Bedrooms tend to be short on square footage, which means including pieces that look good and work well can be a challenge. A decluttering superstar: the multiuse nightstand. Choose a midsize dresser with good surface space for nighttime needs, as well as lots of drawers for storing small clothing essentials.
Clear Out Your Dressers
Bedroom closets tend to get lots of decluttering love and attention, but dressers can quickly become mazes of mismatched socks, worn-out T-shirts, and more. At least once a season, empty everything out of your dresser and clean the inside with a dust cloth. Then divide storage space by function or type -- all socks in one drawer, for example -- using the same storage and organization strategies you implement in a closet. Use a narrow bin to corral all your work socks and another for athletic socks. Another great tip to gain storage space and stay organized: Roll your T-shirts. You'll be able to quickly see the one you need, and your drawer will stay tidy.
Scout Out Square Footage
When you look at something in your bedroom every day -- say, the closet -- it's hard to see spots that might be wasted or need a good decluttering. Try this trick: Take some smartphone pictures of your bedroom closet from different angles (far away and up close). Print them out and take a close look: Where does clutter congregate? What corners or wall surfaces aren't getting used like they should? The back of a door is one spot to consider: Often it can be a great way to organize immediate wardrobe needs, like the next day's ensemble, or declutter daily-use bedroom items, such as makeup or jewellery.
Purge Your Jewelry
You know the old adage about clothing: If you haven't worn it in a year, toss it. The same can be said for decluttering jewellery stored in the bedroom. Unless it has particular sentimental value, if you haven't worn it in a year or it's broken beyond repair, donate or toss it. For those pieces that are fixable, take them to a jeweller. Then organise the remaining pieces so they no longer become tangled or lost; stand-up necklace storage is a good idea, as are bracelet holders with multiple prongs.
Stash Seasonal Extras Under the Bed
Unless you live year-round on the beach, your flip-flops take a break during cold-weather months. Same for those cozy blankets when the temperatures climb. There's no need for off-season items to steal valuable shelf or storage space. Instead, keep them close but out of the way with under bed storage. For a platform bed, that may equal matching baskets or decorative containers. For other styles, check out underbed drawers for stashing (and decluttering) sweaters, shoes, coats, and more.
Try a Wardrobe Wall
If most people filled out a bedroom decluttering wish list, they’d probably put "bigger closet" at the top. But traditional closets can be tricky to retrofit to an existing bedroom. One meet-in-the-middle option that works well in a range of spaces is a wardrobe wall. You can either build out the wall to include an opening, or install moveable pieces that offer plenty of storage and organization. To save square feet, consider closing a wardrobe wall with a curtain instead of doors.
Clear Bedroom Surfaces
Decluttering doesn't necessarily mean clearing out what's in drawers and on shelves. Visual decluttering of bedroom surfaces out in the open is just as important in creating a serene, restful space. That means paring down items on display -- a lamp, a few select photos -- and finding better storage and organization solutions for those pieces that tend to create chaos: keys, wallet, and jewelry, for example.
Pick Pretty Containers
There's an organizing strategy often used in kitchens: Take items in different-shape containers and decant them so they store easily. This same approach can be used for different effect on dressers and grooming spaces in a bedroom. Get rid of unattractive containers in favor of those that declutter and decorate surfaces while keeping your bedroom storage and supplies organized.
Use Uniform Baskets
Baskets that are the same size and shape can easily be swapped and moved around based on your needs and standard closet configurations. That, in turn, helps with bedroom decluttering, especially if you're rigorous about reviewing contents and getting rid of items you have outgrown or don't use. Bonus: Uniform baskets help to reduce visual clutter, which makes for more calming bedroom decor.
Think Slim
Bedrooms are often the repository of all sorts for odd-shape things -- purses and bags, for example. Those items may not fit neatly on shelves, leading to all sorts of bedroom clutter. To better evaluate and store what you have, use slim spaces such as narrow shelves or a series of hooks on a wall.
Keep Closet Floors Clean and Clear
It may be tempting to toss a bunch of loose ends on the closet floor, but that can quickly lead to disarray. Instead, declutter the closet in a hurry by maintaining a floor that's clear of odds and ends. Offer baskets for items such as laundry and nooks for shoes.
Use Drawer Dividers
Makeup brushes, lotions, notebooks, pens: All these items (and many more) often need a spot close by your bed or in your get-ready bedroom area. But lots of little odds-and-ends equal lots of bedroom clutter. To keep the chaos at bay, use small containers or dividers in your nightstand or another spot, and clear them out at least twice per year. Toss anything that's expired (makeup) or appears in multiples (bottles of lotion).
Clear Out a Bedroom Work Space
If you have a bill-paying or work-at-home space in your bedroom, it's easy to let storage and organisation get out of control. Use a few techniques to declutter any bedroom work surface. For starters, pick some pretty containers for oft-used, out-in-the-open items such as pens, pencils, and scissors. If you have files to stash nearby, go for a patterned, closed container, and a bin for paperwork that accumulates but hasn't yet been addressed.
Purge, Purge, Purge
Clothing is a huge source of clutter in a bedroom, and emotional attachments to certain pieces can stymie even the most devoted organizer. To make it easy, you can use this simple trick: If you haven't worn it in a year, donate it. If anything's worn or needs repair, take it to a tailor or get rid of it as well. And ask a friend to come over and serve as clothing judge for items that have you in doubt.
Take Advantage of Ceiling Space
Just because storage and organization space in a bedroom isn't used that much doesn't mean it should be abandoned. Take the square feet near the ceiling in a closet: Those precious inches can offer good spots to institute smart decluttering habits. Use baskets to stash too-big kids clothes or out-of-season items, and use labels so you can quickly identify what's inside.
This article originally appeared on www.bhg.com
