Towards a clutter free bedroom
The benefits of having a bedroom free of clutter are obvious to see. It is easier to move in the room without tripping on items left on the floor. You can find things on your night table without bumping other items over. Have you thought about how a clutter free bedroom might make you feel? You will feel as though you have a clearer mind when you are in that room, and that might help you unwind and sleep more effectively. When it is less cluttered, you might enjoy being there more and it can become a sacred place. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to gain a clutter-free bedroom, so let’s take a look at four steps you might not have thought of as a way towards achieving that.
Match The Bed To The Room
Have you seen a bedroom with a bed and furniture that take up all the space so that it is difficult to move around the room? Did you ever think the cluttered feeling could be caused by the size of your bed? Try to match the bed to the room size. A less crowded room is easier to keep clean and organized. When you have a huge bed, one problem is that you might struggle to feel relaxed in that room with no place to move. You might need to visit a mattress store in your area to find better options for your space. Visually your room will look bigger, less crowded and more inviting. You will feel less anxious entering the room and have less stress. Practically it will be easier to get things out, put them away and make your bed every day.
Store Items Under The Bed
This is a simple thing you can do which will make your bedroom less cluttered and visibly cleaner. Storing items under the bed is something that is not always possible – for instance, if you have a divan base that almost touches the floor. Captain’s beds are built with drawers under the bed for storage. Some beds have a base that is hinged to create a storage area in the bed frame. You can create storage under your bed by using bed risers to lift the bed up. When there is space under the bed, make use of it. It’s amazing how this space can be used so you have more room in your closets or dressers.
Minimize Wall Decorations
It can be tempting to go all out and try to decorate your bedroom in a way that is beautiful. You might find it quite beneficial to not go overboard here. In fact, you’ll find that keeping wall decorations to a minimum will lead to a space that has less visual clutter and a much clearer appearance. Put items on the wall that have a calming effect so it is easier to relax and clear your mind as you get ready to sleep.
Store Things Elsewhere
Finally, there is something to be said about not letting the bedroom become a general dumping ground for random items around the home. It is one of the most important rooms in the home and one that you need to care for and respect. It is a space where you rejuvenate your mind and regenerate your body for the next day. It is easy at the end of a tiring day to bring things into the bedroom, put them down and say you’ll put them away tomorrow. Take the extra minute and put them away so you don’t have a constant reminder of an unfinished task when you are trying to go to sleep. Don’t end up with lots of random items cluttering up your restful space.
Usually, I talk about the process of decluttering a room to have less unwanted stuff. These 4 steps approach making a bedroom clutter-free in a different way, through the thoughtful selection of furniture, decoration and storage. They also help to create a room with less visual clutter and mental clutter.
In the comments share how you make your bedroom clutter-free.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Click here to learn more about her online course Create an Organized Home.
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
We used to live in a townhouse where our bedroom was directly over the garage. The floor wasn’t well insulated, so if you put any clothing, even socks, on the floor overnight, it would be very cold to put it on in the morning! That broke us of that habit once and for all! Now we each have a rail with 4-5 hooks where we can hang our robes and any clothing that’s been worn but is clean enough to wear again.
Thanks for sharing your story. I love how necessity is the teacher of new habits. We have a series of over the door hooks on the back of our door that gives a place for those clothes that can be worn again.
The goal for my bedroom was always to be a calming place for me. So keeping clutter to a minimum was crucial for that.
These tips are great for anyone but especially people with small homes, dorm rooms, and city apartments.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
I used to have a comfortable chair in my bedroom so I had a place to go to get away from the noise of the children. Now I can use other areas of the house. My bedroom is very minimal and I love going in at night and falling into bed without having to cleanup or move anything out of way or get the blankets straighten.
I like the trend toward bigger closets and small bedrooms. I like having a simple bedroom, without much clutter. I don’t even need a lot of furniture if I have space for my clothing in my closet.
That said, I know people have different styles. Some people love having 20 books stacked beside the bed. It feels exciting to them!
I think the issue is when your bedroom feels cluttered to you – then it is time to take action.
I never thought about the size of the bed, but that can definitely be an issue. I live in New England, and the homes are generally older and smaller. Try putting a California King bed in one of these older bedrooms and it just isn’t going to work!
I agree with you that clutter is in the eye of the beholder. I have some clients whose bed is so big they have to turn sideways to move around the room. It is always a struggle to get at anything, clothing, change the sheets or close the curtains. It is so hard that things get thrown into the room and clutter starts to accumulate.
Sleep is essential to our well-being and functioning. A cluttered bedroom can disrupt our thoughts, sleep, and sense of calm. I love all of the suggestions you made, including assessing the bed size.
I never saw a hinged bed before. What a great invention!
Hinged beds are a great invention for people who make their bed and don’t throw things on it. Then it is easy to open it whenever you want. Otherwise you have to clean the bed off to open it and things probably end up on the floor causing clutter. There is no best solution for everyone.
The comment about the bed size reminded me of the 5 weeks between college and grad school when I lived in a friend’s house. My room was a second-floor “space” with a teeny closet (smaller than a phone booth) and the room itself was only about six inches wider and longer than the twin mattress on the floor. It was one step up from camping, and I had to keep my possessions in bins and suitcases in the dining room we were all using as storage space that summer. By comparison, every room I’ve had since has been luxurious! You’re so right that one piece of furniture (or more) that’s too big for the space, no matter how lovely the big bed or the extravagant dresser may be, makes it so much harder to live comfortably in a space.
The hinged bed is fascinating, but I wonder what feng shui experts have to say about keeping “energy” under the bed. Hmmm.
My general policy for adult bedroom is that the only things that need to be in there are things that support dressing (closet, dresser, valet, accessory storage) and things that support restful sleep. The minute you move a TV, files, kids’ toys, or anything that doesn’t promote starting your day or ending it, clutter will build up. I understand people using their bedroom space for exercise or creating a reading nook or office, but without something to separate the sleep/rest space from the activity space, I think you’ll be sacrificing both rest and organization.
Thankyou for sharing your story about the summer bedroom. It makes me think of cabins and cottages and some hotel rooms I have stayed in and been thankful when I was home in my room that was easy to move around in. When I was a kid my room had a dormer. In the dormer was my desk and filing cabinet. I put up a hanging bead curtain to divide off the work area from the sleeping area. I loved it. I also try to have clients think about their bedrooms as a relaxing space. What people need to relax is different for everyone. When a bedroom needs to be a multiple purpose room dividing off areas is a good ways to still have a space for relaxing even though it is not the entire room.
Thank you for sharing this Julie. Just reading this was restful. Love the hinged bed idea. We have a bed with drawers in the base. Love it.
A bed with drawers under it is also a good way to have more storage. I do think that reducing visual clutter is a good way to have a calming effect on one’s mind.