Easy Tips On How To Organize Your Bedroom

As the last thing you see before falling asleep each night, and the first place striking your eyes in the morning, your bedroom should be welcoming, relaxing and well organized. You want to make your bedroom a retreat for you and your partner, not the kid's playroom, the home office or an extension of the laundry room.

A room filled with piles of clutter, clothes strewn across the floor and bed, and with a closet that can barely be closed without forcing belongings back inside not only makes it difficult to get ready for your day, it also creates a stressed, anxious feeling that interferes with a good night's sleep.

So get ready to restore order to your room, to be able to get into bed without moving stacks of papers, to walk across the floor without tripping over shoes, and to find the shirt you want to wear without digging through rows of outgrown clothes.

Make A Plan

Take a look around your room and consider areas for improvement. Does one spot accumulate clutter? Is the closet your nemesis? Do you want furniture that works with your needs instead of against them?

Jot down any ideas you have for your bedroom makeover. List trouble spots, furniture to replace, and improvements that would make getting ready easier in the morning. Create a rough sketch of your bedroom, indicating potential rearranging that would open up flow in your room.

Declutter

Now begins the real work of organizing. Start with one corner of your room and work your way towards the door. Look at every item in your room and ask yourself:

•  Do I use it?
•  Do I need it?
•  Do I love it?

If the answer is "no" to all three questions, the item needs to go. Be prepared with cartons and trash bags to collect unwanted items.

Don't overlook your:

•  Nightstand
•  Underneath the bed
•  Dresser drawers
•  Bookshelves

Throw out anything that is trash, broken beyond repair or unsuited to donating. Box up everything that you no longer need, and prepare to drop off at a local charity. Place items you are keeping in categories, such as:

•  Clothing
•  Books
•  Decor

Closets

Your closet might be your biggest organizational challenge. It needs to be sorted just like the rest of the room, however, by taking a look at every single item inside.

Pull everything out. Throw out anything that is clearly trash, or damaged beyond repair. Look at every item of clothing and pair of shoes and ask yourself:

•  Does it fit?
•  Have I worn it within the past year?
•  Is it a special occasion garment?
•  Do I look and feel good when I wear it?

If you answer "no" to questions one or four, the clothing goes into the donation bag. Keep special occasion clothes, providing they still look good and are in style. If you have not worn something for more than a year, ask yourself why. Chances are, if it is not for special occasions, you are not going to wear it and should get rid of it.

Don't hang onto clothes that no longer fit you, hoping that one day you will wear them again. It's demoralizing to see clothes hanging in your closet you cannot wear, wastes space, and when you DO lose weight, you can reward yourself with something new.

With everything that doesn't belong in your room removed, it's time to rearrange furniture to provide better flow and set up any organizational tools you purchased, such as:

•  Closet organizers
•  Shelf rails
•  Underbed storage boxes
•  Shoe racks
•  Drawer organizers

Clean

Vacuum and clean thoroughly before returning everything to its place.

• Pay special attention to the inside of the closet, vacuuming the corners, the shelf tops and along the baseboards.
• Dust and wipe all furniture with wood polish or surface cleaning wipes.
• Use disinfecting wipes on doorknobs and light switches.
• Dust light bulbs, lampshades, knickknacks and artwork.
• Clean blinds or window shades, wash drapes and fabric valances.
• Use spot remover on any carpet stains.
• Wipe baseboards with a Magic Eraser, or damp, soapy sponge.

A Place for Everything

Your room is ready to restore order. Take to heart the expression "A place for everything, and everything in its place."

• Hang your clothes back up in the closet, keeping seasonal items together, and articles such as pants, shirts, dress clothes and jackets sorted into their own sections.
• Shoes belong on a shoe rack or organizer.
• Sweaters are best folded and kept on a shelf. This will prevent them from sagging or developing hanger marks in the shoulders.
• Use underbed storage boxes for clothing or shoes that are out of season, or particularly bulky.
• Use drawer organizers to keep toiletries and small items neat and easy to find.
• Sort your dresser drawers to make it easy to find what you are looking for by keeping hosiery and undergarments together, nightclothes in a drawer of their own and tee shirts and casual clothing separated and neatly folded and stacked.
• Keep collectibles and knickknacks to a minimum in the bedroom. Display just a few treasured items.
• Make your bed every morning. A neatly made bed gives big payoff for little effort.
• Place dirty laundry into the hamper before going to bed each night, and put clean laundry away as soon as it's folded.

Don't let clutter and mess take over and prevent your bedroom from being a relaxing retreat for sleeping, and an organized, streamlined boost in the morning. Making neatness and organization a habit might take a bit of time, but will become second nature with practice, leading to a bedroom where you will be glad to end your day.