Your bedroom is arguably the most important space in your home. It’s both where you start and finish your day, which is powerful when you think about it. How your bedroom looks can determine the first emotion you feel when you wake up—and the last one before you fall asleep. So it’s important that you know how to organize your bedroom to ensure it’s as serene as possible. This is easier said than done, of course, when you consider all the chaos that happens in a bedroom: the morning rush to choose an outfit, possibly your hair and makeup routine,s and the end-of-day outfit change that often results in clothes piled on the floor (or in that one chair). The small messes can add up quickly.
Now that we’re officially in spring cleaning season, if you’re not sure where to start, put your bedroom on the top of the list. More than any place in your home, it should be an oasis, a safe haven, and a mood-setter for the day to come. Once you know how to organize your bedroom, keeping it pristine isn’t all that hard. Below, find a few simple ways to elevate your bedroom—and transform it into a space where you can recharge, not just sleep.
Look at your surfaces
It may be tempting to throw miscellaneous items on your nightstand or dresser, but this will only create stress-inducing clutter. It’s important for the surfaces in your bedroom be as neat as possible. After all, they’re what you look at the most in your space, so they should invoke feelings of peace. Clear your surfaces to clear your mind!
“Try to keep items on [surfaces] to a minimum if you want your bedroom to be a serene space,” Melissa Maker, cleaning expert and founder of Clean My Space, told Martha Stewart.
Bins and baskets are your new best friends
One way to minimize clutter is to invest in bins or baskets for items like books, spare sheets, and pillows. (That said, don’t let containers become catch-alls for junk.) Take inventory of what’s lying around your room and see if there are items that could easily be grouped in a bin and stored neatly in the corner. When choosing your storage containers, consider neutral colors so they don’t pull focus or create visual noise.
Invest in good matching hangers
Yes, your clothes hangers matter. Swap plastic or mismatched hangers for a velvet-flocked set and your closet will look instantly streamlined. Bonus: Good hangers will “grip” your clothes and keep them from falling to the floor; one less mess for you to deal with.
Upgrade your nightstand
Invest in a nightstand with storage space. Just one drawer can help contain bedside clutter—books, journals, and middle-of-the-night must haves, like lip balm—and clearing the surface will help keep your space tranquil.
Store strategically
The key to an organized bedroom is utilizing every storage space. A few of those aforementioned bins tucked under your bed are a great for linens or bulky items, like sweaters.
Make your bed every day
Take it from someone who only started doing this two years ago—I know—a freshly made bed instantly makes your room look more organized, no matter what’s happening elsewhere. And you might find that the ritual of making your bed daily will inspire you to get the rest of your space in shape.
Corral your shoes
If you have more than three pairs of shoes, a shoe rack or organizer is a non-negotiable. Scattered shoes on the floor is one of the worst bedroom offenses—and it’s an easy one to prevent. To really minimize the mess, try a hanging shoe organizer on the back of your closet door. (But don’t forget to use it!)
Don’t stack the clothes in your drawers
If you stack your clothes, the pieces on the bottom are often forgotten about—and pulling something from the bottom often throws the whole pile off-kilter. Instead, try filing folded items horizontally. (Learn Marie Kondo’s folding method here.)
Hooks, hooks, hooks
Is your bulky winter coat taking up too much space in your closet? Are your necklaces in a jumbled pile on your vanity? Hooks can solve both of these messes—and many other organizing dilemmas. (Try them for organizing handbags, scarves, and hats, too.)
Relocate items that can live elsewhere
Consider your bedroom with a critical eye: Are there items that could be moved from your dresser into the bathroom? Would some trinkets be better suited to the living room? And don’t be precious about tossing anything that doesn’t suit your newly streamlined space. (We promise you won’t miss that fake plant or the dust it’s collecting.)