How do I quickly organize my disastrous spare bedroom?

Becky
by Becky
  10 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Aug 05, 2019

    Becky...Start with 3 bins....keep... throw away... give away. You will find a lot of your work will be done after sorting. Then use an old dresser, bins, baskets, etc. Good luck

  • DesertRose DesertRose on Aug 05, 2019

    Becky, first you need to remove or bag everything into 4 categories (large bags or boxes). 1) sell 2) throw 3) give 4) keep. If you have not used it in the past 6 months get rid of it by using one of the first 3 steps. If you do use it periodically, fold and put away everything or hang it on a rolling clothes rack. If you need, put up shelves or a way to easily access what you do use often. inexpensive 2nd hand book shelves or from walmart with baskets can hold smaller items, linens etc. Label the baskets. Also, clear tubs that stack from Walmart (the huge tub sizes) can help you store and stack everything and know what is in each tub when you use clear ones. I keep our Christmas decor in one, and my yarn and craft things in another, etc.

  • Judy Judy on Aug 05, 2019

    I think we all have one of these rooms. My suggestion is to move the larger items out. Except for the bed and dressers. Get bags or boxes and label trash donate and other rooms. They’re out the trash but donate what you don’t use or haven’t used, other rooms as for things that don’t belong in that room.

    I would put like things together such as all of your shoes and decide which ones you really don’t need anymore.

    I have found for me, to make in one big pile of donation and bring it to Salvation Army and really makes me feel good, give me a tax write off but clears my clutter quickly instead of having a yard sale or waiting for people to come pick it up.


  • Debi53 Debi53 on Aug 05, 2019

    Well, quickly might not be the correct word. But there is a way. My friends tell me that I am the most organized person they know so here are my suggestions:

    1) Remove everything except large pieces from the room. I know this is a pain, but it is the only way to organize.

    2) Decide the purpose(s) of the room. Really think about this. Make a list of all the ways this room will be used.

    3) Group your stuff into different section based on your list---fabric & sewing—clothing, shoes, purses, & hangers—miscellaneous storage—linens—whatever you decide your room should hold. While you are sorting, ruthlessly get rid of the junk, broken, torn; clothing that doesn’t fit & shoes you don’t wear or that doesn’t fit; anything that you don’t use or love. Getting rid of junk is the biggest favor you can do for yourself. Everything you keep is something you devote a portion of your life to maintaining. Is that hat or piece of fabric, or pair of shoes that you never use or wear worth the mental or physical space that it occupies in your life?

    4) Now get rid of the junk—throw it out or donate it now. Get it out of your house. Don’t put it in the garage or hold on to it for a garage sale. That still keeps it where you have to deal with it. As you begin to put things back into the room, do another purge. You can make another donation or trash run when you are all finished. Trust me, if you don’t get rid of the stuff right away, you probably never will.

    5) Decide how the stuff that is left will be contained. Try to keep like things together. In the closet, hang items from short to long. This will give you space underneath the short items to put a shoe cubby. Use heavy-duty command hooks at the back of the closet to hold purses.

    6) The more you use something, the easier it needs to be to access. The less you use something, the higher it should go, or put it behind more often used items.

    7) Add an extra shelf to the top of the closet. You’ll be amazed what just one shelf will do for your organization. Get everything off the floor unless it is in a large basket. Hang wide shelves on adjustable rails and put items in clearly labeled decorative boxes.

    8) Try to put everything inside of baskets, boxes or drawers. If you have things loosely stored where you can see them, it creates visual clutter, which makes the room look messy.

    9) Do not place anything on top of flat surfaces like dressers or night stands except decorative items.

    10) Finally, if you take something out, put it back where it goes as soon as you are through with it. Putting something down to put it away later is how a room gets in the mess in the first place.


  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 05, 2019

    make 3 zones keep, repair and donate. if it dosen"t fit you now-donate, beyond hope? if you can"t repair it- garbage it.

  • Wow, what great suggestions from everyone! I would also suggest watching the "TIdying Up with Marie Kondo" series on Netflix-I love her method for organizing and found the series to be a real motivator for me.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Aug 05, 2019

    Rather than attempting to take control of this room all at once, or in one long session, as soon as you have a large bag filled to give away, take it right away to a thrift store or donation centre.


    This will give you a needed break from the task and the environment of being inside the room. It will also give you an immediate feeling that you have accomplished something, and are making progress, rather than continuing to step over the 'donate' bags indefinitely.


    If the job seems overwhelming, approach it with small tasks, one bag at a time.

  • Chas' Crazy Creations Chas' Crazy Creations on Oct 01, 2022

    I have several organizing posts that might help you https://chascrazycreations.com/diys/how-tos/organizing/