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Picture your bedroom as a serene place that lulls you to sleep and
makes you feel relaxed. If your bedroom isn't there yet, maybe it is time
to create that nurturing atmosphere.
Start by standing in your doorway and examining your room with a pad of
paper and a pen. On your pad, list anything that annoys you, how you
visualize your ideal bedroom, and any organizing ideas that pop into your
head.
Now gather your giveaway, put away, and throw away boxes or bags. The
first place to go is the bed. Have someone little take out all that
stuff from under your bed. Then vacuum it. Start sorting the shoes,
memorabilia and dirty clothes. Storing things under the bed is a good idea if
you have one or two labeled under- the-bed storage boxes to keep things
dust free. Everything else needs to find another home.
How about your bed? Do you need to change the sheets? Do you need new
ones? What shape are your comforter and pillows in? List any dream
purchases on your paper.
Let's look at the bedside table(s). Empty the drawers. Get rid of the
clutter and sort and rearrange what is left. Does what is in your end
tables help to give a sense of peace to your room? Now clear off the top
of the bedside tables and dust or polish them. Now what are you going
to put back that you really want? I like to keep a couple books, a
notebook and a pen, a light (if you don't have those wonderful lights that
go above your bed attached to the wall), and a little glass bowl to put
my earrings in that I always forget to take off till I'm snuggled under
the covers.
OK break time, have a drink of water, read a chapter in your novel and
come back in a bit.
Onto the dresser. Take out your drawers one at a time and sort through
the clothes. You know what to do with the ones that you no longer wear,
don't you? Any out of season clothes should be in a storage box to be
put in a less convenient place. You might think of getting drawer
dividers for your socks, underwear, jewelry or makeup. Put the rest of your
clothes back in your dresser, it is best if you use one drawer per item
so all your clothes aren't jumbled together.
Now clear off the dresser, all the way off. Dust and polish it. You can
spray the mirror too while you are there. Sort through the things on
the dresser. If you have a lot of knick knacks maybe you could put some
in storage and take them out seasonally. After awhile you don't notice
the pretty things in your house but if you switch things around your
house can be fresher. You might also consider a tray for makeup, knick
knacks or hair care. When you need to dust you just lift the tray and you
are all done. What is on your dresser that helps make the bedroom a
refuge? I have a little fountain, a picture of my husband and me when I
was in college, a jewelry box, my alarm clock/CD player and some candles.
That's it.
Do you have any bookcases or entertainment centers that need to be
cleared out? You might even consider having them all the way out of your
room. Personally we like our entertainment center in the bedroom that way
we can watch a movie in there while the kids are watching a movie in
the living room. It also gives me space for my many books, hidden behind
the door. On top of it are tons of candles.
Do you have a desk in your room? Is there any way to get it out of your
room? Your room will be so much more relaxing if you don't see
paperwork when you are trying to rest. If not, maybe you can block it off with
a pretty screen or a quilt on a clothesline.
Now to set the mood. Pretty flowers on the dresser. Meaningful pictures
on the wall. Candles for romantic nights. A radio/CD player for playing
soulful music. Handmade blankets. Lovely pillows piled high on the bed.
Whatever your taste is, you can make your bedroom into a peaceful
haven. Especially without the clutter.
How can you make your bedroom a haven?
Beth Dargis works with overwhelmed women to create saner, simpler
lives. http://www.encouragingcoach.com.
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