How to Organize Your Bedroom on Nearly Any Budget
Declutter and organize a bedroom with ideas that address your storage needs and work with your budget
Jeanne Taylor
November 16, 2022
Houzz Contributor. Jeanne Taylor is a professional home organizer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the co-owner of Tailorly with her business partner Patricia Lee. Together they create beautiful homes through decluttering, organizing, and styling. For more information visit www.tailorly.net.
Houzz Contributor. Jeanne Taylor is a professional home organizer in the San Francisco... More
Bedrooms may not be the first spaces you think of when it comes to home organizing. Perhaps yours are due for a refresh. Even if you’re not ready for a complete bedroom makeover, a little decluttering and organizing might support a more peaceful environment in which to relax and unwind. Read on for ideas on how to organize your primary, guest or kids’ bedrooms, no matter your budget.
What to Do Before You Start
Set your goals. Consider the room’s size and intended purpose, whether it’s a primary bedroom, a child’s bedroom or a guest bedroom. Think about your budget, your home’s style and the decor in other parts of the house.
Your goal might be to turn your primary bedroom into a relaxing retreat, or perhaps your guest bedroom needs to be reimagined to accommodate a home office. I recommend writing down your goals to help keep you motivated during the process.
Some of my clients get stuck because they struggle with their style and design preferences. For these clients, I recommend creating a Houzz ideabook. Browse and save bedroom photos by room type, whether you’re looking for ideas for a primary bedroom, a guest room or a child’s bedroom. This may help you better conceptualize your style and ideas for the room.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
Set your goals. Consider the room’s size and intended purpose, whether it’s a primary bedroom, a child’s bedroom or a guest bedroom. Think about your budget, your home’s style and the decor in other parts of the house.
Your goal might be to turn your primary bedroom into a relaxing retreat, or perhaps your guest bedroom needs to be reimagined to accommodate a home office. I recommend writing down your goals to help keep you motivated during the process.
Some of my clients get stuck because they struggle with their style and design preferences. For these clients, I recommend creating a Houzz ideabook. Browse and save bedroom photos by room type, whether you’re looking for ideas for a primary bedroom, a guest room or a child’s bedroom. This may help you better conceptualize your style and ideas for the room.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
Remove clutter. Consider removing anything from your primary bedroom that hinders your goal. If your objective is to create a space that promotes relaxation and tranquillity, you may want to winnow items that add visual clutter.
Cull books and magazines from the nightstand and hang up clothing draped over chairs. Clear out clutter accumulated on flat surfaces, such as water bottles, receipts or hair ties. Think about paring down knickknacks and small decor from the tops of dressers. Perhaps it’s time to donate some of the decorative pillows and blankets that may be crowding the bed. Clear away anything that belongs in another part of the house.
Work with a professional organizer
Cull books and magazines from the nightstand and hang up clothing draped over chairs. Clear out clutter accumulated on flat surfaces, such as water bottles, receipts or hair ties. Think about paring down knickknacks and small decor from the tops of dressers. Perhaps it’s time to donate some of the decorative pillows and blankets that may be crowding the bed. Clear away anything that belongs in another part of the house.
Work with a professional organizer
Remove larger items that don’t have a place in your primary suite. For example, consider relocating or selling the exercise bike you bought during the pandemic if it’s only functioning as a clothes rack now. The same goes for the temporary home office setup if you no longer need the workspace or can relocate it to another part of your house.
Note: If you use your exercise bike or workstation on a regular basis and don’t have another location for it, please leave it where it is.
Note: If you use your exercise bike or workstation on a regular basis and don’t have another location for it, please leave it where it is.
For some of my clients, the guest room is a dumping ground for things they can’t make decisions about, such as unused furniture and home decor, old linens, obsolete electronics and unfinished craft projects.
Since the holidays are approaching and out-of-town guests may be arriving, now might be the time to make decisions about these items. If you’re no longer using something, it may be occupying valuable square footage that could be put to better use. I recommend donating anything that’s keeping you from your goal for the space.
Since the holidays are approaching and out-of-town guests may be arriving, now might be the time to make decisions about these items. If you’re no longer using something, it may be occupying valuable square footage that could be put to better use. I recommend donating anything that’s keeping you from your goal for the space.
I suggest paring down the items in your child’s bedroom a few times a year. When my children were small, we spent time at the end of each school year sorting clothes, books, toys and schoolwork. We donated clothes that were too small and toys and books that were no longer being used. A few favorite school and art projects were saved in a memorabilia box.
