Take a look around. The room you are sitting in right now has a vibe—an intangible something about its condition and arrangement that creates a feeling in you. What is it? What is the vibe of the room you are sitting in right now?
What feeling does it create?
This is an important, often overlooked principle—but it is true about every physical space in our lives. If you close your eyes and place yourself inside your home’s most cluttered room, you can almost feel the weight of the clutter as it produces stress and anxiety on your shoulders. This is a truth that should not be overlooked any longer.
It is important to be aware of how a space makes you feel because every room in your home has a purpose—and the vibe or feeling of a room should match that purpose. This is a principle that applies to every room in your home… but is especially apparent when it comes to your bedroom.
Imagine your dream-come-true bedroom. What three words would you use to describe how it makes you feel?
Now, would you use those same words to describe your current bedroom?
If not, chances are that the problem has less to do with what you don’t have, and more to do with what you do have—and need to get rid of. If you want your bedroom to give you those dream-come-true feels, I have a word for you: minimalism.
Minimalism is the intentional promotion of our greatest values and the removal of anything that distracts us from them. It is about reducing the number of your possessions until you get to the best possible level for you and your family. It’s not about owning less than you need… it’s about owning exactly what you need.
Minimalism is individual, freeing, and life promoting.
So don’t worry. Converting your room into a minimalist bedroom does not mean sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor. It means you reduce distractions so you can optimize purpose.
Clarify Purpose
To begin, think about the unique purpose for your bedroom. The master bedroom is probably mostly for rest and intimacy with your spouse, though you may also use it for such things as reading or study. If you have kids, they, too, need calming rooms to go back to for downtime, play, to do homework, and to sleep at night. Similarly, if you have a guest room, this is a place you can offer your overnight guests to relax in private and get a good night’s sleep while they’re away from home.
As you focus your attention on minimizing your bedroom, look at your possessions and ask of every item, Do we need this? Does it help the room accomplish its purpose? Does it contribute to the type of atmosphere necessary for those goals?
Clarifying the purpose of your bedroom doesn’t automatically remove the clutter, but it does provide an essential framework for your decision-making process.
For example, in the master bedroom, does the television on your dresser promote rest or intimacy, or does it detract from these goals? Is the pile of magazines or books in the corner helpful to you? Does that cluttered nightstand or dresser bring you calm and relaxation? When the answer to any of those questions is no, the item should go.
How to Minimize Your Bedroom
As you attack your bedroom’s clutter, be thoughtful, be methodical, and be confident you’ll get it done. Then use these steps to give your bedroom the makeover (and vibe) it deserves.
1. Relocate things that don’t belong.
Are there items in your bedroom that belong elsewhere? A pile of paperwork, books, old computer equipment, empty boxes, arts and craft supplies, dirty laundry? Put those items where they belong before focusing on what’s left in the bedroom.
2. Clear the floors.
Leave nothing on the floors except furniture (and I’m going to challenge you on that in a minute). Consider storage containers, book piles, exercise equipment, or items placed in your bedroom temporarily that have begun to make themselves at home long term. Which of these things can you throw out, donate, or sell?
3. Clear surfaces.
Minimize items on your dressers, nightstands, and any shelving. These might include souvenirs, decorations, crafts, plants, piles of paper, and photos. You don’t need to eliminate everything, of course, but too often a flat surface becomes a magnet for clutter, so don’t hold back in your removal process. Keep out your most treasured items—those items that help you relax or recall happy memories. Remove anything that distracts you or stirs up anxiety, regret, or guilt. Even items that are used regularly can detract from the purpose of the room—look for ways to store them out of sight.
4. Decide how to use closets and drawers.
I know some people who store all their clothes in the closet and have eliminated the need for a dresser. And I know others, without closet space, who choose to store clothes in dresser drawers. But one thing I have found to be consistently true—the fewer clothes you keep, the more options you have for storing them in an uncluttered manner. The same goes for anything you are trying to shove in closets, drawers, and dressers…
5. Pare down decorations.
Reject decorations that simply match the colors of a bedspread; choose instead to portray images with meaning that direct your attention toward things that matter. Your decorations should tell your unique story or serve a unique purpose.
