Tidying Up and The Big Downsize Season 1

If you haven’t watched it yet, you’ve probably heard people talking about it. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo became a Netflix sensation. The mini-series has millions of viewers, and Kondo has sold millions of books. She even has her own line of beautifully designed storage boxes. (Yes, I see the irony too… aren’t we trying to own less?)

A few months later, The Big Downsize premiered on Vision TV. This five-part Canadian documentary series followed real families as they navigated major life transitions. I was thrilled to be part of the project when it was filmed in Halifax in the summer of 2018.

Two Different Downsizing Journeys

In the first season of The Big Downsize, we follow two families who are downsizing for very different reasons. The MacNeil siblings are facing the monumental challenge of cleaning out their childhood home to prepare it for sale.  The house has been in the family for 50 years, and there is literally 50 years’ worth of stuff to deal with. Meanwhile, Pam is preparing to move from a three-bedroom house into a one-bedroom apartment as part of a separation from her spouse. Both families are downsizing, but the emotional landscape is entirely different.

My Take on Tidying Up

Because so many people have asked what I think of Tidying Up, I’ve been reflecting on the similarities and differences between Kondo’s approach and my own.

At the heart of it, we agree on something essential: people should value and care for what they choose to keep. Kondo follows a clearly defined, category-based decluttering method. She starts with clothing first. Then she moves on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and finally sentimental belongings. In the Tidying Up approach, every client follows that same path.

My Approach is Customized

Like Kondo, I always conduct an initial assessment and ask:

• What’s the goal?
• What’s the timeline?
• What does success look like?

My goal is to help clients discover the freedom of living with less. However, I tailor the decluttering process to each client. Some clients need to move quickly due to an upcoming move or an estate sale. Others benefit from a slower, more supported pace. We decide together which rooms to start with and which categories to start with. Then we chart a path forward.

For me, downsizing is more than just sorting. It’s about building awareness.

As I watched the show, I realized that Kondo doesn’t discuss a manageable amount of stuff to keep. Her singular criterion is that if an item “sparks joy,” you keep it. However, when I work with clients, I also ask:

• How much “stuff” is manageable for your lifestyle?
• How much do you realistically want to maintain?
• What would freedom look like in this space?

Additionally, I noticed that on Tidying Up, Kondo and her clients create large piles of belongings, and then the clients work through them independently. Conversely, my process is far more hands-on. I work side-by-side with clients, encouraging, questioning, gently challenging, and helping them understand why they’re holding on. Together, we build better decision-making habits, not just for what stays or goes, but for what comes into their home in the future.

Sustainable Systems: The Key to Happiness

Kondo’s perfectly folded clothing may be satisfying (and yes, beautiful), but I’m not convinced it’s the ultimate key to happiness. I believe that lasting change comes from building sustainable systems and making thoughtful purchasing decisions.

Both series are worth watching, and each offers useful insights. They might challenge you to look at your belongings and your habits a little differently.

For example, one afternoon I watched four episodes of Tidying Up with friends, and I came home feeling inspired. I reduced my book collection to just ten:

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
• Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists
• Eat That Frog (A great book about getting more done in less time)
• Living Retro (mid-century design, my favourite)
• Five books written by my aunt that absolutely spark joy

Having just ten books feels intentional, manageable, and most of all, meaningful.

Is that an acceptable number for a minimalist like me? I’ll let you decide.

If you feel overwhelmed by too much stuff, consider checking out both TV series. I think you’ll learn something from each, or at least start to think about how much you own and what you want to do with it.

I’d love to know what you think. Have you watched Tidying Up or The Big Downsize? What resonated with you, and what didn’t?

*2026 Update

Sadly, VisionTV no longer streams The Big Downsize. But you can still watch a few episodes and some short video clips by entering “The Big Downsize” in the search function on the VisionTV website.