Keeping my room neat and tidy and decorating ideas?
Question:My room always looks like a tornado attacked it, it takes me litterally hours to clean it (and its tiny!) and a few days later, it's a huge mess again. Any ideas how to KEEP my room clean for more than a few days?
Also, I want to redecorate, I don't want to repaint it or anything, I just want new furniture. My room is light green and dark green under it, and a strip of white between the two. Again, my room is so small, there's barely any walking room, I have a desk where I keep my laptop, a dresser that takes up so much room, a closet with sliding doors, a huge queen size bed, and a nightstand. Any ideas for a new bedspread or anything to change it up a bit?
Also, any ideas how to make it more relaxing so I can concentrate better when doing schoolwork? Because with all the clutter and posters and stuff on the walls I can't even breath in my room!
Answers:
I recognize the impulse to tame the chaos, and to start somewhere. It really can happen for you, stick to it!
First, be critical about where all the mess comes from. Is your room messed up with things that didn't get put away elsewhere, or is it mostly clothes? A big enough laundry hamper might be in order. If things don't get put away because your closet it too full, you'll need to fix that. Terribly scary, I know. Pulling things out of the closet really makes a mess! But when you find yourself in a "gotta clear it out move, snap into action. Take a box of garbage bags into your room, and sort things into Goodwill and trash piles as briskly as you can. Make some progress, and you'll find the motivation to move on!
Keeping your room clean will require diligence about putting things away. Reduce the clutter, reduce the amount of stuff you have. Once that's clear, it is so much easier to dust and vacuum that you can finally have a clean space!
For the redecorating element, you've noted that the clutter and visuals (posters and stuff on the walls) need to go. Finding one nice print might is always a quick path to inspiration. Themes you will always find when looking through decorative prints include: the Greek Islands (amazing blues against whitewashed buildings) and fields of lavender (greens and purple). Not terribly original, but a good place to start. You can use the colors and feel of the print to select a new comforter (or bedspread over the comforter) and a few accessories. Take a look at Pottery Barn's organic collection for ideas... either horribly bland or fabulously low key and soothing, depending on your mood!
If you really want to explore the cleaning and decluttering side of this project, go check out the Fly Lady. Great inspiration and ideas, some clever products, and a warm internet sisterhood of people trying not to live in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome).
Finally, creating a more soothing an nurturing space for yourself will also give you a place to still your mind. Many different practices (yoga, meditation, prayer, positive affirmations, or just sitting there petting a cat or dog!) can help you work on the habit of being still and relaxed. This can improve your focus and energy.
Well, put the posters and tired out things in storage or in the garbage. If things are still decent, donate them. To keep your room neat, think, "a place for everything and everything in this place." Go through your closet and dressers and weed out the things that you don't wear any more and donate them too. Get a clothes basket and put your dirty clothes in that every night. Put away or hang up laundry. Get some cute little baskets or tubs to sort and keep your collections in and stack them up. Target, Wal-Mart, Bed, Bath and Beyond have all kinds of back to school/college stuff that will give you a good selection of new bedding that is youthful (may be a problem with queen bed). There's all kinds of storage ideas. Go to www.jcp.com (penney's), where you can find a terrific array of beautiful bedding and curtains and a lot of it is on sale now.
try moving the furniture around you will be amazed.Also try angle the bed in a corner instead of the wall this makes a visual larger space.Try putting things away instead of laying around,unclutter the walls keep up what you truly like and put it all in one space,like a memory wall.
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