How to Clean Out Your Cluttered Bedroom and Redecorate It

Co-authored by Sarah Fogle

Last Updated: September 29, 2021 References Approved

Is your room cluttered and messy? Is it looking boring and you want to shake it up a bit? Then follow these steps to help!

Method 1

Method 1 of 11:

Cleaning Your Floor

1
Get some boxes (preferably large ones) and some trash bags. The more stuff you have, the more of these you'll need.^{[1]
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- Label some boxes as Keep, Donate/Sell (whichever you want to do), and Belongs Elsewhere.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Sarah Fogle
  DIY Specialist
  Expert Interview. 27 July 2021.} Don't label all of them.
2
Create an area to work in. This means your floor has to be clean! Put the things from your floor into a box/boxes.^{[3]
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3
Go through the box!
4
Take ONE thing out of the box at a time. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How often do I use this?
- Can I throw this away?
- Does it belong in here?
- If you don't use it often, get rid of it! If it's trash, put it in the trash bag! If it doesn't belong in your room, put it in a box for later (if you labeled the boxes, it will go in the Belongs Elsewhere box)
- If you are keeping it put it in a different box than the other things (if labeled, it's the Keep box)
5
Continue doing this until everything is out of the box/boxes.

Method 2

Method 2 of 11:

Cleaning Your Closet and Dresser

1
Open a drawer to your dresser. Take out the clothes you don't like. If you don't like certain clothes, why keep them?
2
Take out clothes that you know are too small/big. If they are too small, you probably won't fit in them if you outgrew them. If they're a little big, keep them, but if they are way too big, get rid of them! If you don't know then try it on!^{[4]
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3
Put the clothes you're keeping in a box. Fold them up and put them away neatly. If you do that, it'll be easier to get them organized later.
4
Go to the closet and take out clothes you don't like. Just like with the dresser, why keep them?
5
Take out clothes you outgrew, or are too big. Again, if you don't know then try it on.^{[5]
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6
Get rid of shoes too small, or way too big. Get rid of the uncomfortable ones as well.
7
Put remaining things in boxes to keep. Take down the rest of your clothes, fold them up and put them in the boxes with the clothes from your dresser (if they'll fit).
8
Pick a bin/drawer to start with. If you only take on one at a time, it doesn't seem as big of a task.^{[6]
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9
Sort through everything. Sort through everything the same way you sorted through the things on the floor. Ask yourself the same questions as well.^{[7]
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Pick another bin/drawer. Sort through everything, and ask yourself the same questions from before again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 11:

Cleaning Your Desk

1
Put everything on the desk in a box.
2
Take one thing a time to go through. Do the same things you've done to everything else.
3
Open the little drawers or compartments and go through those. Some desks have places to store things, and if you didn't go through them earlier, go through them now.^{[8]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 11:

Cleaning Shelves

1
Take the books off one by one. Ask yourself these questions for each book:^{[9]
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- Have I read it before?
- Will I be interested in it still? (If you haven't read it yet)
- Will I want to read it again? (If you've read it)
2
Sort the the extra things you have. These things may include trophies, snow globes, and little glass figurines. They have to be sorted. Ask yourself these questions for each extra thing you have:
- Does it look nice?
- Do I like it?
- Will it fit in with my new room? (if redecorating)

Method 5

Method 5 of 11:

Getting Everything Where It Needs to Be

1
Get the boxes and trash bags out of your room. You can't redecorate with them in the way. Here are some places you can put them:^{[10]
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- Trash bags are filled with the trash, so throw them away
- The boxes with things you're keeping can go in another room for a few hours/days/weeks, depending on how much redecorating you plan on doing.
- Boxes with things to donate/sell can go in the garage or in your car
- Boxes with things that belong somewhere else in the house can be emptied. Put those things where they belong.
2
Move the furniture out of the room.
3
Take measurements of your room. That way, if you buy new furniture, you won't buy something too big! Measure everything: the wall, window, door, and the furniture you have!
- Write the measurements down!

