Tristen Bennett
A cluttered bedroom can be a source of stress and anxiety, impacting your sleep and overall well-being. To transform your bedroom into a relaxing sanctuary, it's essential to regularly declutter and get rid of unnecessary items. This involves letting go of sentimentality and being practical and honest about what you truly need and use. Here are some tips to help you get started on creating a calm and peaceful bedroom environment:
- Start with easy-to-tackle areas, such as dirty clothes, old clothes, expired medications, and paperwork.
- Be ruthless when decluttering. Ask yourself if you really need and use each item. Sort items into categories like keep, donate, sell, or discard.
- Maximize storage space with under-bed containers, vacuum-sealed bags, vertical organizers, and multi-functional furniture.
- Get rid of old and lumpy pillows, which can collect dust mites, body oils, and bacteria.
- Clear nightstand clutter, keeping only the essentials like a book or a box of tissues.
- Remove unused items like unlit candles, forgotten items under the bed, and reading material you've already read or won't get to.
- Sort through your clothes and be honest about what you'll actually wear again. Donate, sell, or discard items that no longer fit or are in poor condition.
- Toss expired medications and cosmetics to free up space and ensure you're using safe and effective products.
- Go through old receipts, bills, and paperwork, disposing of what you don't need and filing important documents elsewhere.
What You'll Learn
Declutter your bedside table
A bedside table can easily become a catch-all for clutter, but it's important to keep this surface clear to promote a peaceful sleep environment. Here are some tips to help you declutter your bedside table:
Clear the Clutter:
Start by removing everything from the table. This will give you a blank slate to work with and help you assess what items are essential.
Identify Nightstand Essentials:
When deciding what to keep on your bedside table, choose items that contribute to a calm and functional sleep environment. This might include a lamp, a book, an alarm clock, or a box of tissues. Be selective and only keep the essentials.
Use Storage Solutions:
Utilize small storage solutions like trays, containers, or baskets to organise the items you want to keep on or inside your bedside table. This will help contain the clutter and prevent items from spreading out.
Let Go of Sentimental Items:
It can be challenging to part with sentimental items, but it's important to be practical and honest with yourself about what you truly need. Choose a few meaningful pieces that bring you joy, and consider taking photos of items before letting them go.
Consider Alternative Options:
If your bedside table is still feeling cluttered, you might want to explore alternative options. Some organisation experts recommend getting rid of the nightstand altogether and opting for floating shelves and wall-mounted lighting instead. This can help eliminate distractions and create a more minimalist sleep space.
Remember, the goal is to create a calm and organised bedside area that promotes a good night's sleep. By decluttering your bedside table and making mindful choices about what you keep in this space, you'll be well on your way to achieving a more restful and relaxing bedroom environment.
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Get rid of old, lumpy pillows
If you're looking to get rid of old, lumpy pillows, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, it's important to assess whether your pillows are beyond repair. Lumpy pillows can often be fixed with a bit of manual labour. Try laying the pillow flat and pounding it with your hands or a rolling pin. You can also try the "karate chop" method, where you use your hands to chop down on the pillow to break down lumps. If the lumps are particularly stubborn, you can place a couple of tennis balls in a sock and beat the pillow. This method is not only effective but can also be therapeutic!
However, if your pillows are too far gone, it's best to dispose of them responsibly. Pillows cannot be recycled in the same way as other household items, but there are still some eco-friendly disposal methods you can try. For example, you can check with your local authority to see if there is a textile recycling centre in your area. You could also get creative and turn your old pillows into something new, like a pet bed or a door draft stopper. Donating your old pillows to homeless or animal charities is another option, but it's important to call ahead and check their requirements first.
When getting rid of old pillows, it's crucial to consider the type of filling they have. Pillows containing memory foam or polyurethane foam should not be thrown into landfills, as these materials are not biodegradable and can release harmful chemicals into the soil. Composting may be an option for pillows with a natural filling, but synthetic materials like polyester, polyurethane foam, nylon, or spandex cannot be composted.
Lastly, when replacing your old pillows, consider investing in higher-quality options, such as organic latex pillows, which tend to have a longer lifespan. Additionally, sleeping with a pillowcase and washing your bedding regularly can help extend the life of your pillows.
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Remove unnecessary furniture
A bedroom should be a sanctuary, a place to rest and unwind. However, unnecessary furniture can make a space feel cramped and cluttered, detracting from the peaceful atmosphere you want to create. Here are some tips to help you remove unnecessary furniture from your bedroom:
Identify Unused or Underutilised Pieces
Take an honest look at your bedroom furniture and consider which pieces you truly use and need. Be mindful that furniture can quickly accumulate and take up valuable space. If you have chairs, side tables, or armoires that are not regularly used or provide no practical purpose, consider removing them.
Reevaluate Your Storage Solutions
Examine your storage furniture and assess whether it is being used efficiently. For example, you may discover that you only need one dresser instead of two, or that a small dresser inside your closet frees up space in the bedroom. Consider utilising multi-functional furniture, such as an upholstered bench with a lid for seating and storage, or a wicker chest that doubles as a bedside table.
