Reorganizing in your home’s
bedrooms can give you a real sense of renewal for spring. Think about getting back to basics and
protecting your space as the haven it should be. You might just wind up feeling like you have
your own hotel suite around the clock.
Look at each bedroom as you
would imagine a stranger would in order to gain a little distance in your
perspective. Would someone raise an
eyebrow at the kids’ toys taking over the master or the home office space that
started in a corner but has seemingly grown?
Refocus your space on the essentials: sleep, privacy, and clothing
storage. That may mean hauling out items
that just don’t belong and that are choking out your space, rest, and sense of
peace and calm. Reapportion those
non-bedroom items to other appropriate areas of your home, incorporate them
into storage, or remove them altogether through a charity donation.
Take the opportunity to try a
new furniture arrangement to refresh what you have and perhaps get more than
you had before. You may find a way to
add a small seating area in the master bedroom with a new orientation, like
moving the bed to another wall or on an angle or pushing two chests of drawers
together to turn two pieces visually and spatially into one. You may open up space in a child’s bedroom to
take toy storage vertical or incorporate a desk area as they progress through
school or now have some room for a new storage piece in your guest room. Work off the premise of keeping the
essentials and making them as attractive and functional as your space allows. On a smaller scale, rearrange your wall art
or small décor pieces within a room, or swap things out from other rooms for a
new look without making a purchase.
Do some reorganizing. If you didn’t really hit the dresser drawers
during your closet organization, sift and sort and make sure what you’re
storing is being worn, not just cramming your drawers. Clean off the nightstand tops of items that
just seem to be piled there, and go through the drawers for a clean out. Clear out under the bed, vacuum with the wand
extensively, and only put back what is stored neatly. Under-the-bed storage bins are great low
profile storage pieces that can easily be pulled out and pushed back, and they
keep loose items from just being shoved under.
Use them to store things like gift wrap rolls, flat packed bags,
additional shoes, travel or seasonal accessories, or nail care supplies.
Expend the energy for some
deeper cleaning. Vacuum under furniture,
even if you don’t rearrange the room. Launder drapery panels if that’s an
option, and give the windows and blinds a thorough cleaning. Launder the bed skirt, comforter, blankets,
and shams that aren’t cleaned in your regular routine. Clean baseboards, door knobs, and light
switches right along with your furniture dusting and mirror cleaning.
The bedrooms are supposed to
be the quiet, restful retreats in your home.
The effort to ensure they function that way will be well worth it when
you stand back and marvel at your spring-ready spaces. Now, get some good sleep. Next
week: the home office!
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 16th.
