11 Ways to Declutter Your Bedroom
Is your bedroom perennially messy? Do you yearn for a soothing, clutter-free space? Yearn no more, here are some tips to help you offload
Our bedroom is the most personal place in our homes. Despite that, it is also probably the place where all the clutter ends up. Let’s help you discard what you don’t need and help you keep a mess-free room. After all, research says that a clean bedroom plays a big role in getting a good night’s sleep and opens the door to a healthy lifestyle.
2. Get rid of the extra furniture
Accept it. The main piece of furniture in your bedroom is your bed. When you come back from a long day, all you want to do is get into that clean, comfy bed and turn on your TV, snuggle in and read your book, or just plain crash. The rest of the space is often not used at all. Give a thought to the old chest or the side tables or maybe the sofa seats you have kept squeezed into that room. Do you use them? You probably bought something because it completed the decor you envisioned for your room – now it’s just become a dumping surface for clutter, taking up precious space. Get rid of it!
Accept it. The main piece of furniture in your bedroom is your bed. When you come back from a long day, all you want to do is get into that clean, comfy bed and turn on your TV, snuggle in and read your book, or just plain crash. The rest of the space is often not used at all. Give a thought to the old chest or the side tables or maybe the sofa seats you have kept squeezed into that room. Do you use them? You probably bought something because it completed the decor you envisioned for your room – now it’s just become a dumping surface for clutter, taking up precious space. Get rid of it!
3. Keep the horizontal surfaces as clear and empty as possible
One of the main reasons for clutter build-up is knick-knack overload. Go over all surfaces, like your dressing table, side tables and the top of the dresser and start clearing away smaller bits and pieces.
Tip: Create marked boxes for smaller items like medicine bottles, pills and jewellery. Assign specific areas in the drawers for your cellphone, glasses, keys – all the essential stuff you keep in your bedroom.
One of the main reasons for clutter build-up is knick-knack overload. Go over all surfaces, like your dressing table, side tables and the top of the dresser and start clearing away smaller bits and pieces.
Tip: Create marked boxes for smaller items like medicine bottles, pills and jewellery. Assign specific areas in the drawers for your cellphone, glasses, keys – all the essential stuff you keep in your bedroom.
The only items which should be out and visible are lamps, a few books, an accessory here and there – and that’s it. Other things need to be tucked away.
Tip: I made a rule to let only three (or any number you want) items be visible in my bedroom at all times. And it worked. Try it.
Tip: I made a rule to let only three (or any number you want) items be visible in my bedroom at all times. And it worked. Try it.
4. Pick the right-sized bed
Comfort is a priority and we all want as big a bed as we can get but keep in mind the size of your room and what it needs. Getting a king-size bed for a small room will make it look more crowded and give it less space to breathe. It is ideal when there is enough space to walk around the bed.
Comfort is a priority and we all want as big a bed as we can get but keep in mind the size of your room and what it needs. Getting a king-size bed for a small room will make it look more crowded and give it less space to breathe. It is ideal when there is enough space to walk around the bed.
5. Avoid visual clutter
Patterns draw attention and if there are numerous patterns, sometimes they can make the room look cluttered and filled up. So if you have patterned wallpaper, or busy upholstery or an overflowing bookshelf in your room, try and keep the rest of the area simple with clean, light colours.
For example, the linens you use on your bed add to how crowded your room might appear. Go for neutral, block-coloured linens as they help the room appear more spacious. Keep the number of throw pillows on your bed limited. They should be enough to make your bed look inviting and warm but shouldn’t be so many that it takes you ten minutes to empty it out before bedtime.
Patterns draw attention and if there are numerous patterns, sometimes they can make the room look cluttered and filled up. So if you have patterned wallpaper, or busy upholstery or an overflowing bookshelf in your room, try and keep the rest of the area simple with clean, light colours.
For example, the linens you use on your bed add to how crowded your room might appear. Go for neutral, block-coloured linens as they help the room appear more spacious. Keep the number of throw pillows on your bed limited. They should be enough to make your bed look inviting and warm but shouldn’t be so many that it takes you ten minutes to empty it out before bedtime.
6. Use storage bins
The little things you need more often than others end up being flung around the room. For tidbits, create and label storage bins, and use those. They can come very handy with electrical items, medicines, reading material and even towels and linens.
These can be very helpful in getting organised and you’ll know what goes where when you clean up.
Tip: Go for matching neutral-coloured boxes as they will keep the look clean.
The little things you need more often than others end up being flung around the room. For tidbits, create and label storage bins, and use those. They can come very handy with electrical items, medicines, reading material and even towels and linens.
