In our last blog, we encouraged you to start spring cleaning: downsize, organize, and shed off pounds of “stuff” you no longer need. Now, it’s time to put this plan into action by starting off with a specific room in your home.
Your bedroom is quite arguably the most important room in the house. More than just a place you sleep, your bedroom can be your inner sanctum. Therefore, it is especially important to keep bedrooms clutter-free and clean, to make it the most calming and relaxing place to start and end your day.
We will share with you a few organization tips surrounding common bedroom cleanliness pain points.
How to Organize Your Closet
Go through all the items in your closet. Identify what items you no longer have a use for or no longer wear. Then, put those items in a box labeled “Donations” and donate to your local charity, Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.
For the items you want to keep, place them in a pile on your bed; we’ll come back to those later. The point of this exercise is to be honest with yourself and purge the excess number of clothing items that are taking up space in your closet. Consider this Twenty Second Rule: if you must spend more than twenty seconds looking at an item and asking yourself if you'll ever use it again, then the answer is “No.”
Once you’ve identified what you would like to keep versus what you want to donate, it’s time to start hanging your clothes. Hang as many items as you can. Start by putting your off-season clothing items towards the back of the closet, and then work your way up. For example, as of right now, your spring attire should be most accessible to you, with summer, fall, and winter clothes behind. As much as possible, within each seasonal wardrobe section, try to keep groups of clothing together. For example, all your tops should be hung together, jeans together, and so on. If you have limited closet space, you might consider storing your off-season clothing in a bin and placing it at the top of your closet or under your bed.
Make use of the space below your clothes. If you've hung up your clothes, you should still have a few feet of space below them, so don't waste it. Use the space for a storage bin or for a shoe rack.
Organize Your Dresser
Designate certain drawers for different items. For example, your top drawer can store your socks and undergarments. Then, the next drawer can store your athletic wear. Designate a drawer for storing your pajamas. And finally, save one or two drawers to store the tops and bottoms you wear frequently. Pro tip: fold your clothes and place them in your drawer horizontally, as opposed to vertically, if you want to maximize your space. Click here for more tips on how to fold your clothing from organizing expert Marie Kondo.
Organize the Rest of Your Room
Once you’ve tackled the closet and dresser, it’s time to organize the rest of your room. Make your bed daily. Clear your nightstand and organize your bookshelf, if you have one. Make sure that all the other elements of your room are as neat, tidy, and as logically organized as the rest. Clear your wall of any clutter. Less is more. You may want to decorate with hanging hooks; this creates a space to hang items such as hats, scarves, and bags.
Minimize Your Laundry Space
Although most certainly needed, a dirty laundry hamper can often be an eye sore. Save space with a hanging laundry hamper that fits discreetly over the back of a door. Or, opt for a hamper that meshes with the aesthetic of your room.
Once you’ve organized and cleaned your bedroom, we hope you find it to be a more enjoyable and relaxing place. In our blog, we will share tips on cleaning and organizing another room in your home. Stay tuned! If you missed our blog on spring cleaning, click here.