By Leanne Beane

When organizing a bedroom, there are a few key ideas to keep in mind. The first is safety. Furniture should not cover any potential exits, such as doorways or windows. Partially covering these areas is fine, but there should be enough room for an individual to escape if there is an emergency. Vents should also remain uncovered to allow proper air flow throughout the room, and outlets should be covered with a plug if they are near fabric or another flammable substance.

The second concept is furniture arrangement. To create a spacious bedroom, the furniture should be placed against two opposing walls and grouped into categories according to use. For example, if people wished to place a bookshelf at the end of their bed, they could position the long edge of the bookshelf along the same wall the bed’s long edge is positioned against. This will create a gesture of availability and space. For grouping, similar-use items should be placed in the same corner of the room. For example, the dresser and hamper should be near the clothing in the closet and the reading chair should be near the bookshelf. This will lower the amount of time spent crossing the room and cause items to be more likely within arm’s reach.

To create a cozy bedroom, the furniture should line all walls of the bedroom with the bed or another large object in the middle. This will create the effect of an inviting den where the focus is in the middle of the room rather than along the center. While items should be neat and orderly in the spacious bedroom, cozy bedrooms can be covered in knickknacks and posters and other things. Similar-use items should still be placed near each other, as efficiency is still valuable, but items can be piled if that suits the owner’s tastes.

The third idea to keep in mind is how storage space should be utilized. This is particularly important in smaller rooms where space may be limited. Contrary to popular belief, items should not be stored under or over the bed, as the former prevents air flow through the mattress and the latter causes accidents during the night when things unexpectedly fall on top of an individual while they are sleeping.

Where clothing is stored is generally up to the wearer, but certain delicate items must be either hung or folded. Heavy items such as sweaters must be folded, as they can stretch and become misshapen when hung for long periods of time. If you place a piece of clothing on a hanger and notice the hanger jutting out through the clothing, it will likely need to be folded. Easily wrinkled items must be hung, as they can crease in undesirable places when folded. According to SeniorCare2Share, linen, cotton, and silk are more likely to be rumpled than nylon, spandex, and wool.

Extra pillows, blankets, and sheets can be stored in baskets in the corners of the room or on shelves in the closet. Additionally, rolling blankets and sheets rather than folding them will reduce the amount of space they take up. Cabinets are a great space to store papers or hobby items, as they are available in a variety of lengths, widths, and heights.

Plants are a great addition to a bedroom, as they add color and can be low-maintenance and low-allergen depending on the species. Succulents are rising in popularity as they require very little water, are relatively small, and can be hypoallergenic. Herbs are also popular as they typically do not grow very large and can be harvested for food. Vines are low-maintenance and quite pretty draped over furniture or hung in the corner of a room.

At the end of the day, a bedroom should fit the occupant and there is no right or wrong way to decorate it. An individual should organize their furniture as they see fit and place their items in a manner that they like.