6. Get rid of furniture.
After minimizing some of the possessions in your bedroom, maybe you have a piece of furniture—or more than one—you can remove. Nothing else will make as big an impact in minimizing a bedroom as getting rid of furniture. It frees up floor space, wall space, and mental space. If you have a closet, do you really need the dresser and the armoire? What about the two nightstands, the bookcase, and the storage trunk?
7. Make the best use of under-the-bed space.
The problem with most under-the-bed spaces is that they quickly become places for hoarding unnecessary things. Our closets are full, our drawers are full . . . and the next available space is under the bed.
Let’s be clear—that’s not what I’m talking about when I encourage you to use the under-the-bed space. I am talking about being intentional with the items you keep there.
I use the space under my bed for storing useful items I don’t want to leave out in the open. Under my side of the bed, I store the books I am currently reading (because I no longer use a nightstand). My wife keeps a few boxes of keepsakes under her side as well. We live in a house with no basement or attic, so using that space under the bed has been helpful to us.
A minimalist bedroom that serves its purpose is a beautiful thing. It’s less distracting and more calming, promoting more and better sleep. It’s less crowded and more comfortable, promoting intimacy and connection.
And isn’t that the way you want to feel about your bedroom? You don’t need a fancy interior designer or brand-new furniture to change your bedroom’s vibe. You can have the feel of a dreamier, minimalist bedroom without buying a thing.
One of the most useful tips for decluttering your bedroom and home is to be mindful of the things we bring into our home. Americans especially, are guilty of this and are raised to think we might need something for a later date, or that something has sentimental value, or to hoard and go on buying sprees and have things sitting around they don’t even use. I have 2 rules. 1.) I don’t bring anything into the home I won’t get long-term use out of, and I must absolutely need or LOVE it. AND 2.) I have to have a specific place in mind I will put it right away, and that it will bring me peace, meaning or joy, and be something of beauty that nurtures my Soul journey. Over the years I have given so much away to Goodwill shops out of a change of life or taste, that it is better to be practical and minimalist. It saves money, time, effort and brings peace instead of stress.
I think my room isn’t cluttered at all. I even removed the bedskirt but seriously thinking I need it back . I have a sleep number bed and my white duvet cover doesn’t come anywhere near the floor and I hate seeing the legs and electronics under there.
After seeing your post I’m removing the watch case from the night stand and the valet tray from dresser and putting them in the closet.
Always appreciate the advice given😃
I recently moved and had done a ton of decluttering and minimizing in preparation for the move. One thing I did was sort through my things and only keep what was essential to each room. My main bedroom feels open and airy. All the clutter and junk is gone. But it’s funny. Often times when people see my bedroom for the first time, they comment, “Wow, there’s still so much space you can fill with things.” And then proceed to suggest furniture and decorative additions. I love my new pared down spacious bedroom.
I recently moved and had done a tone of decluttering and minimizing in preparation for the move. One thing I did was sort through my things and only keep what was essential to each room. My main bedroom feels open and airy. All the clutter and junk is gone. But it’s funny. Often time when people see my bedroom for the first time, they comment, “Wow, there’s still so much space you can fill with things.” And then proceed to suggest furniture and decorative additions. I love my new pared down spacious bedroom.
My bedroom is my favorite room in my house. It is large with cathedral ceiling and a roof window which lets sunlight in on a winter day. A great place to read. My house is log so I have a few of my oil paintings hanging but most wall decorations don’t go with a log house and I am ok with that. I love my furniture which is beautiful oak and all matches. I cannot stand storing things under a bed and don’t. How can you vacuum under a bed with stuff under it? My house is 1728 sq. ft. with no attic or basement. No extra closets. Detached garage. I don’t store anything out in the garage. I have a cupboard for sheets, blankets and quilts instead of a linen closet. I have another cupboard for storing pantry foods, mixing bowls, because my kitchen is small by most standards. Everything has to fit in a closet, kitchen or bathroom cabinet, chest of drawers or cupboard. I keep getting rid of things. I shop for groceries every 6-8 weeks and pick up just a few things in between but I have even cut back on staying so stocked up on groceries. Also simplifying meals so they are easier prep.
If I had to guess, you live alone or maybe with one other person? It sounds heavenly.
