MAKE IT CUTE

After years of living in them, our bedrooms have a tendency to become a place of clutter, holding all of the items that we rarely and regularly use. And, let's be honest, we all have that one spot in our room where we keep the junk we just can't part with. The problem is, though, that clutter takes up useful space and can make a room feel smaller than it really is. So if you’re looking to organize your room this summer, start in one of these three areas. 

The Junk Drawer

The junk drawer is usually, well, filled with junk. It may also hold things we use, but most of the time it is full of stuff we don’t even know how we obtained.

Step One: Empty It

The best way to re-organize a junk drawer is to take everything out. Yes, this might take a while, but it’s the only way to make sure you’re getting out every unnecessary item.

Step Two (Optional): Line It

If you want a quick and easy way to beautify your drawer while you have it empty, wipe your drawer clean and lay down some contact paper. It might even inspire you use it more purposefully in the future. Here’s a cute pattern.

Step Three: Organize It 

The next step is to organize the drawer, so that it doesn’t become a junk drawer again in the near future. There are a few ways to do this. The first is to get dividers.

For smaller drawers for a desk I recommend these:

But for a larger drawer in your dresser, I recommend getting baskets such as these:

Organize your items within these baskets or dividers by item type or use. For example, if you're organizng a desk drawer, put all your writing utensils in one section and all your Post-its in another. This way everything has a place.

Under the Bed

Underneath the bed is the hallowed ground of forgotten teddy bears, socks and hair ties. But under the bed can be a great storage ground instead. 

Step One: Clean it

Before you begin to use under your bed for storage, clean out everything that’s already under there. Don’t be afraid to throw out something that you don’t use anymore.

Step Two: Bin it

Once the area is clear and vacuumed, get some big storage bins like these:

You can use them to hold your out of season clothes and shoes, or anything else you don't wear or use regularly. You can really keep anything in storage bins, and if you label them, they will be easier to pack and sift through when you need something. 

The Closet

You’ll be surprised by how much easier your life will be after you organize your closet.

Step One: Organize the middle

Begin to re-order your hanging clothes in a way that makes them easier to find. People commonly organize their closets by color, clothing type or season. By keeping your clothes in a specific order, things are less likely to go missing - and it will take much less effort to put an outfit together. 

Step Two: Organize the bottom

For the bottom part of your closet (that’s usually packed with mismatched shoes and dirty laundry) I suggest a shoe rack like this:

It will also make your mornings easier by having each shoe next to its pair. 

Step Three: Organize the top

If you have a shelf above your clothes in your closet, this is for you. For this area, I suggest getting fabric storage boxes like these to place things in.

This is where I keep my hats, scarves, and other miscellaneous items that don’t technically don’t have a “place”. 

Spending a day reorganizing these clutter-prone spots will to help make to make your room feel spacious and new–and who wouldn't want that?

What’s the most cluttered part of your room? Will you put any of these tips to use?

Photo credit: Everyday Organizing,Angie's List, Decoist.

by Sarah Fritz | 7/5/2016