The bedroom is supposed to be a personal haven—a serene, clean space removed from the frantic pace of the rest the household. And yet, keeping this spot from verging into chaos can be a headache, even for professional organizers.
The folks who actually live and breathe interior beauty and streamlined order admit to having a blind spot (or three) in the boudoir.
“I always feel like I nail the visuals, but struggle with some of my own organization, especially when it’s tucked behind a door or in a drawer,” says Drew Henry of Design Dudes.
To help, here’s a look at spots in the bedroom that are hard for all of us, even the pros, to control. Here’s how to organize these areas so that this room is as restful as can be.
1. Messy closet
There’s a reason #messycloset has thousands of posts. A disastrous bedroom closet is an easy sin to commit because you can simply slam the door and no one has to know about your scary sweater mountain within.
“The bedroom may be perfectly curated and a total Zen retreat, but the closet will be a total mess for most designers—there has to be a place to store all those swatches and samples after all,” says Henry.
The fix: Baskets, bags, or cloth bins to corral shoes, scarves, handbags, and more. Or try an over-the-door shoe holder for other small items like belts and things that end up jumbled on closet shelves.
2. Cluttered bedside table
How restful can your slumber be if the last thing you spy before drifting off is a cluttered bedside table? Both experts and regular folks are guilty of allowing this blind spot to become a catchall for water bottles, coffee mugs, readers, work files, lotion, lip balm, and more.
The fix: A side table with drawers is a start; though, this just means lots of your stuff will migrate to a more hidden spot. The better bet is to sort these items and then keep only five (or fewer) on the top, ideally in a pretty tray or shallow basket. In the end, you should have your glasses, tissues, and maybe one other personal care item, plus a light to read by.
3. Stacks of books
Reading was at an all-time high during the COVID-19 pandemic—and books migrated to the floors of our bedrooms. But teetering stacks next to the bed and on the dresser aren’t going to inspire you to pick up a juicy novel and tuck under the covers.
The fix: A bed with built-in storage for tomes is an ideal solution, but getting a new bed and frame isn’t in the cards for most folks. The cheaper, easier way to get your books in order is to donate the ones you can live without and then stash the rest in an attractive ottoman or storage bench.
4. Luggage that remains unpacked
Photo by Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design
Packing cute sandals and a new sun hat for vacation is fun, but doing the reverse is a tough chore—and it’s one the pros like to avoid.
“I would love to say that I unpack right away after a trip, but I usually let my bags sit in the bedroom for a while,” says Katie McCann, the organizing professional at Haven.
And you know what happens to this large roller in your room? Your bathrobe gets draped on top, as well as a pair of sweatpants and a tank top, and pretty soon your room has gotten way out of control.
The fix: Can’t stand to unpack? Slide your suitcase into the (now cleaned-up) closet, and let it rest there until you have 10 minutes to devote to it. Or unpack half of it, and then save the rest for another day.
5. Clothing piles on chairs
McCann also cops to clothes in a heap in her bedroom that she just can’t seem to put away as quickly as she’d like.
Julie Coraccio, the organizational expert at Reawaken Your Brilliance, reports having “clothes on a chair as we speak because there are things like jeans that I’ll wear more than once—I’m trying to be green.”
Donning items multiple times is definitely earth-friendly, but if you can’t see the accent chair for all of the T-shirts you’ve piled on it, it’s time to intervene.
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