We all know how important fresh air is for our health, so opening your bedroom window is the first step you can take to refresh your small bedroom. While this might be enough to get rid of any odors, there are other things you can do to increase the quality of your room’s air. But where do you begin?
Here, we have some tips and tricks on quickly refreshing a small bedroom by opening your windows – but what if that’s not enough? We also have a few more suggestions (including one video) you can try out to keep your home or (specifically, a bedroom) smelling fresher and cleaner.
1. Find the source of the foul smell
The first thing you need to do is figure out where the smell is coming from. Is it from your mattress or pillows? Or perhaps the carpeting? The smell could even be coming from the wall behind the headboard. If you’ve been sleeping in the same spot for years, mold may grow on the walls.
A good way to remove the odor from your wall is to soak the area in warm water mixed with white vinegar for about 10 minutes. Then, let the mixture dry completely before applying a coat of paint to hide the stain.
If the smell comes from your mattress, you can clean it with mild detergent and hot water. Be sure to place an old towel under the mattress to protect against spills.
2. Thoroughly clean your space from top to bottom
Your room needs to be cleaned from top to bottom as well. Dusty surfaces like the ceiling, baseboards, and shelves will cause you to breathe in dust particles which could aggravate allergies or asthma. It’s also easy to miss dust bunnies hiding in crevices, so you should dust everything at least once weekly.
3. Treat your floor
In addition to cleaning your baseboards and shelves, you’ll want to ensure your floors are clean. This includes removing any dirt or scuff marks accumulated over time. To clean your hardwood floor, use a damp mop and warm water mixed with a little dish soap. Let the floor dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.
When it comes to your tile or laminate flooring, mix equal parts bleach and water to create a solution that you can apply directly onto the grout lines. Allow it to sit for 15-30 minutes, then scrub the grout lines using a sponge or nylon brush. Finally, rinse the entire floor and let it dry.
4. Steam clean upholstery and carpets regularly
You don’t need to hire a professional cleaning service to deep clean your upholstery or carpets. All you need is a steam cleaner and a bottle of water.
- Spray the carpet with water, attach the hose to the nozzle and set the spray level to maximum.
- Now, run the hose around the room’s perimeter while slowly walking backward.
- Afterward, rinse the carpet with cold water.
- Set the temperature to medium for your upholstery and spray the surface with water.
- Wait until all the moisture has evaporated before vacuuming the entire piece.
5. Hire a pro to treat your throw pillows and bed linens when necessary
If your pillowcases and sheets still smell after cleaning them, you may need to call in a professional to properly sanitize the items. A thorough cleaning method often requires chemicals that can permanently damage the fabric. Instead, you can hire a professional to sanitize your pillows and sheets without damaging them.
6. Coup with a rubbish pile and nose blindness
Even though there’s no such thing as “bad air,” our bodies tend to pick up unpleasant smells faster than usual during the colder months. This is because our noses are simply less sensitive during these seasons. Therefore, it’s best to avoid leaving garbage bags open outside overnight. Instead, seal them inside a closet or storage shed and wait until morning to empty them.
Another option is to turn off your air conditioning system when going to sleep and waking up early. This allows you to reduce the number of times you inhale stagnant air throughout the day.
7. Do your washing and sheets
One of the most overlooked areas of a bedroom is the laundry. This includes clothes, towels, and bedding. You don’t necessarily need to wash everything separately, but you should keep your clothing separate from your bedding and towels. In an emergency, you can quickly change into something else.
Also, don’t forget to clean your sheets! You should vacuum at least once per month and wash them twice yearly. You can hand wash them in cool water with mild detergent if they’re dirty. However, if you decide to machine wash them, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
8. Activate the dehumidifier
During the winter months, humidity levels tend to rise within your room. Therefore, it’s important to activate your dehumidifier. Most models require you to set the temperature to 38 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Additionally, set the fan speed to low and the filter to the highest setting.
Once the unit is turned on, leave it alone for five days. Then, test the unit by taking a reading. If the humidity level hasn’t dropped, the device is probably malfunctioning. Call the company to schedule maintenance services.
9. Use an air purifier indoors
If you live in a house with pets, you should consider installing an air purifier instead of buying one. Although all air purifiers are effective, you should look for units with HEPA filters. They can trap microscopic pollutants from the air, including pollen, pet dander, smoke, and dust particles.
Additionally, many air purifiers have special settings that allow you to customize the amount of filtration according to the season. For example, you can choose whether to filter out allergens or eliminate odors.
10. Apply odor absorbers
When you close your bedroom door, it traps the air in the room. This means you’re breathing in stale air, which can lead to headaches, congestion, fatigue, and even colds. One way to improve your air quality is by placing absorbent pads underneath the mattress. Doing this prevents the buildup of bacteria, mold, and mildew.
Other ways to refresh your small bedroom include switching out your light bulbs and opening your curtains. And lastly, you can clean your blinds and shutters on occasion, as well.
With these simple tips and tricks, you can easily refresh your small bedroom and improve the air quality.
Return to the video that we mildly mention in the opening; next, we present to you,
10 Fresh Makeover Space-Saving Beds Video
Sometimes you wish you had a more spacious bedroom. You might think it would be great if your sleeping space were larger because you can make it do double duty and decorate it as you go.
