I LOVE organization. I fought it for years because I thought it made me seem inflexible and somewhat OCD to admit, publicly, that I love getting and STAYING tidy and organized. The truth is, I am not naturally that way. I’ve had to LEARN how to be more organized and have found that it’s really brought order not just to my home, but also to my mind.

Think I’m overstating?? Here’s a whole article in Psychology Today about how I’m TOTALLY NOT.  

Just in case my blog is all you’ll have time to read today, I’ll summarize: People who live in clean, organized homes are physically and mentally healthier than those who don’t.

Some of you are dealing with REALLY HUGE THINGS right now, and reading this is causing you to beat yourself up. That is not my intention and if that’s you, I want you to treat yourself like you would your own best friend. I don’t know what you’re going through, but you may not have time to pee, so if that’s you, please stop reading and go take a nap. Well, pee first and then take a nap.

However, if it is your deep desire to get your home in order and you have some time to devote to it, then keep reading. Because I’ve got some tips to help you get it that way and, more importantly, help you ensure it STAYS that way. Because the systems are step one and are actually the easiest part. It’s the maintaining the systems that gets tricky.

So I posted a poll on FB and twitter asking which area of the home people struggled with getting and keeping organized. I was actually kind of surprised at the answer. The choices were kitchen, master bedroom, closets or laundry room. The winner? Well, it was kind of a tie and honestly the poll is still going on as I type this, so there may need to be a runner-up post, but the winner as of Tuesday at 8:28pm:

The Master Bedroom!

NOT what I was expecting but it is an area I’m very passionate about (and everyone SHOULD be passionate about their master bedroom, right?? See what I did there).

True Life Mom Confession: When the boys were little, our bedroom was the dumping ground. It’s where the clean laundry got thrown waiting to be folded, where the stuff from everywhere went when someone was coming over, and where papers overflowed out of well-meaning baskets on my desk in the corner.

And one day I was watching Oprah. And she said something like this:

At the end of the day your home should rise up to greet you.

And I thought, well, craptacular. At the end of the day I want to set my house on fire and move.

But I knew she was right and it was time for a change. And where that change started was our most personal of spaces – our master bedroom. So let’s get on with it. How do you DO it. How do you turn the Grand Dumping Ground into the Grand Retreat?? 4 steps. Well, 4 plus a follow up number 5. It’s not hard. You just need to do it. LET’S GO!

First, a tour of my bedroom. Now, I PROMISE I did not clean it up before I filmed this. You’ll also see where I put Scott’s junk and boy, he needs to deal with that;). This is not a perfect space by any stretch of the imagination, but it works for us and this is how we live. And if you live with someone who tends to leave things on the floor, see my tip for that at the end:).

1. Get rid of everything that doesn’t belong in there.  In a perfect world, there should be no laundry, no random paperwork, no toys. Yes, that’s right moms and dads of pre-schoolers, I said NO TOYS. I know there are those of you that just wailed at your screen but get over it. I’m not saying your kids can’t play in there (for instance, when you’re in there trying to clean it;), but toys should not LIVE in there. This is the space for you or, if you have a significant other, you and your partner. NO CHILDREN’S TOYS. (and as far as other toys, this is a family blog so no judgment but we won’t be talking about those here;) And also, if at all possible, your desk should not be in here. I know if you’re in a tight space that may be impossible, but try to put it somewhere else. Kitchen, family room, ANYWHERE but in your bedroom. Nothing robs you of that retreat feeling like bills and letters from the IRS less than 10 feet from where you’re trying to sleep. (time spent: variable. Should be no longer than one day but you may need more time if it’s REALLY bad and breaking the project into smaller pieces so you don’t get overwhelmed may be advisable)
2. Clean Up. You’ve gotten the clutter out, now it’s time to clean. And I mean REALLY clean. Get rid of clutter, and re-evaluate everything in the space. Do you have more furniture in there than you need or want? Are you keeping an old chair or an old end table there just because you have nowhere else to put it? OUT. IT. GOES. We are going for  a clean, uncluttered space with nothing on the floor but furniture and as little of that as possible. (time spent: 2 hours tops). And please, as few knick knacks as humanly possible. They just collect dust.
3. Consider new bedding and if it’s in the budget, new furniture. In my experience, the last place we ever want to spend money is in our own master suites and this is RIDICULOUS. It’s not called the “suite for the people who don’t really matter” it’s called the MASTER SUITE. The best in the house should be in here. If you haven’t replaced your mattress, sheets, or pillows in years, it’s time. I know you don’t want to spend the money but do it anyway. It’s amazing how fresh bedding can change your outlook. (time spent: well, if you order online, just a few minutes!)
4. Now, the hard part. KEEP IT CLEAN. You need to be changing those sheets, dusting those surfaces, and vacuuming that carpet EVERY WEEK. Mattress pads and comforters should be washed every 4 – 6 weeks, and the pillows every 3 months. During your weekly clean, you’ll have to remove, once again, all the things that crept, ever so subtly, back into the space. The toys, the papers, the laundry? They love your room and will do anything and everything to take up residence there. I mean, do you blame them? At this point, it’s GORGEOUS! The ONLY way to keep that from happening is to do at least a weekly sweep of the space. (time spent: 30 minutes a week)

Now we’re going to talk about something beyond the overall clean out and weekly cleaning that is essential if you want to keep this space peaceful and clutter free. Ready??

The DAILY Reset

For me, this happens in the morning after I make the bed, but I take just 5 minutes and look around the space. Anything here that shouldn’t be?? Any clothes on the floor? Any dirty glasses on the bedside table? The 5 minutes you spend daily will keep your room clean peaceful and retreatish, which isn’t a word but should be.

One final note on the person you live with: they may NOT be on board. I am not suggesting you become their maid. I do think, however, you should designate one spot (preferably in his or her closet) where the stuff they leave out goes. If it’s on the floor, cluttering a surface, or just out of place, put it there. That way they won’t accuse you of hiding their stuff and when they ask “where are the shorts I had on yesterday?” you can just point. Only took me 15 years to land on this system.

Your bedroom should be the most beautiful and orderly room in your house. It’s the place where you start and end every day, and you deserve it to be a sanctuary that you adore.