10 Things Cluttering Up Your Bedroom – And How to Deal with Them
By tackling a few (or all) of these clutter culprits, you can create a calm, clear sleep space
If you’re dreaming of a tranquil, restful bedroom, it’s a good idea to first find out what exactly is causing chaos in your space. Once you’ve zoned in on the clutter culprits, follow these tips on how to clear the problem areas. In no time you’ll have an organised sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle in the rest of your home. Sweet dreams!
Organise the clutter below the bed
Under-bed storage is great if it’s done right, but not if you end up with too many items strewed untidily below your sleep space. It’s tempting to shove things below your bed, but a cluttered sleep zone can impede your ability to rest.
If you have the room, it’s a good idea to make use of alternative storage, or invest in some attractive boxes that can be easily pulled out and lined up neatly below the bed frame. Wood boxes on castors are a good idea, or canvas boxes with handles.
Discover smart ways to use your bed for extra storage
Under-bed storage is great if it’s done right, but not if you end up with too many items strewed untidily below your sleep space. It’s tempting to shove things below your bed, but a cluttered sleep zone can impede your ability to rest.
If you have the room, it’s a good idea to make use of alternative storage, or invest in some attractive boxes that can be easily pulled out and lined up neatly below the bed frame. Wood boxes on castors are a good idea, or canvas boxes with handles.
Discover smart ways to use your bed for extra storage
Edit your storage furniture
You might think you have to find storage for absolutely everything that’s lurking in your bedroom, but that’s not necessarily the case. Too much storage furniture can actually clutter up the space, so before you plan the layout of your sleep space, spend some time decluttering first.
Keep in mind what you want your finished space to look – and feel – like, and be as ruthless as possible when considering what to keep and what to let go of. By minimising the possessions that are kept in the bedroom, you’ll be able to choose fewer, more beautiful, storage pieces to complement your scheme.
You might think you have to find storage for absolutely everything that’s lurking in your bedroom, but that’s not necessarily the case. Too much storage furniture can actually clutter up the space, so before you plan the layout of your sleep space, spend some time decluttering first.
Keep in mind what you want your finished space to look – and feel – like, and be as ruthless as possible when considering what to keep and what to let go of. By minimising the possessions that are kept in the bedroom, you’ll be able to choose fewer, more beautiful, storage pieces to complement your scheme.
Ace an orderly wardrobe
It’s nice to have a well-stocked wardrobe, of course, but too many clothes, shoes and accessories can be overwhelming (and lead to clutter). And having to wade through a pile of messy jumpers and footwear can make it harder to get ready in the morning, too, so it pays to give your closet an overhaul. Go through your items at the beginning of each season and be honest about what you want to keep. Allocate a large drawer, or storage box, elsewhere for items you’re not wearing right now, but want to keep. Anything that you really aren’t going to wear again can be donated to charity. Invest in attractive hangers and organise items in terms of colour, or type of clothing, to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Check out ways to find more storage space in your wardrobe
It’s nice to have a well-stocked wardrobe, of course, but too many clothes, shoes and accessories can be overwhelming (and lead to clutter). And having to wade through a pile of messy jumpers and footwear can make it harder to get ready in the morning, too, so it pays to give your closet an overhaul. Go through your items at the beginning of each season and be honest about what you want to keep. Allocate a large drawer, or storage box, elsewhere for items you’re not wearing right now, but want to keep. Anything that you really aren’t going to wear again can be donated to charity. Invest in attractive hangers and organise items in terms of colour, or type of clothing, to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Check out ways to find more storage space in your wardrobe
Introduce a ‘floordrobe’
When you’re tired at the end of the day it’s easy to throw your clothes on the floor, so situate a laundry basket in the place you undress and try to get into the habit of putting dirty clothes in it straightaway. Of course, you don’t have to wash your items every time you wear them, so also allocate a place to air them overnight before you pop them away in the morning. This leaning ladder is perfect for hanging clothes and towels, or you could use a chair or a valet stand to keep your clothes in one place and off the floor.
When you’re tired at the end of the day it’s easy to throw your clothes on the floor, so situate a laundry basket in the place you undress and try to get into the habit of putting dirty clothes in it straightaway. Of course, you don’t have to wash your items every time you wear them, so also allocate a place to air them overnight before you pop them away in the morning. This leaning ladder is perfect for hanging clothes and towels, or you could use a chair or a valet stand to keep your clothes in one place and off the floor.
