If you’re a fan of Marie Kondo, and abide by her KonMari method of tidying up, then the chances are you’ll have already tackled the wardrobes in your bedroom.
Marie Kondo, author and presenter.
Already an author of two best selling books, her debut series, which started on Netflix this January encourages you to tidy throughout your home, primarily starting with the clothes you own and evaluate their use.
Ultimately, her methods illustrate that storage in a bedroom is vital, and not just hanging rail space, but the need for a variety of different types of storage including drawers and shelving.
Obviously, if you already own freestanding wardrobes, it’s likely that they have a hanging rail only? Unlike sliding wardrobes, that best maximize all available space, freestanding wardrobes tend to store very little in comparison. Plus, with sliding wardrobes, you can make the internal storage configurations bespoke to your requirements and needs.
1. Start by decluttering…
Rather than completing emptying your wardrobes onto your bed and being faced with a massive pile of clothes to sort through, arrange your clothes into categories. Then decide if you really need nine similar white shirts, six pairs of jeans and three dresses that you’re hoping someday to be able to fit into once again! Only keep the clothes that you love or wear frequently and allocate a pile for the charity shop or recycling centre.
2. Empty and clean your wardrobes…
With nothing currently in your wardrobes, now is the ideal time to give it a really thorough clean. Wipe over all shelves and inside drawers, as fabrics loose their fibres, most of which end up in your wardrobes.
3. Use hanging space for anything delicate or structured
If your rail space is limited, it’s important to start by hanging clothes such as dresses and suits that simply can’t be folded. The chances are that if you have fitted sliding wardrobes, you will have a bountiful supply of hanging rails and this rule won’t apply!
4. Learn to fold and store items the KonMari way
Marie Kondo suggests using a vertical folding technique for T-Shirts, tops, shirts and jumpers. By folding each item into thirds lengthways, then folding from the bottom up, the clothes can be stored on their ends in drawers and are much easier to select from.
Learn to fold clothes the KonMari way.
5. Organise your clothes by colour
This might seem an obvious idea, but by sorting your clothes into colours, it will be much easier when you are trying to pick co-ordinating items to wear.
6. Maximize all vertical storage
Consider shelving above your hanging rails – it’s ideal for storing less frequently used items or even spare bedlinen and pillows. Plus the unused space below your hung items is an ideal area for storing shoes.
7. Abide by the ‘one in, one out’ rule
It might sound ruthless but each time you purchase a new items of clothing, don’t simply squeeze it into your wardrobe! Instead, decide which current item of clothing should be given up in lieu of your new garment to maintain orderly storage.
Above all else and most importantly, a neat and tidy bedroom will help to ensure that you get a good nights’ sleep every night!