5 Things to declutter in a bedroom before fall for a peaceful, cozy sleep space

As the seasons change and the weather starts to get cooler, we often find ourselves wanting to lounge around in bed just a little longer – especially as the days get shorter. This makes it all the more important to declutter a bedroom before fall to make the space as calming and as cozy as can be.

When decluttering before fall, professional organizers are on the lookout for the best ways to help transition the space from summer to fall. The goal when decluttering a bedroom is to take away any summer items and replace them with fall and winter things to help make your fall morning routine more streamlined.

These are the five things to focus your efforts on before fall, and why they can have a big impact on the rest of the season.

Things to declutter in a bedroom before fall

Much like decluttering a living room before fall, decluttering and removing summer items from a bedroom helps to seasonally situate your bedroom decor will clear space for making a bedroom look cozy in the colder, darker months ahead.

With that in mind, these are the five items to focus on.

1. Seasonal bedding

Ivy Sbaiti, architect designer, and owner of Ivy Home Solutions suggests that the best place to start when decluttering a bedroom for fall is with your bed sheets. As the weather starts to change, you will be looking to switch lighter summer comforters and breezy bed linens for thicker, warmer duvets and cozy brushed cotton.

Ivy adds, ‘declutter worn-out or unused linens to make space for fall-friendly layers, which are essential for colder weather.’

Any bedding that has holes, stains, or that you no longer use are all good contenders for decluttering and replacing.

2. Seasonal clothing

Decluttering clothing is another must in a bedroom before fall. This includes your closet, any seasonal storage, and decluttering the bedroom clothes chair.

Nashid Braswell, founder and CEO of home organizing specialists Agency Maison, says, ‘By decluttering summer clothing and accessories that won’t be needed until next year – think lightweight fabrics, bright colors, and sandals – you can swap them out for warmer and neutral tones and comforting textiles that will cocoon you in softness.’

Liora Seltzer, home organizer and owner of What U Keep, reminds us to also check through children's clothing. ‘Chances are they grew since last fall and you need to figure out what to pass along and what you need to buy before school is back in session,’ she says.

When storing summer clothes away, consider keeping them in vacuum storage bags, such as these highly-rated extra-large vacuum bags from Walmart. Wash clothing before storing so they are fresh right out the bag next spring.

3. Bedside tables

Bedside tables are essential, but they are also magnets for clutter.

Amanda Scott, professional home organizer and owner of Amanda Scott Home says, ‘If you’re like most people, your nightstand is a collection of books and magazines you mean to read. Add loose change, crumpled bills, old receipts, prescription pills, and a cup or two – before you know it, your most restful space is a chaos of clutter. All this clutter raises our cortisol levels. These stress hormones disrupt sleep, leaving us tired and wired.

‘Declutter your nightstand to only the fall essentials (such as a book, clock, reading glasses, a journal and pen, lotion, and maybe a candle). Be rested and ready for work or school and start your day with the energy that comes from sleeping well and waking in a space that makes you feel refreshed.’

4. Makeup and skincare

If you wear makeup or are keen on a good skincare routine, then you will be aware that the change of seasons means you need to switch up your products to deal with different weather concerns. Dryer, colder air needs heavier moisturizers while the cozy seasons usually mean darker-toned makeup (and maybe a lighter foundation as your summer tan fades away).

Gillian Gudgeon, APDO member and Founder of Restore the Calm, suggests that this switchover is the ideal time to declutter makeup and skincare and reorganize your collections.

‘Toiletries and cosmetics need to be contained and put away out of sight; find space in bathroom cabinets and drawers and keep spares together somewhere,’ she adds. ‘These should be kept in a cool and dark space anyway to prolong their life. These small jars, bottles, and products laid out on top of a cabinet are some of the quickest ways to make your bedroom look very cluttered and they are difficult to clean around.’

5. Under the bed

Under-bed storage is one of the best uses of space in a bedroom. However, with it being so well hidden, it tends to collect a lot of clutter (and dust).

Juliette Thomas, founder and firector, Juliettes Interiors suggests decluttering this spot to remove any unused seasonal items and create space for the summer stuff you will be storing away.

‘Under bed storage is a great place to store clothes as it is easily accessible. This can be in the form of an ottoman bed or a bed with built-in drawers underneath,’ she says. ‘When it comes to organizing your clothes, I suggest ordering by season. Group everything together such as tops, trousers, shoes, and sweaters.

‘As the items will be folded rather than hanging, storage boxes and organizers are helpful, especially for smaller items like socks and accessories. Try to keep everything neat, tidy, and organized for an efficient use of space.’

Decluttering and organizing a bedroom before fall is essential as decluttering a bedroom can improve sleep. When the days are shorter and we spend more time inside looking at screens, this is especially important to help maintain a good sleep routine and feel well rested, even with the drop in vitamin D.