Ever walk into your bedroom, glance around, and suddenly feel your energy drain? The laundry pile, the dusty nightstand, that mug you meant to move two days ago and yet, it’s still there. The chaos of untidiness hums loudly in the background like a bad playlist on loop. But instead of hearing songs, all you hear is every chore on your to do list slowly piling up and becoming overwhelmingly long.
After a long day, walking into a messy space can make you less settled, more anxious and stressed. The truth is, the more untidy you are, the less likely you are to have a good quality of sleep. Studies show that clutter and disorganized spaces negatively impact sleep quality, whilst clean, organized spaces do the opposite. In fact, the results of the study also show that participants who focused on de-cluttering and self-care habits improved their quality of sleep.
Popular influencers in the orginising space such as Marie Kondo often share a philosophy on sleep hygiene which revolve mostly around calming, relaxing and preparing yourself and your space for a decent nights sleep, but what if you just focused on your room>
Here are our top 5 de-cluttering tips for improve your sleep quality.
1. Start with the Surfaces (Yes, Every Single One)
Dust doesn’t just look lazy. It impacts your breathing. It also carries allergens, and even if you’re not the sneezy type, poor air quality leads to shallow, disrupted sleep. The nightstand, headboard, lamps, blinds—every surface counts.
Strategy: Set a surface schedule. Mondays for shelves. Wednesdays for tables. Fridays for electronics. Rotate. Make it sustainable. Use microfiber cloths and skip synthetic sprays; opt for water + a vinegar-based solution or a cleaner with essential oils (like lavender or eucalyptus) for double-duty air benefits.
2. Make Your Bed—But Not Just in the Morning
You’ve heard it before. “Make your bed every day.” But that advice only scratches the surface. What about the bed itself?
Strategy: Deep-clean your bedding monthly—this includes your mattress cover, pillow protectors, and even the mattress itself. Sprinkle it with baking soda, let it sit, then vacuum. Rotate your mattress every few months. If your pillow is more than two years old? It’s time to say goodbye.
Clean bedding = better skin, clearer sinuses, and fewer middle-of-the-night disturbances.
3. Your Bedroom Should Smell Like… Nothing
If you’re dousing your linens in artificial fragrances, you might be doing more harm than good. Strong synthetic scents can overstimulate your nervous system, even while you’re trying to wind down. The same goes for harsh cleaning products—especially if you’re doing a pre-bed tidy-up.
Strategy: Go scent-neutral or lightly herbal. Consider switching to plant-based cleaning services that use non-toxic products. Like Seattle Green Cleaning Fairy in the US or Cleaning Express in the UK. They specialize in eco-conscious cleaning, and honestly, their approach makes you realize that “clean” doesn’t need to smell like a chemical spill. It should feel… calm.
4. Screen Clutter Is Still Clutter
It’s not just a physical mess that messes with your sleep. Visual clutter counts too. That stack of unread books, the wall of notifications blinking on your phone, your open laptop humming near your pillow? All of it tells your brain: there’s more to do.
Strategy: Create a “soft landing zone” for your eyes. Limit the bedroom to two textures, three calming colours, and minimal artwork. Tuck away cables. Close tabs. Buy a basket for your laundry. Hide the stuff or throw out the clutter that makes your space feel messy.
5. Rethink “Clean” As a Feeling, Not Just a Chore
Here’s where things get real: a clean home isn’t the goal. A restorative home is. You’re not aiming for showroom perfection—you’re aiming for a bedroom that says “You can let go now.”
Strategy: Before bed, take five minutes. Not to scrub, but to reset. Fluff the pillows. Pull back the covers. Wipe down the nightstand. Turn on a warm-toned lamp. You’re not tidying—you’re creating conditions for rest. Make it part of the ritual, not the to-do list.
The Real Power of a Clean Sleep Space
Here’s what people often miss: a clean room doesn’t just help you sleep better—it trains your body to understand safety, predictability, and comfort. Those things are crucial for deep, uninterrupted sleep. When your space supports you, your nervous system finally gets the message: you’re allowed to rest now.
The benefits snowball. Better sleep improves your immune system, boosts mood, helps with digestion, and sharpens focus.
So before you buy another supplement or upgrade your mattress for the third time, take a look around. Is your room clean, calm, and ready to welcome you? If not, now you know where to start.