Beautifully shared article. I’d love to read some more of those. For now, kind of have lots reading and will spare more time for this later. Weekend reading are usually my favorite of Joshua. xoox
Thanks! “keep sharing”#####
Thanks! “keep sharing”
Thanks!
Recently I did almost everything that was mentioned in this article in my bedroom. It is now my sanctuary of calmness and peacefulness. I love how I feel when I walk into it! It brings me JOY!
Joshua, I enjoy soaking up your writings of encouragement for each of us to live our best lives. Also, your readers are very positive and I appreciate reading their comments as well.
Blessings!
This reminded me how much I need to clear off my nightstand and reorganize our entire closet space. It’s getting ridiculous now. Thank you!
xx
We just moved to Hampshire in England and found a little cozy cottage with pretty nice size rooms for all of us to stay. I like to have a great detail and attention to it. The bedroom is usually my first focus point from the start early in the morning, then I would go around in each other room of the house to see if there is anything untidy. I would look into the closets, go to the kitchen, arrange books I mean you said it and done. It is hard to believe but I don’t even know how we did get to this point, with only 3 of us sharing, it shouldn’t be so hard. So yes, thanks for pointing out the delicate attention to this and I love all the comments btw.
For people who store things under your bed, what kind of bedding do you use that is long enough to cover all the way to the floor? Do you use a bed skirt/dust ruffle, or does your bedspread go all the way down? I love the idea of utilizing that space but don’t want to see anything under there when walking by… Thank you!
We bought a storage bed so that we wouldn’t see anything under the bed as that used to bother me too. I’d prefer nothing under the bed, though unfortunately we have minimal closets and so it’s where we store linens and out of season clothes.
I designed my bed just like the campers I have had in my life where I have a queen size bed made out of two by four frame with paneling on a sheet of plywood on top of that with hydraulic arms and my mattress is on top of that so I just list the top and put my stuff in side of the bed and put it back down on top of it and I don’t need to crawl underneath it and I don’t need bed skirts and nobody can see under it and I get no dust explanation
Joshua,
thank you for this very good, step-by-step article. I realized that I have quite a few stacks of books in our bedroom that I don’t even read and other little items that just collect dust. Our massage chair hasn’t been used in a while since there are a few layers of clothes covering it. I am inspired.
Everyone has different desires and unique spaces. The point is, we don’t all need to buy all the things just because we are told to. We are a military family and move every 6 mos-3years. The last few years, with the exception of one child, we have chosen to sleep with our mattresses on the floor. So the master literally only has mattresses. It is easier for small children and we have closets in the master bath, although one is empty. My 9 year old uses a nightstand for her clothes and we keep it in the laundry room. My point is, do what works for you, and change it when you need to. Who cares if it is weird.
I’m still pursuing a modified minimalism than outright minimalism. I’ll NEVER get rid of my nightstand, and I store extra whatevers under my bed. Having a bunch of t shirts lessens the loads of laundry I have to do, and it’s the same way with dishes.
I need a home, and it isn’t one if it looks like a hotel room.
Laura: gotcha. got to have one too which holds radio which plays most the nite soft music, eye drops, nail files, clock and lotion. I’m a min. but old school convienences.
So great, surely not a “showroom” either :D
Good for you, but I also think storage can become very inconvenient, so I plan to donate more to have less in storage. Now what is going to stay ? Toughest problem here for me.
I used your list – 101 things to get rid of, and it has transformed my home. I never had a lot of clutter to begin with, but it is a great tool to start the process. I have found that going over each room a second and third time helps. I make it a habit now to continually go through each room and see if there isn’t something else I can let go of. Sometimes we are not quite ready to part with certain items. Once you realize how nice it is to have clean, uncluttered space, it helps you with the “letting go” of some of those things. My bedroom has a lamp on a table, a bed, and a dresser with one small floral arrangement on it. Two beautifully framed pictures on the wall of my children, and that’s it. Thank you for the great articles.
I only have a 1-room-apartment. My kitchen is in an extra room, but it does mean all my stuff is basically in my bedroom. I was wondering if there were any suggestions for that? The room itself is not very cluttered, but I do have my TV in it for example, because there is simply nowhere else to put it (no, getting rid of it is not really an option. I use it as a screen for my laptop and my PS4 in order to access Netflix etc.).
