Everyone enjoys a tidy room.
A teen's room can be a peaceful haven full of cherished possessions. It can also be the one room in the house everyone avoids. Maybe there are more clothes on the floor and under the bed than in the hamper and closet. Organizing the collection of dirty socks, athletic equipment and empty snack bags may seem like an impossible task, but with some hard work and a little creativity, it can be done. It will take some time and effort, but the results will be worth it.
Instructions
1. Turn on some loud, upbeat music for inspiration.
2. Start with one corner of the room and move along the wall to the next corner, sorting through everything as you move along. This structured way of methodically moving through the room helps you focus on the task and allows you to see your progress as you work. The idea is to sort everything, even things hidden away on top shelves, under the bed and behind the dresser.
Put related things together in laundry baskets or piles on the floor or on the bed. Make a misfit pile for the things that don't seem belong with any others. Keep a large plastic trash bag within arm's reach and toss things you don't want as you move along.
Place things you intend to donate to charity just outside the bedroom, on one side of the door; you can pack these things up later. Put things that will go to storage in the basement or attic outside the bedroom door, on the other side of the door; again, you can store these things later. Don't spend too much time on any one item, even if it is a long-lost treasure. Try to move as quickly as possible.
3. Clean or wax the empty shelves, dresser tops, etc., with a clean rag or paper towels. Spray air freshener.
4. Put away everything left in the room, keeping in mind that things used most often need to be more accessible. Except for the misfit pile, each pile now holds related things that belong together and should be stored together. Put books on the bookshelf. Hang all the belts together in the closet. Keep collections of key chains, video games, etc. in clear bins with lids. Clear bins can be stacked to safe space, and allow your teen to see exactly what's inside.
5. Sort through the misfit pile and find a home for each of item.
6. Pack up the things outside the bedroom door for donation or storage.
Tags: misfit pile, move along, outside bedroom, things that,