Donate clothing you no longer need. Sort through all of your clothing to identify items you no longer wear or that no longer fit. You can use large trash bags to store these items so that you can easily take them to your nearest thrift shop, such as Goodwill. Wash dirty clothing. Gather all dirty laundry and sort it into piles; one for colors, and one for whites. You may need to divide these piles into smaller piles, if there is too much to fit into the washing machine at once. Hang any clean clothes that belong in your closet; fold and put away any items that belong in drawers or other storage containers. [3] X Expert Source Julie NaylonProfessional Organizer Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.
Donate unneeded or unnecessary items. Like with donating clothing, use garbage bags to contain any donated items. Be honest with yourself and keep an open mind about what things you can part with; do you really need that unfinished puzzle you haven’t touched for two years? Throw away any paper trash that might be cluttering your desk, dresser, or storage shelves. [6] X Expert Source Julie NaylonProfessional Organizer Expert Interview. 18 December 2019. Common culprits include old bills and junk mail, receipts, school work from past semesters, take-out menus, and event flyers that are no longer relevant. Get rid of dishes and food-related garbage. Nothing makes a room smell and look worse than dirty dishes and half-eaten snacks! Plus, food can attract bugs, which will only make things worse. Don’t keep dishes in your room, and be sure to throw away all food and food wrappers immediately after you are done with them. To be safe, consider making it a policy to avoid eating in your room altogether, if possible.
First, remove the pillows, and put them aside. Pull the sheets tight and tuck them under the mattress, taking care to smooth any wrinkles. Pull the comforter to the top of the bed, making sure an even amount hangs down on both sides, and smooth out any wrinkles. Fluff the pillows and place them neatly at the head of the bed.
Use a hamper or basket for dirty laundry. Store in a dresser any clothing items that can’t be hung up in a closet. [8] X Expert Source Julie NaylonProfessional Organizer Expert Interview. 18 December 2019. If you don’t have a dresser or don’t have room for one, you can find inexpensive plastic drawers, plastic containers that fit under the bed, baskets, or even shelves to hold folded items. Contain shoes in an over-the-door shoe rack. You can put this inside your closet door to get it out of the way, free up space, and minimize clutter.
Use stackable baskets, containers, or even old suitcases to hold things. You can tuck a stack of boxes into a corner to create functional, stylish storage. [9] X Research source Optimize the space under your bed. If your bed is low to the ground, use cinder blocks from a local hardware store or plastic bed lifts to elevate it and give you more storage space. You can store things in boxes, baskets, or plastic containers that will fit neatly under your bed and out of the way. Take advantage of wall and overhead space. Floor space is often limited in small rooms because furniture takes up a lot of it. Opt for shelves hung higher on your walls.
Contain and organize your books on shelves. Line books neatly on shelves, with the spines facing out and in the same direction so that you can easily search and find titles as needed. Use resealable plastic bags like Ziploc bags to contain small items such as paper clips, thumb tacks, file tabs, sticky-note pads, and rubber bands. Invest in a small filing box to store important papers and documents. Use file folders to store similar items, and be sure to label the folders so you can find these items quickly when you need them. You can use folders to sort tax documents by year, papers associated with your classes, and an “important records” file for identity documents such as your birth certificate and Social Security card.
Choose a light, neutral color, such as taupe, gray, or an off-white, if you want to achieve a calming effect. Paint your room a vibrant color such as red, purple, or yellow, if you want to energize your room. Keep in mind that lighter colors welcome natural light, while darker shades can make a room feel darker. [10] X Research source
If your walls are patterned, choose a solid-colored bed spread or quilt. If your walls are simple and you prefer to not hang photos or art, consider a patterned bed spread or quilt. Opt for no curtains to let in plenty of natural sunlight, or choose a pattern that matches your bed spread. Consider sheer curtains if you want to let in plenty of light while still maintaining a little bit of privacy. [11] X Research source
To avoid turning decor into clutter, have a plan for where you will put each item before you start hanging them, taking care not to hang items too close or too far away from one another. Center a large painting above a headboard or on a wall. Cluster smaller items together, such as small framed pictures, to create the effect of a larger piece. [12] X Research source Using pairs of things—like twin lamps or matching bedside tables—can make your bedroom feel balanced, especially if you share the room with someone else. [13] X Expert Source Ashley Moon, MAProfessional Organizer Expert Interview. 27 April 2021.
Be sure to pay close attention to the amount of light and water needed; you can find this information on the plant’s tag, or ask a store associate. If you have a busy schedule or don’t prefer to maintain a strict routine, consider plants that don’t need to be watered regularly. Use your phone’s calendar app to set a reminder to water plants that only require occasional watering, such as weekly or once a month. If your room receives little or no sunlight, search for plants that don’t require much sun, such as the mother-in-law tongue. If you have a bright, sunny room that gets a lot of sunlight, look for plants that require bright light, such as the dragon tree.