Any input is welcome…
I wish someone would blog about this! I also live in one room and the practicality of it being a bedroom and living room and all storage room makes it feel like the blogs about home minimalism, are not as helpful as I wish it were.
I love your point that decorations should tell your unique story. I think of my favorite pieces around the house and they have sentimental value or a whimsical flair. It’s our story :)
I once had a bedroom that was a true oasis of relaxation and peace. Just walking in the room made me feel, “Ah-h-h!”
I moved to a 2-bedroom apartment with one bedroom devoted to office and hobby. When I acquired another occupant, I had to give up that room and 2 rooms full of possessions were crammed into one.
I have been paring down and paring down and don’t know how to pare down any more. This small room has acquired 3 purposes when it originally had one. Any suggestions?
Hmmm. What sort of office and hobby space do you need? Can you use a mini desk that folds against the wall and a folding chair that tucks into the closet? And slide the laptop under the bed or on a shelf? For hobby supplies, will they fit in under bed storage containers or in a tub in the closet? I’ve pared down hobby supplies to just what I can use this season. It was actually a relief, but I will just repurchase for one project at a time as needed. I hope this helps!
This is so true. I’m surrounded by things I inherited from family. Believe it or not my husband loves this stuff. Some belonged to my side and some or his folks. This is true in almost every room. Ugh!
I can relate. My parents were local historians and antique collectors. I “inherited” way more items than any one household can use or enjoy. It wasn’t until I started preparing to downsize to a much smaller home that I was confronted with the realization that all these “objects” were part of MY PARENT’S experience of life, not mine. And also, I remind myself that just because I love a certain item doesn’t mean I must own it. So now it has become easier for me to pass along these items (usually by selling them) even the inherited ones, to other folks who share that same passion that my parents had. I always “thank” the item (as Marie Kondo taught us) and also pass along any information or story that goes with the piece. I can now treasure smaller more intimate items, like my fathers wristwatch and my mother’s brooch, and a few other interesting small items, without having them “define” my space. I am an artist who creates paintings, and that is the focus of my passion. Hope this helps.
I agree with this so much! My bedroom has to be a sanctuary, so we keep everything minimal, and we love how it turned out! The perfect balance of style but peaceful!
Paige
preparing for my husband’s retirement, we’re downsizing at an incredible rate and it’s oh so freeing. we’ve purchased a home in a location which will offer a peaceful and full life, and are only bringing belongings to complete rather than bulk up that life. that said, our new home has ample closet space so *gone* is the dresser set! our bedroom will have 2 nightstands, bed, and cedar chest at the foot of the bed that the hubs grandfather hand-crafted. ♥
I have always wanted a bedroom that promoted my sense of clarity, serenity and restfulness. My bedding is simple and in restful colors. We bought a small house where the bedroom is somewhat undersized (built in 1948) and barely fits a queen-size bed and our clothing bureaus (we each have one). The dogs have their beds on the floor, so…even less space. Worst of all, the walls are the original knotty pine from 1948, and provoke feelings of unhappiness every time I look at them, but we can’t afford to replace them. They’re just horrible and a constant reminder that we don’t have enough time, space or money. Ideas welcome!
Have you considered white washing the walls? Rustic is chic!
Paint is an easy, relatively inexpensive way to cover the knotty pine. The house we bought had dark wood paneling in the living room. We primed & painted it a cream color to get us through until we had the resources to remove the paneling & do drywall.
A paint consultant should be able to tell you if you have to do anything special to the wood before painting it.
This is so helpful, thanks. We did consider painting over the knotty pine but it is shellacked with some sort of sealant. There are also vertical grooves between the planks, so paint won’t disguise those very well. An artist we know said that painting over it will produce a “shabby chic” effect, with the knotty pine still visible underneath. Can anyone speak to this? I really need to make this room work somehow on a tight budget.
Many thanks.
You could use a product called liquid sander on your walls. Paint should adhere to your walls then. Any good paint store can guide you.
Sand the walls down really wellyill the shelac is gone. Use a chalk paint gor a rustuc shabby chic look, or an acrylic paint in a satin or gloss finish, if you want a sleeker, more modern look. Probably will need 2 or 3 coats to cover the wood. Doesnt really seem that difficult to do. Or hire out a painter.
