The Joy of Less, a Minimalist Living Guide (13 page)

Unfortunately, our bedrooms tend to function as overflow drains for our stuff. When a sink gets too full, the excess water sloshes into the hole at the back of the basin; similarly, when our living areas get too full, the spillover stuff leaks through our bedroom doors. Imagine you’re expecting guests in an hour, and are frantically picking up the living and dining rooms. You’ve shoved what you can in the closets and drawers, but inevitably run out of space. So what do you do? Stash the excess in the bedroom. At least you can shut the door, and hide it from sight while entertaining. All too often, though, that refugee stuff gains asylum there—and before long, you’re using your bedroom as an ad hoc solution to your clutter problem.

Feel free, then, to redefine your Transfer pile to “Transfer Out of the Room,” and include in it any object that belongs elsewhere in the house. This pile might contain anything from magazines, to your children’s toys, to your rowing machine. You may even decide to add some keepsakes and sentimental items to the mix. Make sure, however, that the items contained herein have a rightful place
somewhere
. The last thing you want to do is shuffle a pile of homeless junk from room to room. If an item’s function is so vague that you don’t know where to put it, the best place for it may be in your donation box.

The main function of our bedrooms is to provide space for sleeping and clothes storage. Therefore, when we ask the resident items their
raison d’être
, the answer better have something to do with rest, relaxation, or wardrobe—otherwise, they may face deportation.

Your bed’s probably feeling pretty smug right now, knowing it’ll pass this test with flying colors. The objects on your nightstand, vanity, or dresser may be a little more nervous—but some of them actually have every right to be there. The alarm clock is safe, as are your glasses, tissues, and the book you’re currently reading. You might keep that vase of flowers, and a few candles—they’re certainly conducive to a romantic, and relaxing, atmosphere. A handful of other objects may also gain access to this coveted, cozy space—but to be honest, I can’t think of too many. “Because there’s nowhere else to put them” is
not
a good reason to keep them here!

Now let’s discuss those things that don’t belong here, but often try to muscle their way in. That pesky laundry basket, for example; sure, the bed provides an excellent surface for folding clothes—but do it and be done with it already! Or if it’s collecting your next load, find another place to keep it. When you’re enjoying a spontaneous, romantic evening with your partner, nothing kills the mood faster than a pile of dirty socks. The same goes for your toddler’s toys; it’s hard to heat things up when you’re under the gaze of a herd of stuffed animals.

Craft supplies are another issue. They often migrate to this room when they can’t find shelter elsewhere. Unless you’re knitting in your sleep, however, yarn and needles should be banished from the bedroom. If it’s a pre-bedtime activity, we’ll make an exception; in that case, stash the stuff in a box or bag, slip it under the bed, and I won’t make a fuss. Just don’t turn your boudoir into a fully stocked craft shop—if only out of consideration for your partner. By the same token, find somewhere else to store exercise equipment and computer supplies; hand weights and hard drives are
not
a turn-on!

Perhaps I don’t give a fair shake to knickknacks, but I think they have little place in the bedroom. A few special pieces are acceptable; but do question whether you need fifteen of them lined up across your dresser. A room full of tchotchkes can feel stale and museum-like; and if you make a wrong move, you might damage something fragile. Plus, the more stuff on your surfaces, the harder they are to clean—and who wants to spend
any
extra time on housework?

For our bedrooms to be peaceful and serene, everything in them must have a place. When stuff is tucked away, a sense of calm prevails; stray items, on the other hand, disturb our restful ambience.

Defining zones in the bedroom is easy—you’ll need one for sleeping, and one for dressing. You may also have a grooming zone (for putting on makeup, fixing your hair, and the like), particularly if you share a bathroom with other household members. I don’t endorse having an office zone in the bedroom, unless you truly have no other place for it; in that case, do whatever you can to separate it from the main space. It’s difficult to drift to sleep when a desk piled with work, bills, and anything else that causes you stress is in view. Set up a screen, or hang a curtain, to hide it when it’s not in use.

