Where to Start Decluttering a Bedroom
Get the best approach on where to start decluttering a bedroom and turn your mess space into a dream helping you to get a better night’,s sleep.
Know the best place to start so you can learn another effective way to declutter your bedroom creating a space that is neat and easy to keep that way.
Are you looking around your bedroom and feeling overwhelmed at the amount of mess and clutter? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Most people tend to overlook this room when cleaning up their home.
The problem is that the bedroom can be the messiest room in our homes, making it a daunting task to clean out. The good news is it will be worth it in the end.
How can I stay motivated when decluttering?
Staying motivated throughout a decluttering project can be challenging. Luckily, there are a few practical tips that you can use to keep your energy level high, working to the end.
- Set Small, Achievable Goals: Break things down into smaller steps and focus on one step at a time. As you complete a new step, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, which will motivate you to keep going.
- Dress the Part: Be sure you are dressed for work. Have on supportive shoes, working clothes, and tie your hair back. Tell yourself you mean business.
- Visualize the End Result: Picture how your bedroom will look and feel once it’s decluttered. That finish line can help you stay focused all the way to the end.
- Reward Your Progress: Celebrate your achievements along the way. After finishing a section, treat yourself to something enjoyable, like a favorite snack, a short break with a good book, or a relaxing bath.
- Use a Timer: Set a timer for a short period, like 10 or 20 minutes, and dedicate that time solely to decluttering. Knowing there’s a set end time can make the task feel less daunting.
- Find a Distraction: Listen to a favorite playlist or an audiobook. When you have a good distraction, it can help you work longer without realizing it. I have found myself working over an hour simply because my audiobook was that good.
- Emphasize the Benefits: Remind yourself of the benefits a decluttered space brings, such as reduced stress, better sleep, and increased productivity.
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Where to Start Decluttering a Bedroom
Knowing the best way to start a decluttering project will help you to make the most of your time, putting your energy into the top tasks.
Step #1. The 3 Core Steps
If this is your first time at Declutter in Minutes, this step might be new for you, but it is the first step we always start with because it can change completely change your perspective.
These steps are easy, require simple decisions, and can make a big dent in the clutter you are facing right now.
How to Do The 3 Core Steps
#1. Remove the Trash – Arm yourself with a trash bag and walk your room looking for anything you can throw away—empty food bags, junk mail, crinkled tissues, scrap papers, etc. Don’t over think it, just grab the trash and go.
#2. Remove the Recyclables – Again, grab a trash bag and look for any items you can recycle—empty water bottles, soda cans, papers, etc.
#3. Put Away – Finally, use a laundry basket to gather up any items you see that belong in another room—dishes, food, toys, dirty clothes, mail, shoes, etc.
Finish by tossing the trash, delivering the recyclables to the bin, and walking your home to put items in your laundry basket where they belong.
Get the full guide on the 3 Core Steps to jump-start all your decluttering projects.
Step #2. Surface Clutter
When you walk into a room, whatever is lying out usually hits us with a negative feeling, which is the opposite of how our homes should make us feel.
We want to love our rooms and enjoy being in them. That means any stuff lying out should be one of the first areas you work on when decluttering a bedroom.
Since you have already done the 3 core steps, what you have lying out should be a fraction of what you started with, and that is good news. Take some time now to put away what is left.
- Clothes – Put dirty clothes into a hamper and clean clothes away.
- Shoes – Put shoes in your closet or in the mudroom.
- Towels – Put any towels in the hamper or hang them up in the bathroom.
- Dressers – Only keep necessary items out on the top of your dressers. Use a tray or organizer to help things look neater and less cluttered.
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Get our step-by-step guide on How to Declutter the Top of Your Dresser for more helpful tips.
Step #3. Keep the Floor Clear
The floor is an area in a room that should be clear and free of clutter. Nothing is worse than navigating a maze of stuff in the dark.
Set up large baskets to toss random things into so your floor can be clear and clutter-free.
Baskets are not only a great solution for the bedroom floor but any floor in your home. Set up baskets anywhere you struggle with floor clutter. This one tip alone will transform the look of each room.
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Step #4. Clothes
Besides sleeping, one of the most common tasks that happens in a bedroom is getting dressed. If you have more clothes than you need, this can make get dressed anything other than easy and routine.