Method 6

Method 6 of 11:

Brainstorming Your Room’s Design

1
Pick a theme, color, or the way you want your room to look. Your room will look better if everything matches.
2
Decide what furniture you want to keep. If you get rid of some of your furniture, sell it (you can use the money to buy better furniture to match your room or other things for your room.) If it will match your new theme, keep it. But, if a furniture piece will clash with your theme badly, get rid of it.

Method 7

Method 7 of 11:

Walls

1
Pick a color/wallpaper for your walls. If you want to change the wallpaper of your walls, measure every wall (length, width, and height.) Write your measurements down. This is to make sure you buy wallpaper that will have a snug fit on your wall. If you want to repaint your wall, choose a color for your theme.^{[11]
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2
Remove everything from the wall. Remove wall lamps, light switch covers, outlet covers, pictures, shelves, etc.
3
Paint/put wallpaper on the wall. ^{[12]
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- Make sure the paint goes on smoothly, and add a few coats. Make sure each coat is completely dry before adding another.
- Smooth down the wallpaper so there aren't any air bubbles.
4
Find things to put on your walls. This can be paintings, drawings, pictures, wall hangings, shelves, etc. Make your walls nice, but not overly cramped.

Method 8

Method 8 of 11:

Furniture

1
Move your remaining furniture back into your room. Put them in the places you want them to be in. However you want them placed is fine.^{[13]
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2
Go to the store and pick new furniture out to add to your room. It can be a lamp, mirror, vanity, desk, more pillows, a bed sheet set, chairs, etc. Make sure they follow your theme.
3
Put your new furniture where you want it.

Method 9

Method 9 of 11:

Storage

1
Buy storage bins and/or baskets. Put them in your room where they won't be in the way.^{[14]
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Sarah Fogle
DIY Specialist
Expert Interview. 27 July 2021.}
2
Put the things you're keeping in the storage bins and/or baskets. Label them as you go.^{[15]
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Method 10

Method 10 of 11:

Organizing Clothes

1
Put your clothes back in your dresser and closet. ^{[16]
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- Have certain drawers for certain clothing. One drawer can have undergarments and socks, another can have skirts and shorts, etc.
- Organize your closet by long sleeve, short sleeve, tanktop, and dresses (if you're a girl). Even organize by color!
- Have everything facing the same way.
2
Buy new clothes to make up for the ones you donated/will sell. Go on a shopping spree! Buy new shoes, clothes, accessories, etc.
3
Organize your clothes the way you did to the rest of your clothes.

Method 11

Method 11 of 11:

Organizing Shelves

1
Put your books back on your bookshelf. ^{[17]
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- Organize them by the kind of genre they are.
- Organize them alphabetically.
2
Put things on your shelves neatly.
- Trophies can be put in chronological (time) order (from the first to the last).
- Face things at different angles to see how your bedroom looks.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I decide what to throw away?

Sarah Fogle
DIY Specialist
Sarah Fogle is a DIY Home Improvement Specialist and the creator of Ugly Duckling House. With over a decade of experience, Sarah specializes in beginner-friendly home remodeling projects. Sarah holds an MBA from Georgia State University. She has been featured in multiple publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Make Magazine. She has also partnered with brands such as Lowe's, Home Depot, and Martha Stewart Crafts.

Sarah Fogle

DIY Specialist

Expert Answer

Try using the KonMari method! With this technique, you hold an item and ask yourself if it "sparks joy." If it doesn't, throw it out.
Question

How do I stop being overwhelmed when decluttering?

Sarah Fogle
DIY Specialist
Sarah Fogle is a DIY Home Improvement Specialist and the creator of Ugly Duckling House. With over a decade of experience, Sarah specializes in beginner-friendly home remodeling projects. Sarah holds an MBA from Georgia State University. She has been featured in multiple publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Make Magazine. She has also partnered with brands such as Lowe's, Home Depot, and Martha Stewart Crafts.

Sarah Fogle

DIY Specialist

Expert Answer

Try making a day of it instead of forcing yourself to clean in a short amount of time. Order some takeout, put on some music, or do whatever helps you to have the most fun.
Question

How do I pick what to throw away when I redecorate?

Community Answer

You should obviously throw away anything that doesn't serve its purpose anymore. Throw away things that look worn, or things you haven't used, looked at, or worn in 6 months.