Just because your bedroom is small does not mean you must suppress your imagination and creativity. All you need to do is makeover it to freshen up its look and function.
We have summed up these 10 fresh makeovers and space-friendly beds for a small bedroom to help you solve your problem. As always, Simphome presents you with the list.
10. A Retractable Ceiling Bed Idea
If you are a studio apartment dweller, you know how it feels to get by with limited space. Some of you may not have a dedicated room for a bedroom, which can be exasperating sometimes.
Here is good news for you. With this retractable ceiling bed, you can have a bedroom and living room right in the same spot.
The remarkable thing is that you do not have to move your bed when your friends come. You only need to lift it and make it stay as close as possible to the ceiling so that your friends will not notice it. This retractable bed features a mechanism that allows you to raise it when not used and lower it when it is time to hit the sack. You can adjust its height manually or electronically.
9. A Fun Bedroom and Play Room Combo for Kids
This bedroom is eminently tiny, yet it can provide everything a kid needs, such as a bed, game room, and closet. How is it possible?
The first thing the owner did was raise the platform bed a few feet off the ground. This way, he has plenty of space underneath for other purposes. When you pull the shelves out, you will see rods to hang clothes and more shelves to house toys and books. You can also find a small door to access a secret hideaway under the bed.
8. Try Stripes for a Fresher Interior Look
You can do many things to makeover your bedroom. However, the most convenient way to change the look of your bedroom is by repainting the walls or replacing the wallpaper.
Instead of applying one color to your bedroom’s walls, why don’t you try to incorporate more patterns?
Stripes offer a timeless charm, and people will never get bored with them. If you are afraid that it will not look great, you can start small by introducing stripes as the accent wall of your sleeping space.
7. Do not Overlook the Fifth Wall
You might think your bedroom has run out of space. Nothing could be further from the truth. Have you tapped into your fifth wall yet? If you have not, you can do it right away.
You might be wondering what the fifth wall is. The fifth wall is your ceiling that packs ample potential that is now lying dormant.
Your ceiling can do the tasks that help you free up floor space. Instead of relying on many table and floor lamps, you can install an overhead light suspended from the ceiling. Not only will it illuminate the space, but it will also make a perfect statement piece.
You can also try investing in a ceiling fan and light combo to move the freestanding fan to another room and free up more floor space.
6. Be Thoughtful with the Lighting
You also need to consider a dimmable function. That way, you can have one light source that serves various purposes throughout the day and night.
5. Consider a Shelf Over Your Bed
Try swapping your headboard with a shelf above your bed.
This shelf will act as the focal point of your bedroom. Besides, it incorporates more storage solutions for your tiny sleeping space. You can place your favorite book on it to grab it before sleeping.
You can also learn how to style the shelf above your bed by displaying artwork and plants. Consider displaying things in various sizes to enrich the look of your shelf. You can also put some small potted plants to add a lively lift.
Do not overdo it, though. You do not want to cram the shelf with many things since it will end up with an unorganized look.
4. Invest in a Murphy Bed with Built-in Storage
A murphy bed is a go-to furniture for a small bedroom because it can save much space. It also comes in a vast array of designs and sizes. Some even camouflage so well with the existing furniture that nobody will notice a hidden bed in the room.
Another good thing about the Murphy bed is it is DIY friendly. You can purchase a Murphy bed kit and assemble the pieces based on the manual. You can also make it from scratch.
If you opt for the latter, consider incorporating cabinets or shelves into the Murphy bed. This way, you can organize your small bedroom better.
3. Create More Space with Raised Platforms
If you have no ample space, try going vertical by creating a platform that allows you to simultaneously have a cozy bedroom and home office.
This bedroom, for example, features a platform raised a few feet off the ground. Since the platform does not stay close to the floor, you can shove two trundle beds underneath it.
Above the platform are two desks and a closet that creates a comfortable home office despite the limited space.
2. Shove the Beds to the Corner
Some designers would not suggest you shove your bed in the corner. They would instead place it at the center so that you can have easy access from both sides. That is not always the case.
This bedroom, for example, can accommodate two twin-sized beds despite the limited space. The owner only needs to place cubbies in the corner. Then, she shoves the beds against the walls, creating a spacious room in the middle.
The platform beds also feature built-in shelves allowing users to organize their stuff well.
1. Opt for Loft Bed
Another way to go vertical is by investing in a loft bed.
A loft bed allows you to explore limitless possibilities. You can have a cozy bed in the upper area and use the lower area. You can have a comfortable living room, an entertainment area, a reading nook, or a game room. The choice is yours.
You do not have to rip the wall to expand your sleeping space. Try getting by with the existing room and apply one of these 10 fresh makeovers and space-friendly beds for small bedroom ideas.
References:
10. Mattressnut.com
9. Treehugger.com
8. Homesandgardens.com
7. Apartmenttherapy.com
6. Homesandgardens.com
5. Housedigest.com
4. Godownsize.com
3. Designrulz.com
2. Farmfoodfamily.com
1. Apartmenttherapy.com