Even people who like to decorate their living spaces with color and pattern may appreciate a more subdued, minimalist approach to the bedroom.
Of course, a minimalist bedroom doesn't have to be all white with just a bed and dresser, but if you want to create a cozy sleeping space, there are some bedroom tidying rules worth keeping in mind.
Especially if you're overhauling your bedroom to get a better night's sleep. Here, professional home organizers and designers share 9 things to get rid of for a more minimalist bedroom.
What to get rid of for a minimalist bedroom
Simple bedrooms have many benefits for our health and well-being and are worth considering if you're finding it hard to relax at night, says feng shui expert, designer and founder of Feng Shui Nexus says Victor Cheung.
Not only does a visually uncluttered space encourage restful sleep by removing distractions, but the calm and simplicity of a minimalist environment enhances relaxation. “Furthermore, minimizing the presence of dust and improving air quality contributes to a healthier sleeping environment,” he added.
“Additionally, a minimalist approach to the bedroom promotes mindfulness and intentionality. Deliberately decluttering your space and leaving only what is essential and meaningful can help you feel grateful and content. It nourishes your senses.”
With that in mind, here's what experts recommend you keep on your bedroom door.
1. Electronics
(Image courtesy of The White Company)
If you've ever dreamed of recreating one of the many beautiful bedrooms featured on Instagram or Pinterest, you may have noticed that there are no electronics at all, from cords to televisions.
Stephanie Calderon, lead designer and founder of Stephanie Calderon Interiors, doesn't think TVs should be in the bedroom, and acknowledges that it can be a sensitive subject. “Not only can it negatively impact your sleep quality, but it can also draw attention away from other design elements and focal points, making the space feel more cluttered,” she shares. “If the option allows, I prefer designs that don't have a TV in the bedroom. Otherwise, to reduce the impact, place the TV in a closet or cabinet where it can be closed when not in use. I'm trying to find it.”
Stephanie Calderon
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interior designer
Stephanie Calderon is the founder and lead designer of Stephanie Calderon Designs, based in North Carolina.
2. Furniture without storage
(Image courtesy of Cotswold)
When decorating a minimalist space, it's important to be able to hide clutter, unless you're looking to adopt a true minimalist lifestyle and reduce everything you own.
To make this easier, Spiffy Chicks founder and chief organizer Amy Berryhill suggests getting rid of any furniture that doesn't provide additional storage space.
“If you only have a flat surface, things can pile up over time. Wide nightstands with drawers are my favorite piece of storage in the bedroom, so I use them to store most of my items. You can declutter and just put a few decorative items on top. A quiet, relaxing environment is also proven to improve sleep quality, and who wouldn't want that?”
That said, as Victor Cheung points out, using storage features to completely hide everything can overwhelm your space and tip the scales too far. She recommends tossing out “excess storage containers and bins that don't serve a specific purpose or don't fit with your existing furniture.”
amy berryhill
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professional organizer
Amy's pursuit of a better life balance led her to leave the corporate world and become involved in building professional organizations. Her deep passion for helping others and organizing spaces made her a perfect fit for this career. Now, Amy's down-to-earth personality and her ability to share her personal stories make it easy for her to connect with her clients.
3. Paper is scattered
Your bedroom may not be the first place you go to read your mail, but it can be littered with magazines and receipts you take out of your wallet after shopping. Paper clutter can accumulate quickly, so organizing it becomes an ongoing task.
Amy Bloomer, professional organizer, organizational psychologist, and founder of Let Your Space Bloom, advises clients to place all catalogs and junk mail in the recycling bin before entering the home. I will,” he commented.
“Put the magazine where you read it (on your bedside table) and promise to recycle it as soon as you finish reading it.” If there's information you want to save, take a photo and move on.
amy bloomer
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As soon as Amy could walk, she started organizing, sorting her toy boxes by size, color, and function. Her innate organizational acumen led to her academic and extracurricular success, and she earned a master's degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University. Amy brings her passion for helping people thrive through organizations to the Baltimore market. Since 2016, she has visited thousands of homes, helping families, professionals, and retirees transform their spaces and, in turn, We have helped them transform their lives.
