I am not ashamed to admit that I spend a lot of time in bed. It is comfortable, relaxing, and I have spent a lot of money finding the perfect bedding, so why not get the most out of it?
The result is that my nightstand has become a catch-all for various hobbies and tasks, ranging from reading to cross-stitching to writing. However, all this mess can quickly impact sleep, with clutter making it harder to unwind.
Luckily, I have discovered the secret to calming clutter chaos without compromising on my cozy corner activities – a $10 rope basket from Target. This TikTok tactic instantly decluttered my nightstand without compromising on practicality. Here’s why such a small change made such a massive difference.
How a $10 basket creates a calming and clutter-free nightstand
Having a bedside basket instantly cleared up space on my nightstand. Using a minimal basket in a neutral color helps to further reduce visual noise, plus, the items are made portable, so I can easily take my relaxing essentials down to the sofa on a lazy day, if desired.
It is no secret by now that a messy bedroom affects sleep, with a tidier, more organized bedroom equaling better sleep as your mind can shut off and relax more easily.
So, it is safe to say that having heaps of books, tools, notepads, pens, and more directly next to my head when I am trying to shut down for the day probably wasn’t the healthiest (not to mention that it is one of the things a pro organizer instantly notices in messy bedrooms).
The fix was a simple bedside basket. The caveat being that the basket has to fit on the nightstand comfortably, thus introducing the boundary method to both contain and limit clutter in a sleep space – the rule being if I want an item close to my bed, it has to fit in the basket, or it can’t stay.
It forces me to prioritize items whilst also ensuring I put some of the items away – especially those I am not currently using.
It works so well because while I still have access to all of my usual items next to my bed, they have been corralled together to reduce visual clutter in a bedroom, and thus limiting their stressful impact.
Using a soft rope basket, from Target, gives me a little bit of flexibility as the edges are malleable, so I can squish items in a little tighter than I would a bin with rigid sides.
It isn’t just me who loves this bedroom organizing hack, either. It’s designer-approved!
Joyce Huston, co-founder and lead interior designer at Decorilla, says, ‘If you have an open-shelf nightstand, a basket would be a useful way to tidily stow away items for your bedtime routine, like a journal and pen, lip balm, lotion, and an eye mask.
‘My advice, though, is to carefully organize items per basket,’ she adds. ‘This system means these items are easily located, neatly organized, and within arm’s reach when you need them most.’
Bedside organizing essentials
This minimal basket takes up next to no space, making bedside organizing less visually overstimulating. Natural materials mean there is a greater chance of biophilic decluttering success.
If you only have a few things on your nightstand, consider a small trinket dish to collect any jewellery, hair ties, or glasses before you fall asleep.
These clear acrylic drawer dividers from The Container Store are ideal for keeping the drawer of your nightstand neat, so you do not have to go digging through whenever you need a lip balm or a bookmark.
Keep clutter off of your nightstand altogether by using a bedside hanging organizer tucked beneath your mattress instead. Simply tuck in the gap between your bed and your nightstand to keep clutter completely out of sight.
Keep your phone, smart watch, and headphones tidy with an all in one charging dock. This dock also has a small built-in lamp for convenience.
This sunrise alarm clock helps you wake up more naturally, reducing feelings of grogginess. This Restore model also features bedtime routines to help you fall asleep easier and faster.
Meet the expert
Joyce Huston is a Lead Interior Designer & Co-founder at Decorilla Online Interior Design, a service that serves clients in-home in 20 major cities across the US for 80% less than traditional interior design.
It isn’t just the top of your nightstand you need to worry about when it comes to chaotic clutter, but I am not one to preach about organized bedside drawers, given the constantly hectic state of my own. So, I suggest checking out the things a professional organizer keeps in her nightstand for inspiration, instead.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.