Day Four Challenge Continued - Create A Serene Bedroom (COMPLETE)

Today we are continuing our quest to create a serene master bedroom by clearing out all the extra "stuff" and leaving only what is necessary for sleeping, relaxing and dressing.

See the previous post here for what we have already completed in this room...now let's press on...
to the next items mentioned in 30 Days to a Simpler Lifeand Organize Now!: A Week-by-Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life.

1)  Berry, in Organize Now!: A Week-by-Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life
says, "Eliminate excessive throw pillows unless they are really worth the effort of taking off and putting on the bed twice a day."

Another note, throw pillows are a great place for dust mites to congregate.  If you are a sufferer from allergies you may want to reconsider the necessity of extra pillows in your room.  If you can not part with them, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, "...wash...weekly in hot water. Temperatures of at least 130 degrees F are needed to kill dust mites". 

2)  Clear off the top of your dresser.  Keep your favorite few pictures or decorations.  Make sure you are putting your clean clothes in the dresser and not just sitting them on top.

If you have a small master bedroom consider eliminating your dresser. A few years ago, I decided to re-purpose our dresser.  I took everything out of the dresser and realized we had not worn at least half the items in years.  I find that because items in a dresser are hard to see, they are forgotten.  I moved my dresser items to the master closet.  The socks, underwear and lingerie are now in clear Rubbermaid boxes and one small drawer set in the closet.  The contents are conveniently located with all my other clothes.

I also relocated our sweaters, which were formerly in our dresser, into our master closet.  They are on shelves in our closet.  We happily gave away several of them, mostly wool sweaters which neither of us wore.  Our master bedroom now feels more spacious without the dresser.  Just an idea to consider.

This is our dresser now re-purposed in our dining room as a sideboard.

3)  If you are keeping your dresser, organize in the following manner...

       " Empty each dresser drawer one at a time.
             Sort and toss:
            -Socks without a match
           -Worn-out underwear and bras
           -Clothes that are the wrong size or you no longer wear
           -Bathing suits that you never wear
      Put back just those items that you love and wear.

4)  And finally, according to Cox and Evatt, their "For Serious Simplifers Only!" Challenge.

"Create a tranquil bedroom.  First, remove the television.  Next remove excess furniture and everything under the bed.  Redesign your closet sot it can hold clothing that was stored in your dresser.  Put a large plant where your dresser used to be .  Finally, empty the walls of everything except one serene print or painting.  Without busy art and bulky furniture, your bedroom will have a spacious, airy feeling."

Once you finish the Master Bedroom...hold on to your hats because tomorrow we will tackle our master closets!!