Today we’re going to go a little deeper than my usual declutter tips and talk about why and how to purge your bedroom of things that have never even crossed your mind. Think of it as a next-level minimalist bedroom declutter — and it will change the way you think about and use your bedroom forever.
I’ll tell you about the 4 items that are blocking you from having a completely decluttered bedroom that’s easy to maintain. The goal is to create a comfortable and functional space while making life easier and preventing the return of clutter.
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Why You Should Try a Minimalist Bedroom Declutter
We’re going to look at this from the vantage point of ‘make life easier’ AND ‘keep things clutter-free without all the work.’
*Note: If you are new to decluttering or not ready for ‘next-level’ straight talk, then take a step back and go read this post instead: Stop Being a Victim of Clutter {Mindset Transformation}
For the purposes of this blog post, we’re going to assume you have already completed a basic bedroom declutter. But something still doesn’t seem ‘right.’ Every day it feels like you’re fighting against all the stuff.
Change your thinking a little bit from what all the magazines tell you a ‘perfectly coordinated and appointed’ bedroom is supposed to look like. You know… the picture of a room the size of a football field with a massive bed and all the matchy-matchy furniture and decor.
The problem is… those pretty pictures usually don’t happen in real life.
It’s even worse when you live in a small house. Things pile up. And it seems like no matter what you do or how much you declutter, the bedroom always feels cramped and messy.
Let’s try some radical-sounding ideas inspired by minimalism. If you can bring yourself to get rid of these 4 items, I’m sure you will be amazed at how much cleaner and more organized your bedroom feels every day… with less work!
4 Things That Don’t Belong in a Decluttered Bedroom
Here are my recommendations for what needs to go. This is especially important if you have a very small bedroom or want to being moving toward minimalism.
Don’t worry, you can still have a comfy and cozy bedroom!
1. Excess decorative pillows
I can hear it now… gasps and exclamations of, ‘But I love my decorative pillows!’
I get it. They’re cute, or sophisticated, or whatever look you’re going for.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t have ANY decorative pillows. I will ask that you be honest with yourself about how much time, space, and money you have invested in something that truly creates more work for you at least twice a day.
How many times do you just leave all those pillows on the floor instead of artfully placing them on your bed every single day?
How often do you stare at your bed when you’re exhausted and heave a sigh when you think about moving all of those pillows at bedtime?
And if you have a small, cluttered bedroom, where do they end up? On the floor, where you have to kick them out of the way if you need to get up in the middle of the night? On top of clothes baskets full of laundry that haven’t made it into your dresser yet?
Here’s the thing… Those of us who have a problem with clutter usually also have an issue with not dealing with all. the. things. on a consistent basis. We start out with great intentions, but then things get hard. Or boring. Or just. too. much. on top of all the other stuff in our brains.
Could you maybe have 3 decorative pillows instead of 9 or 15 or 27? How about one pretty pillow?
Think about luxury hotel rooms. How many decorative pillows do they have? Oh, right… zero!
A beautiful and comfortable bed does not depend on multitudes of decorative pillows.
A blanket or two provides just as much color and texture. Plus, it’s actually useful and you don’t HAVE to move it twice a day if you don’t want to.. 😉
2. Television
Ouch! The shouts of denial are even louder.
I can understand how you might resist this one, especially if your television is mounted on the wall. And while it may be true that a wall-mounted screen doesn’t take up physical space, it absolutely consumes your mental space and disrupts your natural sleep patterns.
Thinking about the reasons we allow certain items into our space is part of the concept of minimalism. Being intentional about deep decluttering means getting into the mindset of asking questions like, ‘How many screens do I need?’ and, ‘Does this improve my life or distract me?’
Step away from the mindless consuming of information and constant moving images.
Instead, hang a beautiful picture or a meaningful quote on the wall.
When you’re ready, remove ALL screens from the bedroom.
Journal or read a ‘real’ book before you sleep.
Rest your mind and your body.
3. Massive nightstands with lots of ‘storage’
Face it, most of the stuff you keep on and inside your nightstand is just clutter!
Once you get rid of everything except what you really need when you’re tucked in for the night, you can begin to accept to possibility of using a smaller table.
What’s the best solution? A floating bedside table with one drawer.
It will hold everything you need. And best of all, it’s super-easy to vacuum or mop underneath! Bonus points if you have a simple, wall-mounted lamp that takes up zero horizontal space.
4. Dresser
Yep, I said it… and it may have broken your brain. But stay with me while I explain…
(I learned how to live without a dresser over 25 years ago, so I’ve got an experience-backed opinion. 😉 )
Listen, that big old clutter-magnet is doing NOTHING for you! The horizontal surface attracts dust and ‘just for now’ clutter like nothing else on earth.
And those drawers? Tell me, how often does the laundry actually make it into them? And then how easy is it to find what you need?
Okay, maybe the whole clothes-storage issue is slightly easier if you’ve mastered the ‘file fold’ method for your clothes, but have you? Will you? Probably not.
So let’s make life a LOT easier. Get rid of that dresser and keep your clothes in the closet where they belong.
But… but… what if you adore clothes and NEED that storage space? You don’t.
What if your closet is too small? It’s not.
Here’s how to declutter your wardrobe and how to organize a small closet to hold all of your clothes.
Related: Best Clothes Storage Ideas For No Dresser Bedrooms
Benefits of Having a Minimalist Bedroom
At this point, I hope you’re open to the idea of decluttering your bedroom like a minimalist.
But maybe you’re holding back because you’re worried that you’ll lose the feel of your cozy bedroom.
Or that you won’t have enough storage.
Or that clutter will pile up where your monstrous dresser used to sit.
This is part of the decluttering process and another aspect of being a minimalist… mentally accepting permanently open space.
When we’ve always had clutter around us, an empty space us unsettling. Subconsciously, we feel like something is wrong until we fill that space.
Enjoying a minimalist bedroom can take time.
Try getting rid of the things on this list one at a time. Practice keeping your spaces clutter-free. See how it changes your thinking and makes your life easier.
Instead of stressing over clutter, you’ll feel relieved when you spend time in your bedroom retreat.
Plus, your decluttered bedroom will be so much easier to clean. Less to dust, easier to vacuum, and fewer things to move around every. single. day.
While it may seem overwhelming to try a minimalist bedroom declutter, I want to assure you that it’s absolutely possible that you can do this AND that you can love it.
Ditch the clutter and Build Your Best Life.
You’ve got this!
Learn More About Decluttering and Minimalism
Stop Making These 14 Excuses to Avoid Decluttering Clothes — Filling the Jars
Cozy Minimalist Home — Myquillyn Smith
62 Things to Declutter That You Won’t Miss at All — Filling the Jars
Minimalist Bedroom Decorating Ideas — The Spruce
8 Strategies To Use When Your Partner Refuses to Declutter — Filling the Jars
Free Printable >> 30 Day Declutter Challenge
How to Declutter and Donate Your Stuff Without Regret — Filling the Jars
The Minimalist Home — Joshua Becker
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