How to Organize Your Room: 5 Tips for Organizing Your Room

Organizing your room can be a rewarding DIY project.

1. 1. Tidy up. Start your bedroom organization project by doing an initial sweep. Discard rubbish, put dirty clothes in a laundry basket, and make your bed. This initial sweep will allow you to start with a relatively clean slate.
2. 2. Take inventory of your belongings. Once you've tidied up, start to evaluate which items in your room you no longer need and place them in a bin to be donated. Place items you're hesitant to get rid of in a separate bin for now—you can decide whether or not to keep them later.
3. 3. Put items away. Once you have unwanted items out of the way, place all the items you're keeping in their rightful place—jewelry in the jewelry box, books on the bookcase, and clothes in the closet. For items that don’t yet have a designated place, group similar items together and set them aside for now.
4. 4. Clear your bedside table. Nightstands tend to accumulate miscellaneous items over time. Throw away or put away items that you don't use on a daily basis. Consider using a bedside caddy to store small items and free up space on your nightstand. You may also consider swapping out your existing nightstand for one with drawers or a small dresser to tuck items away.
5. 5. Tidy up your dresser drawers. Fold clothes that were unfolded, reconsider items you haven’t worn, and group clothing items similarly—pants in one drawer, T-shirts in another, and so on. Consider investing in drawer dividers or other dresser drawer organizers to keep small items like socks and underwear organized. This will help reduce the likelihood of clothes piling up on top of your dresser or taking up valuable floor space.
6. 6. Decide on a closet organization system. Organize your clothes by frequency of use, season, or color—whatever makes the most sense for you. Try to maintain space between hangers. Take advantage of unused closet space by placing a shoe rack under hanging clothes for maximum shoe storage. If you've got a walk-in closet, a row of cubbies or storage boxes can serve as extra storage for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Small closets benefit greatly from hanging shoe storage systems that hook onto the closet door.
7. 7. Consider additional storage solutions. Now that almost everything is in its proper place and organized, return to the similarly grouped items that you’ve yet to put away. If you have lots of books with no designated space, consider getting a bookshelf or a shelving unit you can attach to a wall to maximize floor space. You can also maximize floor space by taking advantage of hidden storage solutions. There are many storage containers on the market specifically designed for under-bed storage. Make extra room in your closet by placing out-of-season clothing in an under-bed storage bin.
8. 8. Deep clean. Now that your room is organized and clutter-free, it's time to clean. Vacuum carpets and rugs, dust shelves and light fixtures, and wipe down surfaces.

You don't need to hire a professional organizer to declutter your bedroom. Consider a few organizational tips to take your DIY bedroom organization project to the next level.

1. 1. Choose a bed with built-in storage. If you're in the market for a new bed frame, consider purchasing a bed with built-in storage. Platform beds with built-in under-bed storage are especially useful in small rooms, though you can also use inexpensive bed risers to add height to your bed and make additional storage space. You might choose a headboard that contains shelving or built-in lighting to free up space on your nightstand or replace your nightstand altogether.
2. 2. Add multi-purpose storage at the foot of your bed. Small bedrooms call for creative thinking. A storage bench at the foot of your bed can serve as a place to sit while holding throw pillows, extra blankets, or seasonal clothes that aren’t in use.
3. 3. Use the back of your bedroom door. There are plenty of ways to use over-the-door storage. A hanging shoe organizer, full-length mirror, or coat hooks can help minimize clutter and free up wall space.
4. 4. Add wall shelves to maximize vertical space. Shelving is one of the best ways to display art, knick-knacks, houseplants, and books that might otherwise take up coveted space on your dresser or bedside table. Opt for floating shelves for a minimalist and modern look. Corner shelves are a great way to take advantage of unused space.
5. 5. Have a designated laundry area. Dirty clothes belong in the laundry room, but they don't always make it there right away. Keep a laundry basket in your room for storing dirty clothing until laundry day.

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