The Inner Circle of your bedroom should contain those items in daily use: like the aforementioned alarm clock, reading glasses, grooming items, and in-season clothing. Of course, they should all be in their appropriate places, rather than strewn about the room. Clothes should be in the closet and dressers—
not
piled on the floor, or draped over chairs. Make it a habit to fold, hang up, or toss your clothing in the hamper immediately upon removal. Corral cosmetics in a makeup bag or container, and ensure that all accessories—like shoes, belts, handbags, and jewelry—have designated spots in your closet or drawers. The stuff of your Inner Circle should be within reach—though not necessarily within sight.

Reserve your Outer Circle for things like extra linens and out-of-season clothing. Keep them in nooks and crannies that are harder to access, such as under the bed (everyone’s favorite storage spot), in lower dresser drawers, and on higher shelves in closets and armoires. Remember, though, your Outer Circle isn’t a catch-all for things you don’t know what to do with; to qualify for this space, stuff must be used at least a few times a year. If your extra linens include orphan pillowcases, your grown son’s childhood sheets, or a duvet cover that no longer suits your décor, it’s time to do some decluttering.

As for Deep Storage, I can’t think of a single bedroom item that would be suitable. Garages, attics, and basements aren’t optimal places for storing bedding; and furthermore, any bedding you own should be in regular rotation in your household. Even linens of a seasonal nature (like flannel sheets and heavy blankets) are inappropriate for such an out-of-the-way storage spot. Well, that makes it easy, doesn’t it? Simply decide what belongs in your Inner and Outer Circles, and you’re finished with this step!

Let’s start with the most important surface in this room: the bed! It should always be clear—no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Your bed is essential to your health and well-being, and used at least a quarter of every day; therefore, it should always stand ready to serve its intended purpose.

Your bed is a functional surface, not a decorative one—so keep the fancy throw pillows and other nonessentials to a minimum. It’s a drag to clear off the bed each night before climbing into it; and the less stuff you have to straighten, arrange, and fuss with, the better. Take a cue from luxury hotels, and keep it simple: crisp white sheets and pillowcases, topped with a fluffy duvet, make for a heavenly, minimalist retreat—no accessories needed! Just note that when I say the bed is a functional surface, I don’t mean it should serve every function imaginable; it’s not meant to be your laundry station, workspace, or play area for your kids. If it happens to serve one of these purposes temporarily, remove the clothes, paperwork, or children’s toys immediately thereafter.

Of course, the bed isn’t the only surface that requires monitoring. The more pieces of furniture you have—nightstands, vanities, dressers, tables—the more vigilant you need be (a great reason for having less furniture!). Don’t let these pieces gather wayward items, like clothes, mail, spare change, cosmetics, and DVDs. Clear off their tops, and reserve them for the handful of things that truly belong there. If you’ve relegated certain knickknacks to the bedroom because they’re not “good enough” for your living space, consider whether they’re “good enough” to keep at all.

Last but not least, don’t forget about the floor. Banish those stacks of books and magazines (how many can you read at a time, anyway?), and anything else that may have accumulated while you weren’t paying attention. Above all, don’t let any clothing get underfoot and lay the foundation for a pile. Once you start a “floordrobe,” you have a much larger problem; a growing mountain of apparel isn’t good for your ambience or your clothes! In fact, the only part of the floor that’s fair game for stuff is under the bed. Use, but don’t abuse, this valuable storage space; in other words, don’t make it a hiding place for clutter.

If you don’t have a linen closet elsewhere in the house, use modules in the bedroom for your extra bedding. Plastic, under-the-bed containers are perfect for storing additional sheets, pillowcases, and blankets. Keep them separated according to season, so that you won’t have to dig through flannels and heavy quilts to find your cool summer linens. Do the same for each bedroom in your house; keep the kids’ sheets and guest sheets stashed under their respective beds, in their own modules. Each person then has immediate and easy access to their own bedding, and you’ll avoid the mess that can result when they’re all piled together on a shelf.

