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Decluttering your bedroom may seem like a daunting task, but it’s not. It doesn’t matter if your bedroom is small or large. The mechanics of decluttering remain the same—throw away, keep, and organize. All you need are: (a) a strong resolve to get rid of the things you want to keep but don’t need to, (b) several garbage bags, and most important of all, (c) time. For busy people like me, taking on this task is simply just a matter of when, not how. Join me as I declutter my bedroom – you just might find inspiration to do the same to yours. The mechanics of decluttering 1. Segregate your clutter. This part is equally fun and difficult. Fun because I find it enjoyable (even therapeutic) to group similar things together, discover the things I’ve hidden away for so long and forgotten, and find things that I can sell in our family’s annual garage sale. I find segregating difficult as well because it’s really tough to decide on which things you want to throw away or keep! Get three garbage bags and label each one with “garbage,” “donate/sell,” and “keep.” Go around each area of your bedroom and segregate all the things that are out of place or taking too much space into the three bags. Be heartless! Throw away all the stuff you don’t really need! You’d be surprised to find out that much of bedroom clutter actually consists of paper. Do throw away old bank statements, old credit card bills, junk mail, printouts you don’t need anymore, and old magazines. As for personal letters, well, this is a tough decision to make. Personally, I don’t have the heart to throw away the letters and cards I’ve received from friends and family over the years, so I keep them under my closet. But if you’re not the sentimental type, then go ahead and get rid of them. Raid your closet and pull out the clothes, shoes, and bags you’ve outgrown or don’t want anymore and put them in the “donate/sell” bag. Your closet will breathe much easier without them taking up precious space. Still have the gifts you didn’t like or couldn’t use from last Christmas? If yes, then throw them away, donate, or sell them. Scour your dresser for expired cosmetics or products you haven’t used in months and chuck them out. Do not forget to check underneath your bed (God knows what stuff you’ve been hiding in there). 2. Find a home for all the things you want to keep. After you’ve segregated the things you want to keep, seal the bags containing garbage and those for sale or donation. Be sure to take the trash out right away so you won’t be tempted to take them back. You can keep those for sale or donation in the garage or basement in the meantime. The next thing you should do is put away the things you want to keep in their proper places. Photos should go to the photo boxes or photo albums. Pens, small notebooks, and writing pads should be placed in your work area near your computer (if you have one in your bedroom). Arrange misplaced books back in their designated shelves. If you discover that you do not have spaces to put some of your stuff in, then make space. Utilize the area under your bed. Line up several plastic pullout drawers underneath where you can store items that do not need to be displayed such as arts and craft materials, letters, and other knickknacks. Be sure to label each drawer so you’ll know where to look for what. Set up a vertical wall shelf—it is a great way of freeing up much needed floor space. Aside from books, CDs, and DVDs, you can also use it for storing baskets, photo boxes, and other storage bins. Bottomline is, everything should have its own place. 3. Arrange your stuff properly. The key to maintaining an organized and clutter-free bedroom is arranging all the stuff in your bedroom properly. Keep frequently used items or the most important things to you within easy reach. I’m guilty of pulling a book from my bookshelves across the bed and placing it on my bedside table after I’m done with it. Before I know it, I have five books stacked untidily on it. If you love to read before going to bed, keep a small basket beside your bed where you can keep a neat pile of books. You can put them back in their shelves and get a new batch after you’ve finished with them. Put similar things together in one place especially in your closet, so you do not have to rummage through piles of clothing just to find what you need. Maintaining a decluttered bedroom Is this even possible? I’ve managed to keep my bedroom clutter-free for a few weeks, so of course it is! It’s going to be a challenge, but it is doable. Just like in any endeavor, baby steps should be taken at first to reach the ultimate goal successfully. In this case, you can check your room every morning before leaving for work for items obviously out of place, and then put them back where they belong. Decluttering in small ways can save you the trouble of doing one big production later on. Up next: Decluttering your kitchen | 
