It is the place where every single day begins and ends for you, so it makes sense that the atmosphere in your bedroom can have a tremendous effect on your state of mind. A chaotic, unorganized bedroom does nothing to recharge or restore you, which is precisely what should be taking place in this space. A clutter-free zone will promote restful sleep, and these five easy steps will help keep the clutter from sneaking back into the serene space you’ve just created.

1. Make your bed every day. If you cultivate only one new habit to keep your bedroom organized, I urge you to make this one your top priority. Get out of bed in the morning and make the first thing you do a ritual of organization that sets the tone for your entire day. You’ll spend a third of your life (or more!) in bed, so make sure it exudes the calmness that you want to carry with you from morning to night.

2. Use dual-purpose furniture to create extra storage. If you like to read in bed, eliminate unsightly piles of books and magazines by swapping out your bedside table for a small bookshelf. You can even use a taller bookcase as your headboard, but be sure to bolt it securely to your wall so nothing falls on you! If it’s clothes, not books, that are causing the clutter to pile up, try using a small dresser as your nightstand, and you’ll have extra drawers for the overflow. If you’re still short on storage space, a stack of old suitcases or a vintage trunk makes a stylish table, while also housing extra blankets or off-season clothes.

3. Keep the floor clothing-free. If there’s a chair or a patch of floor that tends to accumulate the same pile of “still in use” clothing week after week, create a proper space for those in-between items to go. Remember, if it’s not dirty enough to go into the laundry, then it’s clean enough to get put away. Make sure your laundry basket is conveniently placed so dirty clothes make it straight into the hamper with out a pit stop on your floor.

4. Make it easy to access your under-the-bed space. Stashing stuff under the bed isn’t a new idea, but modern accessories make it simple to get to what you need when you need it. You can store your bulkiest items in canvas boxes (good for sweaters which require air to circulate) or plastic bins, but first protect them with dust bags or cedar wood inserts, and of course, make sure everything is laundered or dry cleaned before it gets put away for any extended period. If you’re accessing your under-bed storage every day, opting for rolling bins will make it a breeze. They’ll keep your mounds of shoes and other unruly collections out of sight but always in reach.

5. Come out of the closet! If you’re plagued with tiny closet syndrome, make some room by pulling out your favorite space-stealing accessories and displaying them like the works of art that they are! Use decorative hooks or floating shelves to display purses and shoes… why not admire to your favorite items when they’re not in use?

Try out all of these tips or just one or two, and I promise you will notice the energy in your bedroom shift within the first day. It only takes a little effort to maintain the peaceful environment you need to get a good night’s sleep and prepare yourself for whatever the day has in store.

What organizing challenge has been blocking your bedroom from becoming the sanctuary you deserve? We’d love to hear your comments below.