Furthermore, consolidating your linens enables you to see just how many you have. Sheets seem to multiply when we’re not looking. Every so often, we buy a new set—because we want a fresh look, our old ones are getting shabby, or guests are on the way—with little thought to those we already own. The old ones get relegated to a “just in case” pile, and our collection grows with each passing year. When you gather them all together, it can be startling to discover how many you own! Putting them into modules provides a wonderful opportunity to cull them to a reasonable amount.

If you keep grooming items in the bedroom, make modules for them as well. Store cosmetics, combs, hairbrushes, and styling products in a small bag or container that can be tucked away when not in use. Why display your entire arsenal of beauty items for your partner (or overnight guests) to see? Better to maintain a little mystery, than ruin a romantic atmosphere with a lineup of hairspray, foot powder, or deodorant on your dresser. You may also want to assign a small tray, box, or designated drawer for the stuff that comes out of your pockets each day: wallet, loose change, transit cards, keys, and the like. Consolidating them looks neater, and makes them much easier to find the next morning. Books, magazines, craft projects, and other supplies for pre-bedtime activities also benefit from a little modular organization—making them easy to stash away and slide under the bed when you start to doze off.

Use limits liberally in the bedroom, to create and maintain a serene atmosphere. The less clutter you see, the more calm you’ll feel—which can very well make the difference between a restless or peaceful sleep.

First of all, limit the furniture you have in the room. Just because a bedroom set has six matching pieces, doesn’t mean you have to buy (or keep) all of them. Instead of jamming the whole ensemble into the room, select only those pieces you truly need. Limit seating (such as chairs or benches) to the number of occupants sharing the room, and limit clothes storage (like armoires or dressers) to one per person. The latter makes for a more streamlined wardrobe, as well as a more spacious bedroom. Limiting the
contents
of your furnishings helps you limit the furnishings themselves.

Second, limit the stuff that’s visible. For example, keep no more than three items on your nightstand or on top of your dresser. Such a strategy highlights decorative items, and leaves plenty of room for functional ones. Don’t let the beautiful vase on your vanity, or framed photograph on your dresser, compete for attention with a pile of magazines or jumble of hairspray bottles. Likewise, don’t create a situation where you’ll knock over knickknacks when reaching for your snooze alarm.

Third, put a lid on your linens, by limiting them to a certain number. Two sets of sheets per bed are generally sufficient, and can be rotated with your laundry schedule. Set your limit according to the needs of your household; if you have frequent overnight guests, or toddlers of potty-training age, you may require a few extra. In the case of blankets and quilts, climate also plays a role; a household in Florida certainly won’t need as many as one in Michigan. In general, don’t keep more than your family (and guests) can reasonably use at any given time. A cozy household comes from the warmth, love, and hospitality of its occupants, not the number of duvets squirreled away in the linen closet.

As you declutter your bedroom, take control over the stuff flowing into it. You don’t want to purge ten items, and then find you’ve accumulated twice that in the meantime. From now on, make sure an old item leaves each time a new one enters.

Stashes of linens require particular vigilance. For some reason, when we buy a new sheet set, blanket, quilt, or duvet, we’re often reluctant to throw away the old. The compulsion to hold on to extra bedding seems hard-wired into our genes. Perhaps we’re afraid that we’ll lose power in the middle of winter, and need to pile it on to stay warm; or we imagine that a dozen overnight guests will show up unexpectedly at our door; or we think they’ll come in handy the next time we’re moving, painting, or having a picnic. However we rationalize it, there’s only so many linens we’ll ever need; and holding on to them for some hypothetical situation in the future is taking up some very real space right now. Stick to the One In-One Out rule, and the next time you acquire new bedding, donate the old—and think of the warmth and comfort you’re so generously providing someone else.

Apply the same principle to
anything
that enters the bedroom, and it’ll make decluttering that much easier. Freshen up your décor by replacing or rotating pieces, rather than adding more. (Keep extras in a décor module, and switch them every so often.) If you bring in new bedtime reading, dispose of the old, or return it to its rightful place. If you acquire a new piece of furniture, swap it for something similar instead of squeezing it into the room. (If you feel you “need” it to hold more stuff, declutter the stuff first!) Stick with this strategy, and you’ll keep clutter from creeping into your sleeping space.