Decluttering can seem like a daunting job but it is never as bad as it seems
not when you follow some practical first steps, then get creative.
There is no right or wrong way to clean and organize your small bedroom but,
if you do these first few tips in the order in which they are listed, it should save you some time.
Welcome to Jansen’s DIY and in this video we will discuss 18 Tips for Decluttering Your Small Bedroom.
#1. Create a List of Everything That Needs to be done.
Without thinking, write down everything that needs to be done to declutter your small bedroom.
This brainstorming list helps you organize your thoughts and, once you have a concrete list of chores to do, you will feel less overwhelmed.
You will also have a battle plan for tackling your small bedroom.
#2. Set Aside Enough Time to Finish.
If you only have one day off, and only schedule a few hours to clean your entire room, the limited results can be discouraging.
While you may have to spread the work over several days or even weeks,
pick tasks from your list that you know you can complete in the time you have available.
Do not drag out the process or you might lose your momentum, and you will have to do some chores more than once (like dusting and vacuuming).
#3. Save the Most Difficult and Involved Tasks for Last.
Going through paperwork, sorting drawers and clothes, cleaning, and moving furniture
these are big jobs that take no small amount of time and effort.
Conserve your time and energy by completing as many of the smaller chores as you can or you might run out of both, and lose the momentum you had going in.
It is easy to get distracted as you go along, so resist the urge to spot clean, sort, and arrange until the very end.
#4. Celebrate Your Victories.
Check and re-check your list as you declutter your small bedroom,
reorganizing and adding to it as you go, while also ticking-off each completed chore.
This keeps you focused and reminds you of your accomplishments so you don't get overwhelmed.
You will likely find areas that need more involved work or cleaning as you clear the room, but just add them to your to-do list and keep going.
#5. Remove All the Trash from Your Room.
With a trash bag in one hand, pick up everything that is clearly garbage
junk mail, old soda cans, broken items, and so on.
If you are not sure whether or not you need something or want to keep it,
place it in a “Later Pile” off to the side or outside the room.
Be honest with yourself
You probably aren't going to repair that broken ashtray you made for your mom when you went to summer camp in the third grade...
especially since your mom doesn't smoke.
#6. Pick up Everything off the Floor.
You will need access and workspace for your Later Pile so you do not clear yourself into a corner!
Ideally, you should put everything away, or wherever it belongs, but setting it on your dresser or nightstand is fine for now -- just as long as you clear the floor.
#7. Remove Everything That Does Not Belong in Your Bedroom.
Things like dishes, bath towels, toiletries, and more usually wind up next to wherever we are working, watching TV, getting ready to go out (too often in a hurry), or simply hanging out.
Put all of these things wherever they actually belong, even if you have to make several trips.
Do not let your (Later) pile to be sorted become another overwhelming chore.
If you are not sure where something goes, or you do not have a place for it yet, only then put it in the pile of things to go through later.
#8. Clear All the Surfaces in Your Room.
Anything still on your dresser, nightstand, or computer table that is not supposed to be there should be thrown away, put away, or moved to your Later Pile.
Using the appropriate cleaning solution and a rag or paper towel, clean all of the surfaces in your room – including the windowsills and doorframes.
You are less likely to lay errant items on a clean surface.
#9. Sweep, Mop, and Vacuum.
If you can, move your furniture for a thorough cleaning.
Dust, lint, and allergens like pet dander and pollen can collect behind and beneath furniture, causing sinus problems.
Sweep the corners and ceiling of your bedroom to free them of cobwebs.
If you only get this far, your bedroom should be relatively free of clutter --
even if you still have to sort your Later Pile, go through paperwork, clean, and so on.
But, if you are looking to truly declutter your small bedroom and regain more space to move around and relax in, you still have a ways to go.
Here are 9 more tips to decluttering your small bedroom.
Not all of them will work for every situation, nor for every person,
but they should at least inspire you to find creative approaches that do work for your bedroom.
#10. Divide the Room into Four Squares or “Quadrants”.
Break down your bedroom into four smaller, more manageable areas, then tackle them one at a time.
Once you have your small bedroom decluttered in general, keep this trick in mind so that it stays that way.
Clean one section every week so your room remains decluttered throughout the month.
#11. Group Like Items. It is so much easier to see what you have if all of your shoes are in one place,
and your textbooks are separated from all the fiction novels you have yet to read.
If you have too many of any one thing, sell the remainder online or have a garage sale.
#12. Donate! If you hate to throw something away or simply just don't want to go through the hassle of looking for a buyer…
donate it to a local shelter, church, or drop it into a donation bin.
These bins are usually located in business parking lots around town.
Some organizations will even pick up donations from your home if you give them a call!
#13. Buy a Filing Cabinet or Go Paperless.
File your paperwork immediately in dedicated, color-coded folders or start receiving your paperwork electronically.
Learn to set up filters in your mailing program to instantly sort bills and receipts.
Learn how to set up automatic payments for all of your bills through your bank or another service.
Getting organized – and staying organized – keeps you mentally decluttered, as well, which reduces stress.
Knowing where your bills and receipts are, how much you have going out and coming in and where to find the things you need when you need them,
makes your life easier and more manageable, and saves time.
#14. Add Shelving. You don't need an expensive shelving system;
another level or compartment in a closet opens up more room, adds another surface, and improves the organization of your belongings.
#15. Upgrade Your Furniture.
If you need more storage, buy a larger dresser, a wardrobe, or a new bookcase.
If you need more floor space, move some of your furniture into another room or replace it with smaller pieces.
If you do not have much money to spend, garage sales, flea markets, discount stores, estate auctions, and classifieds are all great places to find affordable furniture.
#16. Utilize the Area Beneath Your Bed.
Many people overlook all of the free space beneath their beds, and it becomes a catch-all for dirty laundry, shoes, and boxes of forgotten knick-knacks.
Consider adding bins for shoes, surfaces for clothes, or even drawers beneath your bed to take advantage of this often overlooked storage space.
In fact, it is a great place to store linens, bedding, and blankets and pillows for guests!
#17. Rearrange Your Room.
Move your furniture around to maximize your floor space, improve the “flow” of your bedroom, maximize your storage space, or just for a change of pace.
Some studies suggest that periodically rearranging your furniture can even improve your mental health!
The focus of a bedroom should be the bed,
so do not think that you have to have a dresser, nightstand, or any other furniture in your bedroom.
#18. Minimize! Use less – whenever, and wherever, possible.
Whether this means limiting your spending on “impulse” items,
donating all the clothes that you cannot fit into your closet or dresser,
getting rid of houseplants or moving them outside, or making do with less of something else, minimizing saves time, money, and energy.
Most people spend an average of 30% of their lives in the bedroom,
making it one of the most important rooms in any house.
And that's all for now...
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