We also moved into a very small home built in the 1940s. When we moved in we had a huge four post queen size bed and two dressers and a book shelf. For our bedroom make over we did get rid of a lot but we also had to replace items too. To start so downsized all of our clothing to fit into our closets and got rid of the two dressers. We replaced our four post bed with a platform bed and we replaced our very dark navy bedspread with a lighter color. We did keep our book self (there is nowhere else to put it) but downsized everything in it keeping only what we loved. We purchased very small night stands that store the very few things we use often but all the surfaces are clear. We did purchase stuff but the very small room doesn’t feel so small anymore. It is now my sanctuary and I love it.
Also the few things we did purchase we sometimes got used off of ” Nextdoor”. I sold a lot of my stuff on “nextdoor” to pay for the new purchases. That is how we got around not having enough money. There are also Facebook sell sites. It was a slow process but in the end we didn’t have to spend any or our budgeted money on the improvements.
Where do you store your underwear, socks, and other small clothing items?
My daughter uses a shoe organizer that hangs over the back of her door . Instead of keeping shoes in the pouches she keeps underwear, bras, socks and other small items.
That’s what I do! We have a minimalist bedroom, very calming. Our ensuite bathroom has the closets for all our clothing. The over -the-door organizer holds all the smalls. And everything is behind closed doors. I love the design of this house. We have no basement or attic so I have been de cluttering since I retired 6 months ago! I hate to part with books!! But that’s next…
Oh our dogs sleep on the floor in our room too. I cleared out under our bed so that we could slide the dog beds under ours during the day. That helped a huge amount for me to not see the dog bed every day!
I would also suggest whitewashing the walls, or painting them another color. You and your husband could also consider downsizing your wardrobes (by simply paring down or by trying capsule wardrobes). This could allow you to consolidate dressers and rid yourselves of the second dresser. Most of us have more clothing than we truly need; we just want the variety. When square footage is tight, I ask myself what I want more of… more items or more free space? Finally, you could consider relocating your dogs’ sleeping space to another area of your home. My husband and I view our bedroom’s purpose as a place for rest and intimacy. We decided that anything that doesn’t serve that specific purpose doesn’t belong in our bedroom.
I used chalk paint to paint over wooden wall panels. Looks great and chalk paint is easy to use. You can use wax over the paint if you want it to be more durable.
I would also paint the walls a soothing shade such as white, cream, or even seaglass hues. It will make a huge difference!
What about a large light wall tapestry that covers large areas of the dark pine? That would certainly be cheap and way easier than painting…
We bought our house partly because it had a cozy room in knotty pine, which both of us had good associations with from childhood. We’ve decorated it in a way that everyone loves when they enter it.
So you can change your attitude by making adjustments with light, window treatments and color in the room.
Or, if your hatred it real wood panelling (!) is fixed in stone, as others say, you can get professional paint store advice and change the color. I think either keeping or painting is a luxurious option–so few houses have real wood panelling in them any more.
I took your advice and removed things from my bedroom without spending on new things. It really works to decrease stress and promotes calmness. Now when I look around I see only things I love. It is still a work in progress to keep “clutter” out and as I change by “letting go” it continues to evolve. Thanks Joshua for teaching us how to experience “ the peace calmness and the joy if less.”
To the people who have gotten rid of their dressers, how/where do you store small items such as underwear, socks, etc.?
I use old shoe boxes on the top shelf of a stackable shoe shelf- so two shelves of shoes and 1 shelf of socks/bras/underwear.
We use bins on a bookshelf that is in our closet.
I found underwear works best for me in the bathroom, where it is easily accessible after bathing.
It may be strange but I used to store them in tiny stand up bags and put them in my closet (one for socks and one for underwear)…I currently have a dresser though.
Debbi, don’t feel like you should rid yourself of something that works well in your bedroom and that serves you. What matters is that your bedroom is inviting and relaxing visually when you walk in.
We have: bed, 2 nightstands, armoire 1 comfortable beautiful sitting chair and an ottoman. We have a few framed art posters on the walls that we love, a red/white clay art windchime above the chair and some musical symbols that I love as I’m a pianist.
It might sound like a lot to a hardcore minimalist but to us, it is relaxing. I enjoy walking into our room.