Swedish Death Cleaning or KonMari Method?

While teaching a class at the Senior Center, I received a great question about how Swedish Death Cleaning differs from the KonMari Method.

If you haven’t heard of Swedish Death Cleaning, it originated in Sweden as a practical and compassionate approach to downsizing later in life, popularized by Margareta Magnusson’s book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. It’s become popular worldwide for its mindful focus on simplifying and preparing for the future.

While both Swedish Death Cleaning and the KonMari Method encourage living with less, their intentions differ. KonMari centers on joy—keeping only what sparks happiness—while Swedish Death Cleaning emphasizes easing future burdens by thoughtfully decluttering so loved ones won’t have to later.

There’s no right or wrong approach; it’s simply about what resonates with you and why you’re motivated to live more simply. If you’d like to learn more or are ready to get started, reach out to Joy Foundry—I’d love to help.