The bedroom can be your haven, a place to unwind and relax. Unfortunately, it can also be the dumping ground for half-finished projects, smudgy art pieces with sentimental value, stacks of papers and objects that have no other home. The key to organizing the bedroom is to begin with a clean slate and then create systems and spaces for objects in transition.
Multipurpose furniture
One of the easiest ways to open up additional storage areas without cluttering the bedroom is to invest or create pieces that have multiple purposes. There are ottomans and beds that have hidden storage space, perfect for hiding those winter sweaters in summertime. The budget-conscious way to create multipurpose furniture is to use sturdy boxes with tops that can slide under your bed. Check out yard sales for old chests or footlockers that can hold extra bedding or the stacks of report cards, Mother’s Day cards and potty training sticker charts that you are not ready to throw away.
Storage containers
You can purchase coordinating storage containers or improvise with interesting boxes and baskets. Establish a system for papers waiting to be filed or objects needing to be stowed away. You can have a catch-all basket with a lid for larger objects, and a small square basket for papers that need to be filed. Once a week, dedicate a half hour to sifting through these temporary landing places and moving things to their proper homes.
Donation pile
Many people have a hard time letting go of favorite pieces of clothing, be it a hand-knitted, stained sweater from grandma or even a stretched-out but comfortable old maternity shirt. Make saying goodbye easier by placing a cardboard box or laundry basket in the corner of the closet. Toss items to donate or sell in the receptacle and, when it’s full, haul it out of the house. If you have changed clothing sizes and need a major wardrobe overhaul, rather than donating stacks of clothing, try hosting a clothing exchange, sometimes called a naked mama party. Mommies of all shapes and sizes converge to swap clothing and accessories.
Banish hot spots
Has the top of your dresser been hidden from view for months? Does the nightstand look like a junk shop? Is one corner of the carpet darker than the rest because of the pile of clothes that has protected it from being faded from the sun? If so, you are a victim of a common bedroom organization challenge–the hot spot. These are the areas where detritus collects and then lives in perpetuity. Surprisingly, the issue is not usually lack of space, but lack of a system for sorting through objects. Eliminate hot spots by dedicating the top drawer of the dresser or nightstand to the objects that tend to occupy their surfaces. Place small boxes directly inside the drawers, and they become perfect organizers for sewing notions, bits of hardware, stray keys, notebooks and more.
