Maximizing Space in Your Bedroom

Tips for Tuesday

How many bedrooms do you have in your house? Enough for each family member to have their own? What size are your bedrooms? Are they spacious with large closets? Or do you own an historic home with small rooms and small closets?

Whether you have small bedrooms or not enough, there are techniques you can use to maximize the space in your home.

• If you don't have room in your bedroom for a chair, buy a wedge or back support to read in bed.
• Rather than having a full headboard, save a few inches by hanging draperies or fabric behind the bed.
• Purchase a bed with built-in storage beneath the bed, or…
• Put your bed on risers so you can place boxes/bins underneath.
• Use wall space for storage--hang netting for stuffed toys, install shelves around the perimeter of the room, etc.
• Purchase beside tables with built-in storage, such as a file cabinet or one with several drawers.
• Install closet organizers to maximize space.
• Use tall, narrow dressers that will take up less floor space.
• Place a dresser in your closet to save room in your bedroom.

Store Items Where You Use Them--Bed and Bath

Tips for Tuesday

Although this makes perfect sense, many people, for whatever reason, don't store items near where they use them. Maybe whoever helped them move in decided where things should go. Maybe the space is better designed elsewhere for what you want to store. Maybe you were pressed for time and just put things wherever they would fit. However, your life will run more smoothly if you follow this simple rule--store items near where you use them. Here are some tips for the bedroom and bathroom:

• If you have several bathrooms, keep towels and toiletries for each bathroom in that space.
• Keep linens for each bedroom near that bedroom. Designate a space in your linen closet for each bedroom.
• Store hair care items in the bathroom where you style your hair.
• Store jewelry near your bedroom mirror.
• Shoes are the last thing you put on when dressing, and the first thing you take off when you come home. Store them near the front of your closet.
• Place clothes you wear less often near the back of your closet, or farthest in from the door.
• Keep accessories such as belts and scarves near the front of the closet.
• You will be accessing your underwear and sock drawers every day. Keep these items in drawers that are higher up and easily accessed. Keep pajamas and workout clothes in lower drawers since you don't need them every day.

Keep Like Items Together--Bed and Bath

Tips for Tuesday

This is one of the basics of organizing--Keep like items together. But what does that mean? How can you implement this practice in your home? Here are some tips for your bedroom and bathroom.

• Keep linens for each bed in their own closet or on their own shelf in a closet.
• Keep towels for each bathroom together.
• Sort toiletries according to type--hair care, oral care, first aid, etc.
• Sort items in your medicine cabinet according to type--pain relievers, oral care, vitamins, etc.
• Have a basket for each person's toiletries so they can easily find what they use.