L.I.F.E.

Your bedroom is a cluttered jumble. Whatever you had in mind when you put furniture in there, what you have now is not it!

Perhaps you want a room that soothes frayed nerves and gets you ready to snooze. Maybe like my husband, you need a man-cave where you can watch football while you work on finances. Or you just want a pretty retreat that pleases your eyes and makes you feel beautifully feminine.

Why not start now? Follow these steps to customize your room to your personal taste.

1. Take time to dream!
   Close your eyes. Pretend you are Jeannie in the bottle and you can blink your eyes to make your dream come to life. What would your new bedroom look like? Make your vision in Technicolor. Put your favorite colors on display. Will you want candles burning; what scent can you smell? You can feel the comforter, the rug, the throw on your chair. Are they silky, cool cotton, or faux fur? Is there music playing in the background? Do you have water next to you on a nightstand?
2. Plan activity zones
   Now that you know the feel and overall purpose, of your bedroom, you are ready to make some practical decisions. What activities will you invite into your room? Make this a conscious choice. You are the designer, the manager of this “hotel” room. Whatever you say goes. Where is your dressing area going to be? Do you want to do any writing, reading, or paperwork here? Will a television help or hinder your purpose? What about music?
3. Decide on furnishings / storage
   Can you see how these choices will then translate into furnishings and storage? If sleeping is your main activity, what size bed do you want? Will you have a chair, bookcase, and ottoman for a reading area? Do you want a media center? Will your clothes be stored here in a dresser or armoire?
4. Finalize a floor plan
   Measure your bedroom. Know what furnishings and/or storage will enable you to live your dream. (Hint: Less furniture translates into more free space that feels expansive. Keep is simple!) Use graph paper or an online design program to rearrange until you find a workable floor plan. Two online design programs you can use are SeeMyDesign.com and the icovia® Space Planner.

Are you finding that having a goal that excites you and has such positive benefits is a wonderfully motivating force? Are you are finally ready to clear out all the “stuff” that got dumped there because you didn’t know what else to do with it or company was coming?

• Take action to clear the clutter. Learn how to take action in my three-part series.  Also, don’t forget to register to receive my free “60 Tips to Organize Your Life.” and how to use the L.I.F.E. method.
• Use decorative containers that enhance your desired look and feel. Perhaps double purpose furnishings can add useful storage as in storage ottomans, a headboard with shelves, sidetables with 2-3 drawers.
• Add colorful accents, accessories, drapes, cushions to complete your vision for your new space.

You can make your bedroom line up with your personality, your goals and needs. After all, you will be the beneficiary of this labor of love. As the L’Oreal commercials say, “You are worth it!”