4. Excess blankets and pillows
(Image credit: Annie Sloan)
We've all been guilty of spending too much money trying to make our bedrooms more comfortable, layering blankets and pillows to make our beds look like they belong in a five-star hotel. After a while, the novelty of making a bed together every day wears off and these throws end up sitting unused in a pile.
Amy Bloomer suggests getting rid of your old pillows and blankets and taking them to a fabric recycling center or donating them if they're in good condition. “Take old towels, blankets and pillows to your local animal shelter or zoo, where the animals can put them to good use,” she added.
Be realistic about how much time and energy you have to fluff and arrange and edit your collection each morning.
5. Excessive meaningless decoration
(Image credit: Sarah Elliott)
Our bedrooms need a little décor to add character and warmth, but that doesn't mean we have to keep using every little decoration we've been given, says feng shui expert and designer Victor Chan advises. In a minimalist space, everything that is not essential should be kept away from the surface.
“Too much wall art, decorations, and unnecessary furniture can create visual clutter and disrupt the overall harmony. Simplifying your visual space creates a clean, uncluttered atmosphere. and create a peaceful atmosphere.”
6. Overflowing bookshelf
(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)
There's nothing more relaxing than reading a good book before bed, but an overflowing bookshelf is the epitome of chaos (especially if you haven't even read half of the books on it yet).
One of the best steps to creating a minimalist bedroom is to organize your books or move shelves to a different location, says professional organizer Amy Bloomer. “Keep your favorites and donate the remaining books to your local library, school (if applicable), or charity thrift store.”
7. Everything on the nightstand
(Image credit: Katie Hodges/Haris Kenjar)
Designer Stephanie Calderon says the nightstand in your bedroom is probably the most important spot in the room to keep clean, yet it's also prone to clutter.
“In fact, it's a good idea to keep your nightstands clear and uncluttered, with no decorations and essentials like drinks, books and glasses easily accessible when needed,” she advises. To do. She says, “For those with additional bedside essentials, we always recommend a nightstand with drawers to hide extra clutter.”
8. Clothes you no longer wear
(Image credit: John Lewis of Hungerford)
You're probably tired of hearing this, but organizing your clothes is essential to a minimalist space, even if you don't have a minimalist capsule closet.
Feng Shui expert and designer Victor Chan warns that while the obvious target is clothes you no longer love or wear, you should get rid of anything that doesn't fit in your closet or dresser.
“Maintaining a minimal and organized clothing collection avoids a cluttered environment and contributes to a sense of calm and order. However, when excess clothes are scattered around the room, will be damaged.”
If you have the space in your home, you may want to consider moving your clothes out of your bedroom completely and opting for a separate dressing room instead. This allows you to separate the chaos of the day from your sleeping space and create a truly relaxing environment.
9. Highly saturated colors
(Image credit: Renee Kemps)
When designing your bedroom, you should really aim to choose the most relaxing colors when putting together your palette. By doing so, you can achieve a sophisticated minimalist aesthetic. suggests Courtney Finley, professional organizer and designer and owner of Organized Designs.
“You can paint your walls a calming color like creamy white or pastel; it doesn't have to be a dark color,” she advises. “Greens, blues and purples are common for this, but you can also be adventurous and choose limewash, a painting technique that's proven to help with relaxation,” she added.
FAQ
What does a minimalist bedroom need?
A very minimalist bedroom should at least have a bed, a storage unit for clothes, a nightstand, and a light source to allow for night reading. From there, you can choose to add some personal memorabilia and experiment with varying degrees of minimalism to create a space that feels safe, cozy, and relaxing.
What are the 90 rules of minimalism?
The 90-day rule of minimalism states that when decluttering, you should only keep on hand things you've used in the past 90 days or will use in the next 90 days. This allows you to keep seasonal items while selecting them. I promised to use it, but I didn't touch it. If you're finding it hard to let go of items you're worried you'll need again in the future, this is a difficult but beneficial method. If you've never used it before and don't plan on using it, you probably don't need it.
Don't just consider what to get rid of, but also what to bring in. For example, before purchasing a new nightstand or chest of drawers, measure it carefully and consider exactly where and how you will use it. If you don't know the exact location, don't bring it in through the front door.
Given that kitchens can quickly become cluttered, it's worth getting rid of items even in a minimalist kitchen.