The secret to tranquil bedroom spaces
Though the rest of your home might be all hustle and bustle, your bedroom should be a sanctuary where you can disconnect and wind down in peace. And what’s the most common blocker to getting that super serene atmosphere? Clutter.
A messy space is an unhappy space and could stop you from getting the rest you need. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on how to declutter and organise your bedroom. The path to your blissful bedroom space starts here…
Why is it important to keep bedrooms tidy?
It’s a well-known fact that clutter causes stress. In one study conducted in 2015, it was shown that people with a tendency to hoard were significantly more likely to suffer from poor sleep, and it’s clear why. Mess is a lot for the brain to take in. It’s visually chaotic and overloads your brain with many different elements vying for your attention.
Disorganised living can also impact other areas of your life. It can reduce your concentration, increase your levels of stress hormones and make you more likely to snack on comfort foods. What clutter does is put you in an environment that’s taxing on your mind and body, leading to a kind of tension that’s always simmering in the background.
As you can see, having a clean home does more for your wellbeing than you might think. So if you’re ready to make a change in your bedroom, let’s get started.
10 steps to declutter and organise your bedroom
It might seem daunting at first but the key is to keep your eyes on the end goal: a calming bedroom space where everything is neatly tidied away. Follow our steps and you won’t go wrong!
1. Come up with a plan of action
If you jump in too fast, you might get overwhelmed. The important thing to do here is be methodical and tackle one area at a time, otherwise it’ll feel like you’re spinning plates by moving stuff from one area to the next.
Take a step back and assess which are the worst areas, then think about what could solve the situation. For example, if your bedroom office desk is untidy, you might want to invest in some stationary holders or trays.
Got a stack of books next to the bed? It’s probably high time you got that fitted bookcase. In most cases, it’s all about working with smarter storage but we’ll touch on this more later.
2. Put away, throw away, give away
Here’s where we start the big sort out and there’s a number of ways you can do this.
Some like the KonMari method of sorting items by category, whereas others stick with the tried-and-tested 4-box system of ‘throw, give away, keep, relocate’.
We say keep it simple with three categories: put away, throw away, give away.
What we’re aiming for here is to have the least in the put away category and (hopefully) the most in the give away category so it can be mindfully reused.
With this sorting method in mind, now’s the time to stride into action!
3. Begin with the floor to free up a path
First thing’s first: you’re going to need room to work. So a messy floor just won’t do! Make sure you’ve got a clear path to access every part of your bedroom.
You can push it all to one side and work through the pile, or put things on the bed to give yourself a clear view of everything. Whatever you do, make sure that there’s nothing blocking your way.
The floor can sometimes be the biggest obstacle, so once that’s finished, your bedroom space will already start feeling more fresh and open.
4. Clear off your surfaces
Your surfaces are the next thing to tackle but this can often give you the quickest and easiest results. Look at all of those common clutter magnets - bedside tables and chests of drawers - and give them a good tidy.
You’ll immediately start feeling like you’re making headway on that mess.
But if you’re clearing your surfaces and realise your things don’t actually have a home to go to, this is where you need to start rethinking your bedroom layout. It’s time to bring in the big guns. Yes, that’s right - let’s start looking at the main event for bedroom reorganisation. That’s storage.
5. Upgrade to better storage
This is the secret to decluttering and organising your bedroom. Smarter storage can completely revolutionise your interior, making it an orderly, zen space you’ll love to relax in. It offers a substantial quality of life upgrade, and believe us when we say you’ll notice the difference.
One of the big pieces you should consider is a fitted wardrobe. This beautiful bit of fitted furniture will max out your storage potential so you can pack in even more of the things you love.
And because it’s made bespoke, it can fit into even the most awkward spaces to reveal your room’s full potential.
Have a think about what kinds of storage could benefit your space the most. It might be bay window storage for fitted furniture that pulls double duty, or maybe you could get a lot out of accessory drawers, helping you organise smaller pieces.
There’s so much you can do with your space once you start reimagining what’s possible.
6. Streamline your layout
Cutting out any unnecessary furniture and decor is a really good way to make your room feel brighter, and this is even more important for small bedrooms where every millimetre of space has to be used wisely.
Here’s a great example: the bedroom easy chair. You might have added one yourself with the innocent intention of having somewhere to read in comfort in the evenings. But if it’s just somewhere you throw your clothes, it’s worth considering removing it entirely. You can always replace it with something like a storage bench or ottoman, which offers a 2-in-1 purpose.
Similarly, it’s worth considering removing any superfluous trinkets from your layout. Keep them to a minimum and donate the rest to the charity shop.
7. Think about vertical space
The best way to optimise and organise your bedroom layout is by finding opportunities for storage in unexpected places. And one sure-fire way to add extra organisation is by exploring your vertical spaces.
Overbed storage is amazing for helping to declutter your bedroom interior, adding extra shelving and cupboards for bulky or seasonal items you don’t want on show - think chunky blankets, winter coats and suitcases.
If a fitted overbed storage unit won’t work as an option, try adding some extra shelving. You can never have enough shelving and it’s a good staple storage option for any interior.
8. Hide away your tech
Clutter isn’t the only distraction you might have in your bedroom. Tech is another major culprit for disturbing your mental calm and its presence should be kept to an absolute minimum - or, ideally, removed entirely!
For bedrooms where cables run rampant, it’s a good idea to use cable tidies to keep them neatly arranged and hidden out of sight.
If you love watching a bit of TV in bed, a hidden TV unit is a great compromise.
You can watch in comfort whenever you want, and then when you’re done, just close your wardrobe doors to keep it out of sight.
9. Clear out under the bed
Easy to forget and even easier to ignore, our under-bed areas are often a nightmare of clutter, playing host to lost shoes, bags and a whole world of dust. And while it might be tempting to just put boxes under there, all it does is make the problem slightly more palatable.
Anything under the bed - whether it’s loose or stored away - will languish under there for months, in the end reducing itself to yet more clutter.
If you don’t have a bed with a base, it can also massively spoil the end look of your room. It’s a much better solution to find proper places for everything in your fitted storage so that you can keep a proper inventory.
If you’ve followed our previous advice on overbed storage, this is a fantastic solution for bringing all of your things out into the open instead of gathering dust on the floor.
It lets you keep everything in easy reach and streamlines the look of your interior at the same time.
10. Make a regular 15-minute tidy part of your routine
So, now you’ve cleaned, organised and you’re enjoying a beautiful bedroom space where chilling out comes naturally. What next? It’s time to make a regular tidy up part of your routine.
All you need to do is take 15 minutes once or twice a week to spruce up your bedroom and stay on top of things.
Once you build up a habit, it’ll be much easier to make sure your bedroom stays organised. And don’t underestimate how dramatic that transformation process can be, going from clutter to clean.
Experiencing the difference of an orderly bedroom definitely makes it harder to go back to a messy lifestyle!
Bonus tip it's an excuse to deep clean
As you’re working through all of these points, this is a fantastic time to grab your microfibre cloths and fire up the vacuum cleaner. Deep cleaning your bedroom is a little like starting over with a blank canvas, so you can take satisfaction that not even dust is going to mess up your newly organised space!
The question remains: are you ready for your bedroom transformation? If the answer is yes, then we can help at Sharps. Bedroom organisation is what we specialise in, and it’s no secret that our unique Sharps Space+ formula can give you 40% more than other fitted wardrobe brands. Just get in contact with our team and arrange your Free Design Visit today. We’ll help you create a completely bespoke solution that’s made with you in mind.
