The first area I’m going to tackle is the bedroom, but keep your eyes out for two more instalments coming in the next few weeks.
Bedrooms are sanctuaries
I believe the bedroom is the most important room in the house. It’s where you refresh, recharge and are most intimate. It should be the fortress you (and your partner) use to escape the occasional insanity of the world around you. It should be your sanctuary – the most welcoming of places in your home. But that doesn’t work if it’s a mess. Study after study shows that an organised space helps calm your stress levels down. So, if you’re having trouble finding the peace you deserve in your bedroom, here are some tips to help you create a place of zen.
3 THINGS TO THROW
1. How much linen do you really need?
Extra bed linen should be donated to an animal shelter. If it’s soiled, torn, or just a colour that you no longer use, get rid of it. There are puppies who need these things more than you do and I guarantee your local animal shelter will thank you for it.
2. Pillows aren’t really a decoration
Any more than two pillows per person is usually more than you really need. They look nice in magazines, but if your bedroom isn’t neat it may be because your bed is hard to make up every day. Again, if you have trouble with clutter, take a good look at whether you really need the purely decorative stuff on your bed, like extra pillows or throws, or whether they’re just getting in your way on a day-to-day basis. If your ‘decorator items’ are getting in the way then it’s time to say goodbye to them.
3. Your bedroom is not a library
If you have more than two magazines or two books on your bedside table then it’s time to tidy up and get them out of your bedroom. Keeping that area less cluttered and more organised will help make the bedroom feel more welcoming and I promise your mind will feel more at ease, too.
3 THINGS TO KEEP
1. The faithful laundry basket
A laundry basket in the wardrobe is a small but essential addition to any bedroom. I’m definitely more a fan of a basket that can be brought directly to the washing machine than having a laundry hamper that you have to move clothes from. It saves a step, lets you know where your laundry belongs and – ideally – motivates you to get that washing done.
2. Only keep the clothes you wear
You wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time, so I’m guessing there are a lot of clothes in your closet that you seldom, if ever, wear. Your wardrobe should only have the clothes you love and are currently wearing. Everything else needs to get moved out of the main wardrobe (and possibly out of your home).
3. Create calm and not clutter
Once the room has been decluttered, bring in a couple of small things that help you relax and make your bedroom your special place. A candle, a warm blanket, some music. But don’t overdo it. A little can go a long way.
These lists could go on and on but if you start here with just these, I guarantee your bedroom will look far more organised and peaceful than it has in the past. Get to it and good luck!
This article was sourced from realestate.com.au