Marie Kondo, the world-renowned organizing expert and bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, has perfected the art of efficient storage. Her vertical folding method maximizes drawer space, minimizes wrinkles, and lets you see every item at a glance—no more digging through stacks.
We've shared her game-changing approach before, and it consistently delivers results for busy households worldwide.
This technique keeps clothes fresher with fewer creases and is surprisingly simple to master. Here are Marie Kondo's 5 essential vertical folding techniques:
1. Lay the socks flat, one on top of the other.
2. Fold from the toes up, stopping about 2 cm below the elastic band.
3. Fold the bottom up to the center.
4. Fold in half to stand upright in your drawer.
Perfect for panties, briefs, and swimwear bottoms.
1. Lay flat.
2. Fold vertically in half from crotch to waist.
3. Fold widthwise into three equal parts.
4. Crease upward from the crotch for vertical storage.
1. Lay flat.
2. Fold right side to center, sleeve flat.
3. Tuck sleeve back so it doesn't stick out.
4. Repeat on the left side to form a rectangle.
5. Fold collar down, leaving a 2 cm margin.
6. Fold bottom up to the center.
7. Fold in half for upright storage.
1. Lay flat with sleeves extended.
2. Fold right side to center.
3. Fold sleeve down vertically to create a triangle.
4. Repeat on the left for a rectangle.
5. Fold into four equal parts (or three for thicker knits) from top to bottom for vertical filing.
1. Lay flat.
2. Align the legs together.
3. Fold crotch down for a straight edge.
4. Fold in half, leaving a 2 cm margin.
5. Roll upward into three equal parts for vertical storage.
Now your wardrobe is KonMari-ready! This method is quick, space-saving, and far superior to balled-up clothes. It also lets you color-coordinate outfits instantly—ideal for pants, tees, sweaters, underwear, and socks.
