Keep It Clean

(Image courtesy of Bryan Maleszyk)

This is a problem that stretches back to our childhoods - the dreaded messy bedroom. What is it about the space that we sleep in that just seems to get so jumbled up all the time? If you’re having trouble keeping your room neat and orderly it can take its toll on your sleep habits and your ability to relax!

It doesn’t take much to keep your bedroom more presentable and comfortable. Check out these quick steps from apartmenttherapy.com to have your room looking it’s best in no time at all!

1. Change The Sheets There's just something about a freshly made bed that reminds me of my mother. It's like a linen-filled guilt trip that instantly makes the rest of the room more dirty and shameful. By starting here you're willing yourself to make everything else in the space amazing to live up to the crisp, clean standard that sheets set.

2. Remember that Everything Has Its Place One of the most difficult assaults that our bedroom undergoes is the constant struggle for everything to find its place. It's been admittedly more difficult since a recent move and so things have been slightly in upheaval — but by making sure all the little things have a home, it ensures they're not on your floor or furniture. Make a list of everything that hits the floor or top of your dresser for a week and work on creating a solid home for those things. Belts beware, you're about to get a permanent home so I'll quit stepping on you in the middle of the night!

3. Surface Clean Once a Week It's easy to forget about cleaning the surfaces in your bedroom. Schedule time during your week (a few minutes every Saturday morning, for example) to wipe down electronics, furniture, windowsills and mirrors. When you do it each week instead of once a year, it can happen on a commercial break while watching Top Chef even (though there's actually enough commercials on Bravo to clean your entire house by!). Done!

4. Pick Up After Pets In our house we have two dogs. One sleeps in her own dog bed, the other dives under the covers with us. It's easy to assume that as long as one of them isn't yacking up dinner that there isn't much to clean up after. They're easy-going laid back type dogs that don't require much maintenance — but the more I looked, the more I was wrong. I know my bedroom would be a healthier place if I took the time to vacuum the sheets, dog bed and floors every other day like I do my sofa (for the same reason). It would also help pick up the stray fluff from gutted toys. My bedroom isn't a dog cave, but things would stay fresher longer if this was implemented.

5. Thin Down, Throw It Out, Donate It Away It's easy to accumulate clothes, shoes, and accessories you're not 100% in love with. If you don't tailor your clothes then quite often you find yourself struggling to find things that fit just right. Often pieces in your closet will be a little short, a little funky, a little tight, a little baggy — a little "something" that makes you not 100% in love with them. Get them out, thin out what you have and let the things you love shine. You'll always be happy to get dressed and have less to put away or hang up. Our bedroom is extra guilty of this, but "enough is enough" and we're headed to the thrift store this weekend!