It’s easy to think of a clean room as just something that’s aesthetically pleasing. However, walking into a clean space actually alters your mood and behavior when you enter the room.
When your space is cluttered and messy, you feel bogged down. It impacts your mood, productivity, and even your sleep schedule. But when everything is in its place and clean, you feel lighter. You can relax and focus without interruptions.
Researchers at Princeton University found that clutter creates competition for your attention. So when your space is cluttered, it’s more difficult for your brain to focus on one task and retain information, as shown in the Journal of Neuroscience. Every time you walk into a messy room, you’re bombarded with visual clutter that your brain must process. As soon as you set foot in your room, you’re drained before you even begin!
Keeping your room tidy will save you time as well. You won’t spend part of your morning searching for things or trying to wind down at night in a cluttered room. It shows that you care about yourself too. You keep your living space clean and organized because you want to feel good in your space.
Tips On How To Keep Your Room Clean
1. Start Small and Create a Cleaning Routine
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to deep clean your room once and expect it to stay pristine. To keep your room clean, you have to do little things every day.
Make your bed daily, don’t let trash pile up, hang up your clothes or put them in the laundry basket. Put your shoes away instead of throwing them by the door. Small things that take seconds to do, but make a big difference over time.
Breaking the cycle of letting things pile up is important. Don’t wait until your floor is cluttered with clothes and your bathroom looks like a tornado hit it. Clean up after yourself while things are small and manageable.
2. Create a Home for Everything
When you have more stuff than places to put your stuff, clutter will overwhelm your space. If you’re looking at your book on the floor or putting clothes you just wore on your desk, you don’t have enough homes for your stuff.
You don’t need to buy drawer organizers or pretty boxes. Stick shelves work just as well; even bins or baskets will do the trick! The point is that once you pick something up, you know exactly where to put it back.
When everything has a home, cleaning up will be fast and easy.
Read also: 7 Vital Things You Need to Add to Your Declutter List
3. Declutter Often
Even if you’re doing a good job of cleaning, your room will never stay clean unless you take the time to declutter. As we talk about minimizing and minimalism, studies have shown that owning less will reduce stress and help you feel better emotionally.
Set aside some time every few weeks to go through your clothes, papers, and random stuff. If you don’t use it, donate it, recycle it, or throw it away. The less stuff you own, the easier it is to clean.
4. Make Your Bed
Making your bed is something we all hear growing up. But did you know making your bed actually makes your room look instantly cleaner?
The United States Navy recommends making your bed as a way to develop good habits and start your day off right. Psychologists also say that when your bed is made, your room looks neater, which gives you the impression of your whole room being cleaner.
Clear off your surfaces
5. Clear Off Your Surfaces
Countertops, desks, and tables are some of the easiest surfaces to become cluttered. You look down for a second to put your phone down. Next thing you know, you’ve got mail, remote controls, pens, notebooks.
Take a few seconds before you go to bed to clear off any surfaces. Put things away where they belong so, in the morning, you don’t feel like the whole room is cluttered.
6. Quick Nightly Reset
Take 5 minutes to put things away at night before you go to bed. Throw away trash, straighten things up, and pick up anything that’s out of place. You’re not deep cleaning your room every night. You’re training yourself not to let dirt and clutter build up.
Psychologists say that completing one simple organizing task before bed helps signal to your brain that it’s time to sleep, which aligns with guidance on healthy bedtime routines from the National Institutes of Health. Which means you’ll fall asleep faster once your bedtime rolls around.
7. Do Laundry Immediately
There’s nothing worse than clothes piling up on the floor. Whether it’s clean or dirty laundry, it looks like clutter. Make sure to have a laundry basket within reaching distance of your bed.
As soon as you take off dirty clothes, throw them in the laundry basket. When doing laundry, fold right away or hang up your clothes. Don’t leave them in the dryer or they’ll be piled back up on the floor.
Don’t leave dirty dishes in your room either. Do them right away or you’ll be tempted to leave them for later. You know yourself best. If you’re someone who leaves laundry and dishes for later, clean as you go!
8. Clean As You Go
If you spill something, clean it right away. Notice dust? Wipe it up immediately. You’ll never feel like your room is clean if you leave dirt and clutter for another day.
9. Reward Yourself
Keeping your room clean might be difficult the first week or two. Remind yourself how much better you feel when your room is clean and clutter-free. Let that be the reward that motivates you to continue keeping your room clean.
Reward yourself for small achievements! Made it a week without your room being cluttered? Buy yourself a candy bar or new throw pillow.
10. Clean Rooms Lead to Clutter-Free Lives
Simple habits and tricks like these can help your room stay clean without you feeling like you’re in jail. Cleaning your room will become less of a task and more of a habit.
Not only will your room be clean, but you’ll also save time during your mornings and wind down during the evenings. You’ll feel less stressed, which will improve your mood, allow you to relax, and get better sleep.
You’ll finally change your environment for the better. Don’t forget to save this for later!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a clean room affect my mood so much?
When your space is cluttered and messy, you can feel bogged down, and it can impact your mood, productivity, and sleep schedule.
How do I keep my room clean without deep cleaning all the time?
To keep your room clean, you have to do little things every day, like making your bed, putting clothes in the laundry basket, and not letting trash pile up.
What if I have too much stuff for my space?
When you have more stuff than places to put your stuff, clutter will overwhelm your space, so creating a home for everything and decluttering often can help.
How long should a nightly reset take?
Take 5 minutes to put things away at night before you go to bed. You’re not deep cleaning—just preventing dirt and clutter from building up.
What’s the fastest way to make my room look cleaner instantly?
Making your bed can make your room look instantly cleaner and give the impression that your whole room is cleaner.
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