Keep make-up tidy
It’s so easy for a dressing table to become a clutter magnet, full of the lotions and potions we use every day. Resist the urge to plonk everything on top and organise the drawers below instead. Use shallow boxes or make-up dividers in the drawers to keep everything tidy, and display only a select few beautiful items on the top of the table. Try to think boutique hotel suite as you choose what you keep out and what can be popped into a drawer.
Find a home storage designer or professional organiser in your area
It’s so easy for a dressing table to become a clutter magnet, full of the lotions and potions we use every day. Resist the urge to plonk everything on top and organise the drawers below instead. Use shallow boxes or make-up dividers in the drawers to keep everything tidy, and display only a select few beautiful items on the top of the table. Try to think boutique hotel suite as you choose what you keep out and what can be popped into a drawer.
Find a home storage designer or professional organiser in your area
Think about photo frames
If you love to have photos around you, don’t make the mistake of covering all your flat surfaces with frames. They’re time consuming to dust, can get knocked easily and by layering one in front of the other you won’t get to see the photos properly anyway. Instead, invest in some matching wall-mounted frames that coordinate with your colour scheme to create a photo wall. Alternatively, take the opportunity to revitalise some older prints and have them blown up into canvases to really make a statement.
If you love to have photos around you, don’t make the mistake of covering all your flat surfaces with frames. They’re time consuming to dust, can get knocked easily and by layering one in front of the other you won’t get to see the photos properly anyway. Instead, invest in some matching wall-mounted frames that coordinate with your colour scheme to create a photo wall. Alternatively, take the opportunity to revitalise some older prints and have them blown up into canvases to really make a statement.
Finalise unfinished DIY projects
Many of us decorate the public areas in our home first, and end up relegating private spaces to the end of the list. If you’ve been halfway through your bedroom project for a while, make time to lavish some love on the room where you spend a third of your life. Book some time in your diary and set a deadline for finishing the decorating project, so you can put away the tester pots, wallpaper samples and tools lurking in the corner. It’s important you can rest in your room and not be reminded of what you have to do.
Many of us decorate the public areas in our home first, and end up relegating private spaces to the end of the list. If you’ve been halfway through your bedroom project for a while, make time to lavish some love on the room where you spend a third of your life. Book some time in your diary and set a deadline for finishing the decorating project, so you can put away the tester pots, wallpaper samples and tools lurking in the corner. It’s important you can rest in your room and not be reminded of what you have to do.
Choose a zen work space
If your bedroom doubles up as your home office, make sure your dedicated work area doesn’t impinge on the calm feel of your room. Simply choosing a desk that looks attractive and ties in with your scheme will help. This midcentury desk has become a feature of the room, and the plentiful storage keeps things tidy and uncluttered. If you have the space, a hideaway desk is a smart option, too.
If your bedroom doubles up as your home office, make sure your dedicated work area doesn’t impinge on the calm feel of your room. Simply choosing a desk that looks attractive and ties in with your scheme will help. This midcentury desk has become a feature of the room, and the plentiful storage keeps things tidy and uncluttered. If you have the space, a hideaway desk is a smart option, too.
Ban other people’s stuff
As you look around your room, have you accumulated items that aren’t even yours? If other household members are bringing things into your room, it might be time to gently remind them to take belongings with them as they leave. Provide enough storage elsewhere in the home to make it easy for children to tidy their toys – and for you to avoid using your room as a dumping ground. Remember that your bedroom is for sleeping and dressing, and clutter doesn’t help with either of these.
Have you managed to create a calm, clear bedroom? What do you think of these ideas for organising the area? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
As you look around your room, have you accumulated items that aren’t even yours? If other household members are bringing things into your room, it might be time to gently remind them to take belongings with them as they leave. Provide enough storage elsewhere in the home to make it easy for children to tidy their toys – and for you to avoid using your room as a dumping ground. Remember that your bedroom is for sleeping and dressing, and clutter doesn’t help with either of these.
Have you managed to create a calm, clear bedroom? What do you think of these ideas for organising the area? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
A bedside table can end up with all sorts of junk on it and before long you’re left with nowhere to put your book. To turn it back into a clear, uncluttered surface, empty everything from on top and from inside any drawers. Get rid of anything you don’t need, then find a place for the rest. You might need to find storage for some things outside of the bedroom, so create an extra box elsewhere in the home for miscellaneous items.
Aim to only keep a minimum of items on the top surface. If you prefer to have things to hand that you use on a daily basis, purchase a little basket or beautiful box to keep these bits and pieces together.