Let’s talk bedrooms…..and not the Pinterest-perfect kind. I’m talking about the bedroom that somehow becomes the family dumping ground. It becomes a laundry hub and an unfinished DIY zone. It even turns into an emotional clutter monster. Sound familiar? Yeah. Me too.
As a mum of four with ADHD, my bedroom is supposed to be my calm zone. But most days, it feels like the place where everything that doesn’t have a home just comes to live. We’ve got everyone’s clothes in one corner (hello, Kallax boxes). There is a TV on the wall that doesn’t even work. We have random carpet patches from a project that didn’t go to plan. There is also a collection of under-bed containers that haven’t seen daylight in years.
It’s not Pinterest. It’s real life. And I know I’m not alone.
The ADHD Struggle Is Real
ADHD brains crave calm, but attract chaos. We want simple, clean, minimal spaces, but we also need easy systems that actually work for our fast-moving, sometimes-scattered brains. The mismatch between what we want our bedroom to feel like and what it actually looks like can be exhausting.
For me, the stress points were clear:
- Clothes everywhere, rarely put back
- Cluttered bedside table full of half-finished everything
- That feeling like the whole room just didn’t flow
I found myself thinking, “If I just wave a magic wand…” But there is no magic wand, just small steps. And that’s where the game-changing mindset kicked in.
Small Change, Big Shift
One thing that really helped me? Putting all the family’s clothes into one space. Yup… In the bedroom. It might not be traditional, but it works. I don’t have to run around the house trying to put laundry away. It’s all in one zone. It’s like ADHD brain fuel: fewer decisions, fewer steps, less overwhelm.
And I’m now slowly reclaiming the space. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
- Planning to remove the TV (it wasn’t being used and was just cluttering the wall)
- Bagged up 6 loads of clothes for the charity shop (with more to go!)
- Clearing the under-bed trap zone, saying goodbye to storage boxes I never open
- Planning to get the suitcases back in the loft (yes, they’ve been down since March….don’t judge)
It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.
My Dream Bedroom (and Yours Too, Maybe?)
In my head, my dream room is calm, minimal, and full of quick-drop, ADHD-proof solutions:
- Open wardrobe system (but behind sliding doors)
- S-hooks instead of fiddly hangers
- Pull-out ironing board (bye to laundry mountain)
- No under-bed storage
- White walls, muted green and pink accents, fake plants (because #reallife)
- Light wood floors and a big cozy vintage rug
If I can even move toward that dream version, one step at a time, I know I’ll feel better. And so will my brain.
To the Mama Feeling Overwhelmed
Let me say this gently but firmly: you don’t have to finish the task. You just have to start.
Set your Toggl timer. If you’re not familiar with it, check out my blog post for more information here. Give yourself 10 minutes. No pressure. You’re not promising to declutter the whole room…You’re just pressing play.
I swear to you, most of the time, momentum will kick in. You’ll find yourself doing a little more. And even if it doesn’t? You still did something. One drawer. One corner. One bag.
That’s ADHD success. Little steps with big wins.
Need more ADHD-friendly tips like this?
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The Messy Mum Virtual Assistant 