If you have clothes, toys or books you’d like to save for a younger sibling, I recommend removing them from prime storage areas and placing them in a container to store at the top of a closet or another out-of-the-way storage area.
Perhaps your child receives hand-me-downs from older cousins or friends. In my experience with clients, this can be both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes drawers and closets become overcrowded with too much stuff, making it difficult for the child to find things and put them away.
Consider being selective about the items you introduce into your child’s bedroom. If they already have an overabundance of toys and clothes, perhaps select one or two special things and donate the rest.
If you have clothes, toys or books you’d like to save for a younger sibling, I recommend removing them from prime storage areas and placing them in a container to store at the top of a closet or another out-of-the-way storage area.
Perhaps your child receives hand-me-downs from older cousins or friends. In my experience with clients, this can be both a blessing and a curse. Sometimes drawers and closets become overcrowded with too much stuff, making it difficult for the child to find things and put them away.
Consider being selective about the items you introduce into your child’s bedroom. If they already have an overabundance of toys and clothes, perhaps select one or two special things and donate the rest.
Basic Improvements
Drawer organizers and dividers. I always recommend drawer organizers or dividers for my clients’ dresser drawers. If budget is a concern, consider using shoeboxes or other small boxes you may already have.
New drawer organizers are available at several price points. They come in various materials, including plastic, basketweave, bamboo and fabric-lined cardboard, as well as in many shapes and sizes. Drawer dividers are generally made of bamboo or plastic and are adjustable to fit the size of your drawers. Be sure to measure your drawers carefully (including the height) before purchasing anything.
In this photo, fabric-lined boxes keep small items like bras and panties organized and easy to find.
Drawer organizers and dividers. I always recommend drawer organizers or dividers for my clients’ dresser drawers. If budget is a concern, consider using shoeboxes or other small boxes you may already have.
New drawer organizers are available at several price points. They come in various materials, including plastic, basketweave, bamboo and fabric-lined cardboard, as well as in many shapes and sizes. Drawer dividers are generally made of bamboo or plastic and are adjustable to fit the size of your drawers. Be sure to measure your drawers carefully (including the height) before purchasing anything.
In this photo, fabric-lined boxes keep small items like bras and panties organized and easy to find.
In this photo, plastic organizers keep accessories in the top drawer of a dresser organized and tidy.
Jewelry storage. For jewelry storage, consider purchasing a jewelry box or a plastic container with compartments to make it simple to find what you want to wear. If you have a large collection, you may want to outfit a top dresser drawer with small dividers to keep your treasures organized.
If you own a large quantity of necklaces, think about attaching hooks to a wall to keep them from becoming tangled. A wall inside your closet might have space to accommodate such hooks.
Vertical folding. Although folding clothes vertically may seem like an organizing gimmick, I highly recommend it. Storing clothes vertically makes it easy to remove something without messing up other items. Since you can see everything, unworn clothes don’t get lost at the bottom of the stack. This also makes it easy to pick out items you never wear and donate them.
Vintage dresser. If you’re looking for high-quality bedroom furniture on a budget, a vintage dresser might be the answer. Also consider personalizing the furniture if it doesn’t suit your style. If you don’t like a dark wood finish, for example, consider applying a fresh coat of paint.
Hooks for jackets and accessories. If your family members aren’t in the habit of hanging their clothes in the closet, perhaps a wall-mounted coatrack or row of hooks would help keep jackets off of chairs. This can be an especially effective strategy for a child’s room.
Shop for wall hooks
Shop for wall hooks
Midrange Solutions
Bed with storage. A bed with built-in drawers underneath can be useful in a small bedroom that can’t accommodate a dresser — or has additional storage needs.
I also recommend thin plastic containers that fit under some beds to store out-of-season clothing. Be sure to measure the height under your bed before ordering.
Bed with storage. A bed with built-in drawers underneath can be useful in a small bedroom that can’t accommodate a dresser — or has additional storage needs.
I also recommend thin plastic containers that fit under some beds to store out-of-season clothing. Be sure to measure the height under your bed before ordering.
Storage bench. A storage bench at the end of a bed can house extra blankets and flannel sheets used during the winter months.
Find storage furniture in the Houzz Shop
Find storage furniture in the Houzz Shop
Storage unit with baskets. For a child’s bedroom especially, a storage unit with baskets can corral a variety of items, including toys, craft projects, books and schoolwork. Baskets can be removed from the unit and belongings can be easily accessed and put away. I recommend attaching hanging tags with labels so your child can easily put items into the correct baskets.
