‘It’s common for the bedroom to become a dumping ground for laundry, unpacked bags and miscellaneous items,’ says Kate Ibbotson, professional declutter expert at A Tidy Mind and board member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO).
‘It’s generally not a place visitors see, so it may be the last place you tidy and declutter. But in fact, it’s the last place you should let clutter accumulate. It should be a peaceful retreat. Its functions are simple – sleep and relaxation. The number of possessions stored there should be low in volume.’
With that in mind, we wanted to share our 10 tips to successfully decluttering your bedroom.
Step 1: Sort all your things into 3 piles
Keep, Store, Out.
Keep: For items you plan to keep, think about where you’re going to put them otherwise they just remain clutter!
Store: For things you’re going to store, find a suitable box or container and pop them in there (neatly!)
Out: The third pile can be split into three smaller piles of things you can donate, sell or that need to go to the tip. Once you’ve decided, get on and do it, otherwise there’s a danger that you’ll just store the things you want gone.
‘Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life’s most important things—which actually aren’t things at all.’ Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus, The Minimalists
Step 2: Sort out your drawers and wardrobe
It’s a job we are forever putting off but it has to be done. Go through all your clothes and get rid of anything you don’t wear, be ruthless! Use a 12 month rule, if you haven’t worn it in 12 months, out it goes. You can sell or donate items you no longer need or that don’t fit you and you’ll gain lots of space too (maybe for some new clothes…)
Don’t forget your undies drawer; throw away anything you don’t wear and all of those odd socks that have been sat doing nothing for ages!
Step 3: Organise your clothes
Once you’ve weeded out the clothes you don’t wear anymore, it’s time to get organised. When you put your clean washing away, try to put all the short sleeve items together, the long sleeves, the jumpers, the skirts, the smart, the casual etc. Once you’ve done this, picking an outfit will become easier and quicker!
Step 4: Pack away those things that are out of season
When the sun comes out and spring arrives, make time to neatly store away your winter clothes. Since you’re not going to need it for months, it may as well be away and not taking up space. Perhaps pop your winter coats in the ottoman bed, or the hats and scarves on top of the wardrobe. This obviously applies to your summer clothes too, if it’s seasonal, store it away.
This exercise might make you realise that your bedroom storage doesn’t fit your needs. You may need more storage, in which case consider a storage bed or ottoman, or the storage you have may need subdividing with baskets or trays.
Step 5: Put your clothes away
Once the clothes have been washed, so many of us sort it out and then leave it in piles ready to go away…and then we get distracted and they end up on the floor, for days! From now on, put them away, no excuses. Getting into the habit of putting your clothes away when you go to bed will leave the room feeling less cluttered as you settle to sleep. Some people also like to get their outfit out ready for the next day but if you do this, perhaps hang it up neatly out of the way.
Step 6: Tidy the tables
We all use our bedside tables to store an array of items; your phone charger, moisturiser, maybe a book, glasses, hair clips… it’s time to tidy up! Find a little pot to keep things like hair bands and clips in, remember to pop your glasses neatly in their case and once you’ve finished that book, pop it back in the bookcase!
‘The aim of storage is to give every item a home – a designated spot for it to rest and recharge when not in use.’ Marie Kondo
Step 7: Sort your shoes
How many pairs of shoes do you own? How many do you wear regularly? If you have shoes lying around that you don’t wear enough, why not sell or donate them and make some space?
Step 8: Less is more
It’s tempting to go over the top and accessorise your bed with lots of different cushions but sometimes, less is more. Experiment with different textures in your bedlinen, use a throw and perhaps a cushion or two but too much will make the room seem cluttered.
Step 9: Get rid of broken unused items
Have you got things in your bedroom that are actually broken? How about lotions you don’t use anymore? Go through your things; ornaments, old make up, jewellery, phone chargers etc and if you don’t use it or it’s broken, out it goes. You’ll be surprised how much stuff you actually store and not use.
Step 10: Remove any unnecessary furniture
Do you really need a dressing table? Have you used that exercise bike recently or is it a glorified clothes horse? Have think about your bedroom furniture and if you really need it. Slim-lining how much furniture is in your room will open your bedroom space right up.
So there’s our top 10 tips to a decluttered bedroom. Good luck!
