I have a bedroom confession to make (ew no, not that kind of bedroom confession): Our bedroom used to be a hot mess. But it was really our closet’s fault; the overflow from that little disaster area had to go somewhere. So one rainy weekend, I rightsized both spaces. Here’s how.
Our chaotic closet
I started with my hanging clothes, which looked like a picked-over sale rack at a discount department store. Sad. Messy. Unloved. I threw it all onto the bed and tried on every piece. Now, I know I was supposed to ask, “Does this spark joy?” But I was mostly asking, “Does this make me look fat?” I made three piles: Keep, Donate, and Textile Recycling.
One tip: Be ruthless. Am I ever going to wear the chartreuse sweater that I really liked until my daughter said I looked like Kermit the Frog? No. If you don’t feel good wearing it, you won’t wear it.
By the time I finished sorting, I had ditched a third of my clothes. I put the rest back, hanging by type: blouses, skirts, pants, and dresses. I also put everything in rainbow order, because it looks pretty and that’s how I roll. Big Rocks Organizing recommends using velvet hangers to keep clothes from slipping off—they really do work. I also packed out-of-season clothes in a bin and stuck it on a high shelf. (Storing them under your bed can also work.)
Next, I tackled the closet shelves. I sorted out anything that didn’t work for me anymore (at age 68, it’s time to let go of the concert T-shirts). Oh, my favorite tip: Vertical shelf dividers keep folded clothes neatly stacked. Make sure you measure before buying!
Finally, the Mount Everest of shoes piled on the closet floor. I got rid of my last pairs of corporate-life high heels with which I had a love-hate-mostly-hate relationship. I put my remaining footwear—hello, comfy old-lady sneakers—in handy cubbies.
Side note, did you notice that I refer to our closet but only talk about sorting my clothes? That’s because my husband keeps his half of the closet immaculate. He has over 100 T-shirts, but each is precision-folded like a little Origami swan. He even uses one of those T-shirt folding board thingies. Weirdo.
Some additional tips for closet organizing:
- If you haven’t worn something in a year, it’s safe to donate it.
- Consider selling expensive clothes or bags through a consignment shop.
- Don’t buy organizing products until after you’ve decluttered.
- If you buy organizing bins, consider clear ones to see what you have.
- Use hooks on the back of your closet door for robes and “almost clean” clothes you plan to wear again.
- Hang shorter pieces together to free up floor space below them.
- Do an internet or AI search to find local places to donate clothes. (Big Rocks is a supporter of Rose Haven in Portland. Rose Haven provides services for women, children, and marginalized genders experiencing abuse, homelessness, and poverty, and they welcome donations of women’s and children’s clothing.) (The Assistance League of Greater Portland and Second Edition Resale Shop are two additional Big Rocks favorites.)
- Give yourself grace. Rightsizing and organizing don’t have to be done in a day.
Our burdened bedroom
Once I finished the closet, I moved on to our bedroom.
Bedrooms are meant to be peaceful sanctuaries. Oh really? Our poor bedroom was also trying to be a home office, hair and makeup station, and home library. I moved out the small desk that held my laptop; there’s nothing relaxing about looking at work stuff in your bedroom. The desk also held a hairdryer, hair products, and makeup clutter. I now do my hair and makeup in the bathroom; organizing that mess is a job for future me. With the desk and its clutter gone, the room already felt more peaceful.
Next, I took a hard look at our minimalist nightstands. They have ZERO storage, so our reading glasses, stacks of books, phone chargers, and other necessities were piled on the tops in a very non-minimalist way. I replaced them with a pair of nightstands that are still minimalist but have storage. If your nightstands lack storage, consider some decorative baskets to help contain clutter. My book pile has moved to a basket, and it looks nice and tidy for now. Too bad I can’t stop buying more books.
Oh, and here’s a clever thing: Use under-bed storage on wheels for out-of-season clothes, bulky sweaters, and extra blankets.
And another tip: If your dresser top has lots of small items like perfumes, corral them on a pretty tray for a neater look. Vintage stores are great places to find trays.
Anyway, once our bedroom had less stuff, it became a more relaxed space. It was so serene, I got inspired to make the room moody and cozy, and I painted one white wall a dark green. (But then I hated the green wall because it made the room too dark, so I repainted it white again, and then I decided we really needed a new comforter, but couldn’t decide on a color, so I spiraled around that topic for a month and finally gave up for now and here we are. But I digress. A lot.)
Decluttering your bedroom is worth the effort. In return, you’ll have a peaceful, calm space. Enjoy!
Some additional tips on bedroom organizing:
- If an item isn’t used for sleeping, intimacy, relaxation, or self-care, it doesn’t belong in your bedroom.
- If your dresser drawers are cluttered, use the closet organizing methods above to pare down your clothes.
- Consider installing floating wall shelves for photos and other objects that clutter surfaces.
- Make your bed every day! It really helps make your bedroom feel uncluttered.
- If you have a chair that routinely collects a pile of clothes, move the chair out or resolve to keep all clothes in the closet.
- Take a discerning look at your bedroom décor, artwork, and throw pillows. Too much of any of those categories can contribute to a cluttered feel.
PS: If rightsizing and organizing feel overwhelming, Big Rocks would be honored to help. Schedule a free exploratory call.
Big Rocks Organizing does not make a commission on any products we recommend, nor are we affiliated with any retailers or online sellers.
Happy organizing!
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About Andrea Thompson
Andrea was an advertising copywriter/creative director for 40 years before retiring, then unretiring to start a new career in organizing, then retiring again to travel the world with her husband, John. She fully admits her home is not 100% organized.