Deluxe Improvements
Wall bed or Murphy bed. A wall bed is a luxury solution for anyone who needs a bedroom that will serve multiple purposes.
Some of my clients with larger budgets install wall beds in bedrooms that double as home offices or exercise studios. The bed can be folded up into the wall, leaving space for other activities. Often, the mattress on a Murphy bed is more comfortable than the mattress on a standard sofa bed.
Wall bed or Murphy bed. A wall bed is a luxury solution for anyone who needs a bedroom that will serve multiple purposes.
Some of my clients with larger budgets install wall beds in bedrooms that double as home offices or exercise studios. The bed can be folded up into the wall, leaving space for other activities. Often, the mattress on a Murphy bed is more comfortable than the mattress on a standard sofa bed.
Custom built-in storage. The price tag is generally high anytime you commission a pro to build a custom storage solution. Custom projects designed to fit your style, storage needs and room dimensions can be a high-quality choice if budget is less of a concern.
Find a general contractor near you
Find a general contractor near you
Custom bed with storage. This child’s bedroom in a new-build home has a custom bed with generous storage. During the initial planning stages, my business partner and I worked with the architect and cabinetmaker to design the storage for this home. When the home was completed, we unpacked and organized our clients’ belongings before they moved in. The whimsical child’s bedroom has abundant built-in storage for toys and books. A custom build such as this is a luxury solution.
Bedrooms are sometimes neglected when it comes to organizing since they’re often upstairs or in the back of the house. I recommend focusing on one bedroom at a time so as not to become overwhelmed.
After defining your goals, start with culling and removing anything that doesn’t belong in the space. For some, this can be a daunting process.
When you’re finished decluttering, reward yourself by searching for photos on Houzz of your dream bedroom. With more concrete goals in mind, you may be motivated to continue the process and make your aspirations a reality.
More on Houzz
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Bedroom
Get bedroom design ideas
Find a professional organizer in the Houzz pro directory
Browse storage and organization products
After defining your goals, start with culling and removing anything that doesn’t belong in the space. For some, this can be a daunting process.
When you’re finished decluttering, reward yourself by searching for photos on Houzz of your dream bedroom. With more concrete goals in mind, you may be motivated to continue the process and make your aspirations a reality.
More on Houzz
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Bedroom
Get bedroom design ideas
Find a professional organizer in the Houzz pro directory
Browse storage and organization products
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This is all excellent advice! I am saving this article and will read it many times. And you are right in that people don't tend to think bedrooms need to be organized. But every room is better without clutter. Even gardens are better without clutter. I figure that clutter means I have stuff I am not using. If I see something sitting out, I ask where I would put it if the house was empty. Then I go see what is in that space that maybe I am not using anymore or that would be better stored somewhere else. As for the latter, my go-to starting point is to identify the things I use every day and give them top priority within arms reach of where I use them. The exception is with items I need when in pain, which doesn't happen often but I give them high priority space, because I don't function well in pain, and can't find them if they aren't in a high-priority space. If I progressively put second- and third-level priority items further from the area of use, eventually, I get to items that I have to ask myself why I have them, and they go. I adopted this strategy after my office was recarpeted. Everything was stored in a neighboring empty office. I was too busy to bring the items back in all at once, so I gradually brought back things as I used them. One day I realized I hadn't brought back anything for a year. Guess what happened to all the stuff still in that other office. Having learned from that experience, I did the same thing in the bathrooms and then the bedroom. The reverse of that happened in a bedroom. I had stuff I wanted and used in there but no storage. So I figured out the best storage for it...a bureau...and bought it. Moving things to where they are used is a useful tool. It isn't the only tool, but it's a start. In the bedroom, I have a chair that sits between my bed and the closet. I use that as a dressing area. The bureau at the end of the bed is where I store my most used foldables like underwear, socks, camies, jeans. You get the idea... I will study this article for more great ideas. Thanks!
This is a very well organized article 🙂
We are fortunate to have 2 dedicated guest rooms (only for that purpose; no mess and extra clothing storage for us), plus a queen pull-out in a secondary, large family room in our daylight lower level…all very cozy. Grandson 1’s crib currently resides in my (main level) office, which works out well, though when he outgrows this crib (very soon) we are considering a Murphy bed for that space. Not sure yet where we’ll put the crib then (for grandson 2)…….
I like most of the article’s ideas and suggestions, but while I love the look of photo #18 (the beautiful custom storage child’s room) I would think it’s difficult to change the sheets etc with the (seemingly) immovable ladder in the way…..