Losing sleep over a messy bedroom? Here’s how to get organised 

Organising professional Craig Hoareau, managing director of A Tidy Mind London and Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO) member, says:, “A disorganised bedroom can make you feel stressed and anxious, leaving you with this nagging feeling of tasks left unfinished – meaning an organised bedroom can indeed boost your sleep quality.” 

So if you’re looking for bedroom ideas that will get your room in tip-top shape, here are the expert’s thoughts on creating (and maintaining) a neat and tidy room that you’ll love spending time in.

The first step of your organising mission is to declutter your bedroom. Not only is it much trickier to organise a bedroom which has too much ‘stuff’ in it – but it also means you won’t need to worry about housing items that you don’t use or want anyway. 

“Go through all your belongings and sort them into a keep pile, a donate pile and a discard pile. You need to be honest with yourself – if it hasn’t been used in the last few years, donate it,” Elaine Penhaul, interiors expert and director of home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors, suggests.

“This step is crucial as it lays the foundations for an organised space. Only once you are left with the items you wish to keep is it time to allocate them an all-important space.”

Another important consideration for organising your bedroom so that it works for you, is to think about the ways in which you actually use the room. To figure this out, Penhaul says: “We suggest creating zones, by dividing your bedroom up into, for example, sleeping, dressing, working (if needed) and relaxation. This will ensure that each zone serves its purpose effectively.”

Zones will help you to work out what items need to go where, and if, for example, you need to make adjustments to ensure a ‘zone’ works better for you.

However, Penhaul urges that “It’s important to remember that the primary function of the bedroom is to sleep, and so this must be your central focus.”

There’s no need to stuff your wardrobe full of every item of clothing you own. Instead, Simon Glanville, managing director at organisation company A Place for Everything, suggests only hanging your clothing for the correct season, and stowing the rest away (decluttering your wardrobe is always a good idea too). 

“Most of us don’t have the wardrobe space to hang our summer and winter clothes. If this is your wardrobe organisation dilemma, then folding and boxing out-of-season clothes is the solution. Pop unused items, such as winter jumpers in summer, on a top shelf or under the bed,” Glanville insists.  

An ottoman-style storage bed is an ideal place to stow clothes you aren’t wearing. Just be sure to follow our tips for how to get rid of moths to make sure they aren’t munched on by moth larvae. Wash your clothes before you store then, and place them in vacuum-packed bags to save space.

Shoes can be a difficult item to organise and store given their awkward size. So instead of cluttering the bottom of your wardrobe, the experts suggest utilising an over-the-door solution. “The obvious product is the over-door hanger for dressing gowns, jackets and coats – but an over-door shoe rack is a game-changer,” Glanville says.

“They don’t need to be bulky and depending on the size they can fit as many as 30 pairs in there – and all taking up the space on the unused back of your door,” he explains. 

If you have storage space under the bed, you’ll likely know that it’s a prime spot for storing lesser used items. But knowing how to organise it to ensure it doesn’t turn into a messy pile of clothes is another issue entirely. 

The best option is to keep it simple – either by storing your items in clear storage boxes or vacuum-packed bags, for items you won’t need until a new season. 

Penhaul says, “Just ensure that whatever you choose is sealable, as the space under the bed can often get dusty.” In fact, organising expert and founder of Restore The Calm, Gillian Gudgeon, concurs, “I specifically put delicate knitwear and coats, which are at risk of moth attacks, in a vacuum-sealed bag.”

Another vital trick for organising this space is to use labels, Penhaul explains. “This way, you can easily identify what is in each box.” 

If you struggle with organising your bedroom due to a lack of floor space, Katherine Harris, founder of A Fresh Start and APDO member, suggests that adding extra hanging space is easier than you might think.  

For example, “Stick command hooks inside the wardrobe door or even to your bedside table,” she says. “These can be used to hang belts or necklaces, and will stop them from getting tangled or damaged. Bags can also be kept tidy using command hooks. The largest ones can take the weight of a handbag and these can be stuck to the sides of the wardrobe too, to keep the bags off the floor.” 

Though hooks and hangers are helpful, you don’t need to hang everything you own up. In fact, it could mean you’re losing out on valuable storage space.

“Hanging everything eats into space; instead, Tt-shirts, knitwear, fitness wear and jeans can all be folded and stacked side by side, (not piled, where they get creased) on shelves and cubby holes. I’d also recommend using storage boxes and adjustable dividers in these spaces to help retain and control,” Gudgeon suggests.

In fact, the experts agree that most items should be hidden away in drawers, rather than on open shelving, which should be reserved for decorative items. “We’re aiming for a peaceful environment in the bedroom, and anything placed on shelves can interrupt this flow,” Gudgeon says. “If you do have a shelf, aim for it to be somewhere you place just one or two cherished keepsakes.”

Being clever with your bedroom storage is one of the best ways for planning how to organise a bedroom, as the space can easily feel messy if items aren’t put away in some sort of order. 

For beauty products, consider a lazy Susan carousel. Hoareau explains: “It makes accessing things very easy, and works well in a bedroom for beauty products and perfumes – given that you can easily spin it round to choose the product you need in a hurry.” 

Too much furniture in your bedroom could be adding to your disorganisation – as it’s simply another form of clutter. Organisation expert Kate Ibbotson, founder of A Tidy Mind and APDO member says, “There are numerous items such as desks, sofas or armchairs intended for the bedroom, that aren’t always necessary.”

So unless you need your bedroom to double as an office space, keep furniture to the essentials. A bed, a bedside table, a wardrobe, and perhaps a chest of drawers should be enough. 

And if you can, go bespoke with your furniture to make use of all available space. “If you have the budget, consider hiring a handyman to build a bespoke wardrobe,” Gudgeon said. “You’ll then have many options regarding shelves and rails, and it will maximise space far better than a free-standing wardrobe.”

We’ve all been guilty of managing a ‘floordrobe at some point. But if you want an organised bedroom, this is a huge no-no. Your floor should be clear, aside from your furniture and any rugs.

To avoid this, the most important action to put into place is ensuring everything has a home. Have a permanent spot for your most-used items, be it handbags or gym clothes. These are the items most commonly left to languish without a home

And if you can’t trust yourself, add a basket or two. Then scoop any floor clutter into these for an instant clean up.