Product Review: Marie Kondo’s New Container Store Line ‘Sparks Joy’ … Most of the Time… Have you walked into The Container Store lately? As you walk through the sliding doors you might mistake the destination for a zen-like, Japanese oasis welcoming you into an organizing paradise. Here you will find the new line of KonMari products designed by Marie Kondo. For those of you who are new to the organizing world—Marie Kondo is a Japanese celebrity organizing consultant, author, and TV show host. Oh, and now she sells a line of organizing products that “spark joy!” We wanted to find out what the hype was all about. There are so many KonMari products on the market to review from office solutions, baskets, hangers, canister sets, utensil storage, and of course the cardboard drawer organizers for $40. So, we chose three in the new line. 1. Cloud White Ceramic BULK Canisters ($19.99-$26.99) These canisters are organically beautiful. Stunning to say the least and neutral enough for any space. The ceramic canister with bamboo lid includes a washable silicone lining that seals easily to keep ingredients fresh. The set comes with a small, medium, and large canister and each container can be purchased individually. If you are the type of person who likes to keep canister sets displayed on the counter top, this is the perfect set. However, if you like to hide your baking items inside the cabinet I don’t recommend this set. I find them to be a bit heavy for pulling in and out- especially if you have children in your home who love to bake. These containers are opaque vs transparent. Unless you have it clearly labeled you won’t know what it is and how much is left.
The Cloud White MODULAR Ceramic Canister set ($12.99-$19.99) with flat bamboo lids, stack on top of each other. Again, they are opaque and there is no labeling system so you may forget what’s inside, making it easier for food to get lost in the fridge or pantry. The biggest concern with these is stacking ceramic items on top of each other. If they topple over there’s going to be a lot of sharp pieces to clean up. Not ideal for families with children.
2. Shoji Bamboo Pantry Bins ($29.99-$34.99)
THESE BINS ARE GORGEOUS! Honestly, these bamboo boxes look hand-crafted and are designed to resemble traditional Japanese room dividers. Unless you have a fabulous walk-in pantry, these bins are far too pretty for storing food behind a cabinet door. KonMari has limited these bins by using the word “pantry” in the description. Consider using the Shoji Bamboo “Pantry” Bin in the bathroom to store face towels and also in the family room for books. If you would still like to use these pantry bins in the kitchen, they function well for those items that sit on the kitchen counter like bananas and tomatoes.
3. Magazine Holder- Calm ($14.99)
Excellent design for a magazine holder and wide enough to store small binders and large books. Made from recycled fiberboard that won’t crease, dent or ding. What is missing though is a label window, but clip-on labels will work too. The leather strap adds an element of style missing from other types of magazine holders on the market. The strap also adds function for pulling it off the shelf.
Overall, I would say KonMari products do spark joy for several reasons. They’re made from sustainable materials, they’re reasonably priced, and they’re so versatile that you can use them in multiple rooms. For example, with the bulk canister we had the option of storing coffee grounds in the kitchen or remote controls in the family room. The possibilities are endless!