Do you make these bedroom organization mistakes?

Inside: common mistakes people make in the process of organizing their bedrooms, and how to avoid them

Bedroom organization mistakes – that doesn’t even sound like it should be a thing, does it? I mean, how hard is it to organize a bedroom? Not too hard if you know how to do it effectively.

But what if you don’t know or are not sure if your system is effective? Read on and see if you do any of the following:

Organizing clutter

No matter how neatly stacked, clutter is clutter. Look around for things you don’t use or wear. Why are they still there? Is it because you just haven’t had time to do something about them? 

Remember, clutter is the result of delayed decisions. So stop delaying, decide what you really want in your future, and discard the rest. For more on this, read how to declutter your bedroom step-by-step.

Shopping for organizers before you know what you really need

This is a pretty classic mistake many people make when they’re organizing their bedrooms. It goes like this:

You walk around Target and see pretty baskets. And you think, oh, those would look nice in the bedroom. So you buy a few and bring them home where they join your existing collection of pretty baskets, boxes, and other organizers. 

The only thing is, when you actually start organizing your bedroom, you realize none of your baskets is the right size. Well, you’re not alone, hehe. But there is a better way.

After decluttering, take stock of what you’re keeping. Grouping like things together, you’ll quickly get a good sense of how much space they’ll require and what type and size of organizer will be best for them. Then it makes sense to buy it.

Choosing form over function

Pretty baskets and organizers are all fine and dandy, but not if they make it difficult to get what you need quickly. Or worse, if putting things away becomes such a hassle that you simply avoid doing it and leave them wherever. That’s the exact scenario we’re trying to prevent.

Think about it: your favorite winter boots may spend much of the year in their box on the top shelf in your closet. But come wintertime, that won’t work, right? You won’t want the hassle of stuffing them with paper and putting them up on that shelf in the evening only to take them back out the next morning. 

The idea with organizing is to make sure things you use frequently are within easy reach and also easy to put away. For some items, like your winter boots, the right solution may change depending on the season. For other things, like jewelry, one solution may serve you year-round.

Leaving fresh laundry on the bed without folding it

Ugh, this one gets me every time! Why even bother to do laundry if you’re going to leave it in a heap to become a wrinkled mess? 

It looks like an eyesore. And it’s a source of stress because you know you still need to get it done. Remember what I said about clutter and delayed decisions? Yeah, it applies here too.

Seriously, fold, hang, and put away your fresh laundry right away. It takes only a few minutes, but it saves you stress and embarrassment. And it can eliminate almost all ironing. Total win.

This is one of those habits that can really affect your bedroom organization. If you figure that laundry isn’t done until it’s put away, it will help keep your bedroom neat and uncluttered.

Overstuffing drawers

This is another habit that results in a wrinkly mess. And what is the point, really? I’ve never met anyone who actually gets to the bottom of their overstuffed drawer. (If you’re that person, please let me know in the comments below.)

Overstuffed dresser drawers are typically the result of keeping a bunch of clothes you don’t wear. They live in the drawer, filling the first half or so of it. And the clothes you do wear? Those poor things get squished on top so you can close the drawer. 

Instead, just declutter the clothes you no longer wear. If it’s a matter of the weather, then put the out-of-season clothes elsewhere and give your current rotation some breathing room. And if the clothes don’t fit (or aren’t fit for wearing), are the wrong colors, or you just don’t like them, then get rid of them. No point letting them occupy the real estate if they’re not paying rent.

Leaving things for tomorrow

It’s the I’ll get to it later syndrome. But really, if you think about it, which would you rather do? Take two minutes to tidy up or spend an hour or more decluttering after weeks of added stress from the growing clutter? 

Just do it right when you see it. Taking immediate quick action will save you a lot more time later. I’m going to spare you my big prevention spiel here, but this is the gist: do a little bit now to avoid having to do a lot more later.

So if you see a receipt on top of the dresser, decide what you’re doing with it and do it right then. Need to keep it? File it. If it’s for a return, make that return. And if you don’t need it, shred or trash it. Easy-peasy, and your bedroom keeps looking like the peaceful sanctuary it should be. 

Not being careful about what comes in

Minding what you bring into the bedroom is all about maintenance – keeping your bedroom peacefully uncluttered. Maybe you drop a bag of stuff in the corner, with every intention of taking it to your craft studio that day. But a week later, it’s still in the bedroom. (No? maybe just me then, hehe)

At any rate, think about what you’re adding to your bedroom. Does it help the space be your peaceful sanctuary? If it does, find a good home for it in the bedroom. If it doesn’t, don’t even bring it in; put it where it truly needs to go.

Final thoughts

So, did you find yourself in any of these bedroom organization mistakes? If so, no worries. They’re all simple habits that are easy to change if you put your mind to it. Then you can be a total rock star with an uncluttered restful bedroom to help you recharge.