BETTER LIVING: Better Bedrooms in 8 Steps
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Mid-winter is a perfect time to stay under the covers, so let's get that bedroom organized and ready to be the seasonal sanctuary you deserve.
The bedroom is often one of the toughest rooms in the house to keep organized, because it serves so many functions: sleeping space, dressing room, reading or TV room, romantic lounge. The trick to keeping your bedroom organized is to remember its purpose, and refuse to let items that belong in other parts of the home make their way into it.
First, decide what you absolutely need in the bedroom.
For most people, a television in the bedroom is a bad idea. It turns your bedroom into a den, attracts ‘other room’ stuff like snacks, and shifts the focus of the room from sleep to entertainment. This goes for kids, too; little ones sleep better and are more likely to engage in imaginative play when they don’t have the distraction of television, video games, or stereos in the bedroom.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to Feng Shui principles, large numbers of books and other passive forms of entertainment are also a no-no in the bedroom, because they’re mentally stimulating. That said, there’s nothing wrong with keeping your current read by your bedside, but an entire bookcase in the bedroom may be distracting.
Everyone has different decorating tastes, and that’s wonderful. But if you’re a knickknack person, you may want to consider keeping your treasures in another room. Cluttered shelves and cases are hard to dust adequately, and excess dust may trigger allergies, and impact the quality of your sleep. Excess items on the walls may cause similar problems.
Now that you've cleared out the unnecessary stuff, let’s organize what you have left.
If your clothing and accessories are spilling out of your closet and taking over the rest of your bedroom, you have two options; pare down your wardrobe, or find storage solutions. Separating clothing by season and is often enough to declutter a crowded closet. If that’s not enough, consider under-bed storage for hardier items like sweaters and jeans. And remember: if you haven’t worn it in more than a year, it’s time to let it go. Why keep clothes you never wear?
If your closet is very large, you may consider moving your dresser inside, clearing out all clothing clutter from the rest of the bedroom. Or, you can use folding screens to create a ‘dressing room’ in a corner. Keeping clothing, shoes and accessories in one space, no matter how that space is designed, helps to prevent clutter.
Linens, including spare blankets and pillows, should have their own area, whether it’s a corner of a closet or a basket under the bed. Be sure to wash everything thoroughly before storing it. Space Bags work wonderfully for items like comforters.
Make sure your under-bed storage fits under your bed. There should be nothing sticking out to trip you up. If necessary, buy risers to elevate your bed frame and create more storage space.
Bedside tables should be free of clutter. If you like to keep certain items next to the bed – like tissues, saline solution, books, nighttime pain reliever, etc. – look for a bedside table with drawers to keep small items neatly stored away.
Above all, your bedroom is a place for rest and romance. To serve its purpose, it has to be serene, comfortable, and free of clutter. Once you accomplish this, you may find yourself sleeping more restfully, and waking up more refreshed.
Candita Clayton is the founder of Your Life Organized and author of Clean Your Home Healthy. Visit her online, here.
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