Clean spaces create a calm environment for sleep. Many, both adults and children, can achieve better sleep when there is less to process in the morning hours when they wake up. Plus, some people find that cleaning clears their minds before bedtime so they can fall asleep more quickly and easily than if they left their room cluttered. If your messy room is impeding your sleep, here are some helpful tips for organizing your space:
1. Hang some shelves
Hanging some shelves can be a great way to give clutter a place to go, especially if you have a lot of stuff that has found a home on the floor. These aren’t just for clothes or art supplies either; they can be used as bookshelves, nightstands, and displays. Organizational shelves also don’t have to be ugly—they are available in many shapes and colors, including letters you can use to spell words, meaning they can become an important part of your home decor.
2. Utilize under bed storage
If your style is more low-profile and you don’t want to hang any shelves, under-bed storage is always a great option. It won’t take up much room, it’s out of sight, and everything will still be easily accessible, so the clutter can stay organized. You can buy storage boxes that slide under the bed or build a close-to-the-floor box frame from an old shelf or particle board.
3. Use stackable containers
Stackable containers are great because you can store them in the closet, basement or attic, and they take up much less space than traditional boxes. They’re also waterproof, dustproof, and easy to label and pull out without having to sort through a disorganized pile of boxes.
4. Hang or put away clothing
There’s nothing worse than piles of clothing all over your room. You don’t know what’s clean and what’s dirty, so you wash all of it, increasing laundry cost. Luckily, there are a few different ways you can tackle this—buy some hangers so you can hang your clothes in a closet, or fold them and put them away in a wardrobe, crates, or bins.
5. Pack away seasonal clothing and sentimental objects you don’t use
This is an excellent idea for your seasonal clothing if you don’t want to hang it up. Put all your winter clothes, coats, and boots in storage boxes, crates, or bins until the snow flies (and vice versa for summer clothing) and put them in the attic or another storage location where they won’t get lost or damaged. If you don’t have space for this closet purging, consider donating what you don’t use to Goodwill or a similar charity. This is also a great strategy for keeping sentimental items out of sight without completely disposing of them.
6. Get rid of electronics
Electronics can be a big reason for clutter and dust. If you don’t use them anymore, donate them or take them to an electronics recycling facility (especially if they don’t work). You’ll feel better about your space and the environment without them.
7. Don’t mix everything together
If your room has a lot of different things in it, separate them into groups so you can better locate them when you need them. For example, you probably have a lot of books that are related to each other. Try placing all of your books on a shelf together, perhaps sorted by subject or author, so you know exactly where to look when you want a specific book. Sorting things into piles and boxes is an excellent way to start doing some organizing. You can sort by room, then by category, and then alphabetize or label each if needed.
