, they love that I bring KonMari principles into our work.” 

Louie was first certified by the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO) before joining the KonMari Consultant Program when it launched, despite already having experience working as a professional organizer. “I got KonMari certified because it was the method that worked for me,” she says. I’d been obsessed with organizing my whole life, but I had also always struggled with clutter until I learned to let go and live lighter. It was a values-based decision.”

“Truthfully, anyone can be an organizer, but the KonMari Method is so unique and specific it attracts like-minded clients,” says Klein. “From my experience, the type of people that have found me through the KonMari website align with the ideal client I would like to work with.”

Louie agrees that the “Marie effect” is real. “When working with clients or giving talks, I find that people are very receptive to Marie Kondo’s practices or advice,” she says. “I can just tell them, ‘Marie Kondo says…’ and don’t need to do any further convincing – it’s like they know and trust Marie’s word. In contrast, I’ve worked on projects with non-KonMari organizers and have seen them really struggle to get clients on board.”

When we surveyed our Consultants, another statistic stood out: the majority chose to leave careers that did not spark joy to become professional organizers. Today, they do work that fulfills and inspires them in ways many never saw coming. Or as KonMari Consultant Caroline Eriksson put it simply, “It’s a ‘do what sparks joy’ way of thinking all the way.”

Furthermore, Consultants say that they often use the Method and Consultant Program lessons in their own lives to grow personally.

“That’s my (personal) biggest lesson from KonMari – that making decisions on all fronts with intention and choosing joy are the most significant impacts on my life,” says Michelle Kolozetti of Simple Sanctuary Home Organization. “It’s a more intentional way of living. That’s what I try to help my clients achieve.”

Klein agrees that the philosophy translates to so much more than the organizing process you use with clients – it affects every aspect of your life. 

“Prior to certification, I found myself stuck in the corporate grind, lacking clarity on where I wanted my career to go,” Klein says. “I picked up the book, immediately conducted a tidying festival and found my calling. The KonMari Method and philosophy resonated with me more than any other program. It genuinely changed my life.”