Sort your clothes and only keep what you love, what fits, and what feels good to wear.
Do a Clothes Sort
Set a goal to work 10 minutes a day sorting the clothes in your room and closet.
- Only keep current clothes in your dresser and closet. Invest in drawer organizers to keep things neat and felt covered hangers to keep clothes from stretching out.
- Store out-of-season clothes under your bed or on a high shelf in your closet.
- Donate any clothes that you do not wear, no longer fit.
- Toss any clothes that are snagged, stained, or stretched out.
Step #5. Bedside Tables
Bedside tables may be the most valuable piece of furniture in your bedroom. The purpose of these tables is to help you to sleep more peacefully.
If yours are buried under random things, you will want to do some work to set them up more efficiently.
How to Declutter and Organize a Bedside Table
- Remove everything both inside and out of your bedside table.
- Toss any trash.
- Set aside any items you find that belong somewhere else.
- Keep going until the only things you have left are what will be staying.
- Completely clean the area so you can begin with a fresh slate.
- Streamline your table with a section for reading, a section for journaling, and a section for what you need or use while you sleep.
- A small basket works great to hold your sleep aids so you can access them even in the dark while you are half asleep.
What to have on a Nightstand
- Tissues
- Hand lotion
- Lip balm
- Bottle of water
- Essential oils
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Step #6. Extra Furniture
The last area to declutter in your bedroom will be the furniture. Remember the purpose of this room: to help you get a good night’s rest and to get ready for the day ahead.
If you have things in the room that do not support those two tasks, you may want to remove them.
There is nothing more cluttered than a bedroom with too much stuff. Pare down what you have, and this one tip will completely transform your space.
Step #7. Your Bed
Last but not least take a look at your bed. Is it an inviting place to lay your head? Does it make you smile whenever you see it? Do you feel relaxed just at its site?
If you answered no, then see what you can do to improve your bed.
This is the main part of your bedroom, so having pillows that you love, soft sheets, and cozy blankets are really important and something you may want to invest in.
Pillows
Find out what pillows work best for you. Do you like soft or firm?
The best money I ever spent was when I invested in really good quality pillows with a cooling feature. They helped me to sleep much more comfortably.
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Sheets
Next are your sheets.
Do they fit snugly, or do they tend to slip off the corners during the night? Do you prefer silky or flannel?
If you find yourself cold in the winter and hot in the summer, you can invest in sheets that will allow you to sleep more comfortably. Keep a set for each season to ensure you have the best bed to sleep in.
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Mattress
Finally, it’s time to inspect your mattress. When was the last time you replaced yours? Did you know that the average life of a mattress 7-10 years? If yours is older you may want to invest in a new one.
However, a new mattress can be pretty expensive, so before you invest, try a mattress topper to buy some more time.
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FAQ’s For a Clutter-Free Bedroom
#1. Should you keep exercise equipment in a bedroom?
The answer to this question is no. Exercise equipment is commonly found in a bedroom, but they tend to end up buried under piles of clothing rather than used for improving health.
If this sounds like your room, you may consider moving these things to a basement, garage, guest bedroom, or another area where you can use them for what they were intended for.
#2. Should you pay bills or open mail in a bedroom?
Paying bills can be stressful, so having it in your bedroom, where you hope to set up a serene area, may not be the best idea.
Instead, look at your kitchen, family room, or even a corner in a hallway that may work better.
Less is more, especially in a bedroom, and if you have a claustrophobic feeling when there, you may want to remove a few things to free up more of that space.
Our days are busy, full of errands, tasks, chores, and events. Getting a good night’s sleep is so important to be rested and healthy every day. If your bedroom is not inviting to you, take the time to fix the mess.
Now that you know just where to start decluttering your bedroom you can get started creating a space you love to sleep in today.
I have a trash can, a side table and a valet chair. There is a get rid-of-it bag and proper places to put all clothing in the bedroom closet.
Dirty clothing goes into a clothes hamper when bathing. I have a separate coat closet for items to be worn again before cleaning. I have reduced clothing to fit the available space and storage within the room.
This is great, Carolyn, thank you for sharing!