7 Tips for a Clutter-Free Bedroom Nightstand

Posted on: October 20th, 2016

Why bother decluttering your nightstand? For one, it’s hard enough to deal with clutter when you’re awake in the daylight, let alone at night when you’re asleep. A cluttered nightstand means you’re far more likely to knock your expensive glasses or phone to the floor. Plus, clutter is the opposite of calm and peaceful and every other characteristic that makes an environment conducive to sleep. Here are some easy ways to declutter the nightstand.

1. Pare down to essentials

Ask yourself what you really need on your nightstand. For me that’s a box of tissues, my phone / alarm-clock, some water, a lamp, and a book. And maybe some gloss for dry lips and a pen and paper. Shelter magazines might want you to trade the Kleenex or your glasses for a vase of flowers and some cute knick-knacks, but in real life, that’s going to turn into clutter. Of course, if having a bouquet of roses by your head as you sleep really makes you happy, you should keep it.

2. Remove that Pile of Books

Start organizing your nightstand by paring down that pile of books precariously stacked beside your pillow. Remove any books that you’ve already finished reading. And if you’re the type who reads several books at once, choose one (Yes, one) to keep by your bed—and stick with it! A stack of to-be-read books is the equivalent of posting a to-do list beside your bed each night.

 3. Banish All Electronics

Don’t let electronics on your nightstand disturb your slumber. Power them down and banish them to other rooms before you head to bed.

4. Buy smaller-sized items

Instead of taking up one third of your nightstand with a full-sized box of tissues, get one of the smaller boxes. The same goes for tubes of hand cream, carafes of water, notebooks, and anything else you might need: if it comes in a travel or miniature size, that’s the one you should place on your nightstand.

5. If you have a drawer, use it

If your nightstand has a drawer or shelf, you can put some items there to make the top of the nightstand look less cluttered.

6. Organize your Drawers

Don’t use the drawer as an excuse for storing all sorts of unnecessary stuff. Keep only the items you need beside your bed and arrange them neatly.

7. Keep up good habits

Once you declutter, don’t allow your nightstand to slowly become a landing place for all the bits and bobs in your room again. Declutter regularly. If you notice it’s looking crowded or if things are starting to collect, remove them.