These can be very helpful in getting organised and you’ll know what goes where when you clean up.
Tip: Go for matching neutral-coloured boxes as they will keep the look clean.
7. The one-in-and-one-out rule
We all know how hard it is to resist buying things. I am not asking you to stop doing something that’s so much fun. But do this – whenever you buy a new item for your bedroom, in return, discard an old item you don’t need. If you’re buying a vase for your bedroom, make sure to toss out (or donate) any one thing that you don’t find useful. This way you will always have the same number of things in your room and you’ll avoid cluttering to a great extent.
We all know how hard it is to resist buying things. I am not asking you to stop doing something that’s so much fun. But do this – whenever you buy a new item for your bedroom, in return, discard an old item you don’t need. If you’re buying a vase for your bedroom, make sure to toss out (or donate) any one thing that you don’t find useful. This way you will always have the same number of things in your room and you’ll avoid cluttering to a great extent.
8. Organise your drawers
It’s easy for drawers to get cluttered. After all, they’re the most accessible storage in the room and they’re covered! No one knows about the crowded horrors that lie within.
The key to organising drawers is to keep similar items in the same drawers and label them. For example, the books and magazines you read on your bedside can all go in one. Photo albums, important documents, hair accessories or jewellery, all go into different drawers. That way, your items don’t get lost in the crowd and you can easily find what you need. The idea of smaller boxes within drawers for storage is a revelation. Try it.
9. Avoid taking work to bed
Your bedroom is where you unwind and hope to disconnect from the noise of the world. So carrying your laptop to bed is not the best idea. And unless you have a work desk in your room, there are more chances of cluttering the space up with your laptop, cables, pens, documents and files which don’t have an assigned place in your room.
It’s easy for drawers to get cluttered. After all, they’re the most accessible storage in the room and they’re covered! No one knows about the crowded horrors that lie within.
The key to organising drawers is to keep similar items in the same drawers and label them. For example, the books and magazines you read on your bedside can all go in one. Photo albums, important documents, hair accessories or jewellery, all go into different drawers. That way, your items don’t get lost in the crowd and you can easily find what you need. The idea of smaller boxes within drawers for storage is a revelation. Try it.
9. Avoid taking work to bed
Your bedroom is where you unwind and hope to disconnect from the noise of the world. So carrying your laptop to bed is not the best idea. And unless you have a work desk in your room, there are more chances of cluttering the space up with your laptop, cables, pens, documents and files which don’t have an assigned place in your room.
10. Use the under-the-bed area for storage
Another common and most convenient way of storing the bigger items is under the bed. Use this not only as your linen closet but also to store quilts and duvets that you use daily.
Smart Storage Solutions for All Spaces
Another common and most convenient way of storing the bigger items is under the bed. Use this not only as your linen closet but also to store quilts and duvets that you use daily.
Smart Storage Solutions for All Spaces
11. Work on your daily habits
Decluttering once in six months won’t help the cause, so instil daily habits that will keep your room clean. Being proactive and cleaning as you go is key. Put away your clothes as you change out of them to prevent piles of clothes on the floor or on pegs. Unplug and coil up all wires after using them so they’re not lying around and making a mess. Take back utensils to the kitchen the next time you leave your room. Small habits like these go a long way and help your bedroom stay decluttered and more inviting.
Read more:
How to Have a Five Star Bedroom
How to Get a Luxurious Bedroom That is Fuss Free
Tell us:
Let us know how you declutter your personal space in Comments below.
Decluttering once in six months won’t help the cause, so instil daily habits that will keep your room clean. Being proactive and cleaning as you go is key. Put away your clothes as you change out of them to prevent piles of clothes on the floor or on pegs. Unplug and coil up all wires after using them so they’re not lying around and making a mess. Take back utensils to the kitchen the next time you leave your room. Small habits like these go a long way and help your bedroom stay decluttered and more inviting.
Read more:
How to Have a Five Star Bedroom
How to Get a Luxurious Bedroom That is Fuss Free
Tell us:
Let us know how you declutter your personal space in Comments below.
The first thing you need to do is look around and ask yourself questions about every little thing you have in your bedroom. Does this belong in the bedroom? Does this belong somewhere else, and is in my room for no reason? Did I use this in the past year? Do I really need it? Am I holding on to this item unnecessarily? If I were shopping right now, would I buy this? When you ask honest and direct questions, trust me, you will get direct answers. And you’ll know what needs to be kept and what needs to be tossed out.