This Is the Best Method for Decluttering Your Bedroom (Get It Organized in Under an Hour!)

Written by

Stephanie NguyenSenior Editor of Cleaning & Organizing at Apartment Therapy
Stephanie NguyenSenior Editor of Cleaning & Organizing at Apartment Therapy
I cover all the ways to make your home sparkle with decluttering tricks, cleaning tips, and organizing hacks. I have more than five years of experience working in media and hold degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I Iive with my husband and dog in Hawaiʻi.
published Sep 24, 2024
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Credit: Erin Derby

Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure is a free two-week decluttering program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Sign up here and get all 14 assignments delivered to your inbox.

As the place where you start and end your day, your bedroom should be peaceful and tidy so you can rest and recharge easily. But if it’s currently a mess, that can directly affect both of those things.

Today, let’s calm things down by clearing the clutter so we can all sleep better tonight.

Day 9: Declutter your bedroom.

Today’s assignment is to declutter your bedroom, and we highly recommend setting a timer for a time that’s manageable for you — whether it’s 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour — and see what you can get done in that time. Here’s where to look and what to look for to get that done.

Where to look:

  • In and around side tables and nightstands
  • In and around the dresser and other surfaces
  • Consoles and armoires
  • Closets 
  • Hooks and storage racks
  • Vanity tables
  • Open shelves
  • Under and around the bed
  • On and inside a storage ottoman or bench
  • Wherever your clothes pile up, such as on a chair or in a corner of the room

What to look for:

  • Trash
  • Paper, such as notes, receipts, or clothing tags
  • Books and magazines
  • Drinking glasses and mugs
  • Remote controls and electronics
  • Phone chargers and cords that aren’t being used
  • Random objects and decor
  • Dingy or old sheets and linens
  • Hangers or sleeves to take back to the dry cleaners
  • Safety pins and bobby pins
  • Out-of-place grooming supplies, makeup, or jewelry
  • Clothes piled and draped where they shouldn’t be
  • Socks
  • Shoes, handbags, and accessories where they don’t belong

When the timer is up, stop decluttering! Take the items that don’t belong and return them to where they belong or sort them into your outboxes. Throw any trash away.

PRO TIP: Once your bedroom looks clutter-free, consider introducing organizational finds to keep it that way. Find the best bedroom organizers, like this under-bed storage find, in our 2024 Organization Awards.

How much did you declutter in your bedroom? Tell us in our community forum!

More ways to participate in the Decluttering Cure:

The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.

Join the Decluttering Cure Community