Create Zones
Define specific zones or areas in your home that serve distinct purposes. For instance, establish a zone for cooking, relaxing, working, and sleeping. By assigning these zones, it becomes easier to determine if an item belongs in your bedroom. If it is not used within the designated zone, find a more suitable area to keep it, such as moving purses to the front closet or tools to the garage.
Be Mindful of Visual Clutter
Visual clutter can contribute to a sense of chaos and disorganisation. To avoid this, ensure that everything has a designated place and avoid placing items on the floor. Utilise storage solutions such as hooks on doors and in closets, a small bookshelf for books, or a deep basket for shoes or pet toys. A well-organised space will help you maintain a calm and serene bedroom environment.
Regularly Evaluate Your Belongings
Commit to regularly evaluating and decluttering your furniture and belongings. Set aside time to assess the furniture in your bedroom and decide if any pieces can be donated, sold, or discarded. This practice will help you maintain a peaceful and organised space that promotes better sleep and enhances your overall well-being.
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Throw out broken items
One of the most important steps in decluttering your bedroom is to throw out broken items. It can be tempting to hold on to broken items, especially if they hold sentimental value or were expensive. However, if something is broken, it is likely that you are not using it, and it is just taking up valuable space. Ask yourself: do I use this item regularly? Can it be easily repaired? If the answer is no, it's time to let it go.
Start by gathering all the broken items in your bedroom. This may include items such as a lamp with a broken switch, a dresser with a missing drawer, or a pair of shoes with a broken heel. Once you have identified the broken items, sort them into two piles: items that can be repaired and items that are beyond repair.
For items that can be repaired, set aside some time to fix them. You can find repair tutorials online or take them to a professional. If you're feeling creative, you can even upcycle broken items into something new! For example, a broken picture frame can be turned into a unique jewellery holder.
As for items that are beyond repair, it's time to let them go. This can be an emotional process, so it's important to be kind to yourself. Thank the items for their service and allow yourself to feel the emotions that come up. If an item is particularly difficult to part with, consider taking a photo of it to preserve the memory.
Finally, dispose of the broken items responsibly. Recycle what you can, and throw away any remaining items. If you have a lot of broken items, you may need to hire a junk removal service or rent a dumpster. Remember to be mindful of the environment and try to reduce waste where possible.
By throwing out broken items, you will create more space in your bedroom and make way for new, functional items that support your current lifestyle. It's a liberating feeling to let go of the old and embrace a simpler, more organised living space.
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Create a system for laundry
Dirty laundry and piles of clothes are a major contributor to bedroom clutter. To keep your bedroom neat and tidy, you need to implement a system for managing laundry and minimizing visual chaos. Here are some tips to help you create a laundry system that works for you:
Designate a Specific Spot for Dirty Laundry
Choose a laundry hamper or basket that complements your bedroom decor and place it in an accessible location. This will help keep dirty clothes out of sight and encourage household members to use it consistently. You can also use a laundry bag and hang it on the back of your bedroom or closet door. If you prefer to hide your dirty laundry, you can use a lidded hamper or basket to keep it out of sight.
Establish an Efficient Laundry Routine
Set specific days for doing laundry to save time and stay organized. For example, you can assign one day for washing and sorting clothes and another day for folding and putting them away. Wash similar colours and fabrics together to streamline the process. You can also invest in mesh laundry bags to wash delicate items or separate lights and darks without having to do multiple loads.
Utilize Storage Solutions for Clean Clothes
If your bedroom lacks storage space for clean clothes, consider using under-bed containers, vacuum-sealed bags, or stackable drawers to maximize space while keeping your clothes organized. You can also invest in multi-functional furniture, such as an upholstered bench with a lid at the foot of your bed, to store extra linens, towels, or clothing.
Declutter and Organize Your Wardrobe
Go through your wardrobe regularly and declutter items that no longer fit, are outdated, or are in poor condition. Be honest with yourself about which clothes you will realistically wear again. Try on items you haven't worn in a while, and if they no longer fit or flatter your current style, consider donating or selling them. Create designated piles for items to donate, sell, or discard. This will help you make the most of your closet and drawer space while ensuring your wardrobe is filled with only the clothes you love and wear.
Maintain Your Laundry System
Consistency is key to maintaining a functional laundry system. Make it a habit to put dirty clothes in the designated spot and stick to your laundry days as much as possible. Involve other household members in the process to ensure everyone is contributing to the system. By following these tips and adapting them to your specific needs, you can create a laundry system that works for your bedroom and helps you stay organized.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to take 30 minutes each week to focus on decluttering your bedroom. You can do it all in one go or break it up into three 10-minute sessions.
It can be emotionally challenging to part with items that hold sentimental value. Consider taking a photo of the item to preserve the memory before donating or discarding it.
Some common items to get rid of include old clothes, expired medications, paperwork, candles, books, magazines, and broken or unused electronics.
To maintain a clutter-free bedroom, it is important to have a place for everything and to avoid using the floor as storage. Regularly declutter and evaluate your belongings to ensure a clean and peaceful space.
