When organizing a bedroom, the first thing you need is a vision for the room. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it going to serve only as a peaceful retreat from the demands of the outside world and family?
• Do you want it to be a place that stimulates your creative juices?
• Do you need an extra desk or storage space in the room?

With those questions answered, you’re ready to get serious and tackle the specifics:

• Think of what sites or sounds make you feel comfortable. If splashing in the ocean makes you feel at peace, consider painting your walls a light color that reminds you of the beach.
• Furniture style is an important consideration. It should be both functional and appealing to the eye.
• To stop clutter from entering the bedroom, set up a “launching pad” (a basket, bowl or other type of container) near the garage or the door where you enter your house most often.
• Place things like keys, sunglasses and spare change here. If the pad is large enough, you could also put library books, videos to be returned and dry cleaning there.
• Designate a basket for the mail, along with a wastebasket and a shredder, for the initial sort of the mail. Put it near the door. Eliminating the junk mail at the door keeps it from landing on the bed. And pertinent letters and bills shouldn’t make it past the designated bill-paying area.
• If photos are adding to the clutter in the bedroom, sort them by family member, event or year and then divide them into colorful baskets or boxes that can hold only enough photos for one scrapbook.
• If you have a work space in your bedroom, have a message center and a calendar on it to simplify planning.
• Vertical wall shelves are a great way to store bins and baskets, because they free up valuable floor space.
• If you have room, create a reading nook with a comfortable chair and lamp. Keep no more than three magazines and one book in that area.