Organizing a teen room in a cute way?

Organizing bedroom for cheap?

• I'm 17 next week, and I'm a very long way from a tidy person. However I do have a phobia of germs so my room isn't great for that! I want to organize my room, and make it look better, but I can't buy anything really. I do have this weird area above my room to store crap in (I can't explain it very much.. but it's big and I can put a lot up there) But things like school books and folders end up everywhere, I have a lot, and I'm not the type to keep them in boxes because in the morning's I'm always late- I don't have time to go through boxes! Also, my walls are pink and have a few posters and pictures on the walls. I want to make it look a bit more grown up. But I don't want to spend money on it, I'll be leaving for college in a year so my parents might make me clear stuff a bit when I leave so there's no point. Anyway any advice on tidying my room, organizing it, or making it nicer would be good!

• Answer:

  Things You’ll Need: Trash bags Boxes Plastic storage bins Magic marker Vacuum cleaner Cleaning supplies Vinegar Step1 Sort through everything in the room. Gather some trash bags and boxes so you can separate everything. Remember the saying "a place for everything and everything in its place." Now empty out closets and cabinets. Spread a big pile of everything out on the floor or some other large surface. Things that are definitely trash go right into the trash bag. Be brutal. Seasonal items or those you don't often use can go into a plastic storage bin to be labeled with a magic marker and stored back in the closet or some other out of the way place. Items for donation go into a cardboard box. Step2 Put everything that isn't remaining in the room aside. Now you have everything that stays in the room in a pile. Clothing gets sorted out; clothes that needs drycleaning, washing or ironing goes to the laundry room. Magazines and papers can be filed and organized by date. Toys go into a designated toy box. Books and DVDs back on the shelves. Step3 Vacuum and dust the closet before putting things back inside. Wipe down baseboards. If you have emptied cabinets, clean them inside and replace shelf liner if necessary. Step4 Clean window coverings and windows. Blinds and shades can be easily removed and cleaned in the bathtub, hanging them outside to dry. Drapes and fabric window coverings are dust magnets. Either clean them yourself or run them down to the drycleaners. Clean your window glass inside and out. Vinegar makes a wonderful, streak-free, ecologically friendly glass cleaner. If the window screens are dusty, vacuum those. Step5 Clean all surfaces. Remove everything from counter-tops and furniture and clean thoroughly with appropriate cleaner. Polish wood surfaces with good furniture oil. Clean stove tops, sinks and the top of the refrigerator. Take the cushions from the couch and vacuum everything thoroughly. If your upholstery looks dingy, arrange for a cleaning service to come in and professionally clean it. Step6 Dust and clean everything. Hangings and wall art, knickknacks, along the tops of door and window frames. Wipe down or wash whatever needs attention, whether it be china displayed on shelves or the lids of spice bottles in your kitchen. Wipe down all woodwork like door jambs which can get grubby from little fingers or pets passing through. Clean switch-plate covers and chrome fixtures. Wipe the refrigerator door and cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Step7 Move all furniture and clean both floors and baseboards. You may be amazed at the long-lost items you find behind the refrigerator and under the couch. Step8 Put everything back in an organized way. Hang and fold clean clothing and put it back in the drawers and closets. If you find yourself with piles of papers or magazines that you have no place for, buy expandable file folders, pretty baskets or mesh storage drawers to keep them in. For odds and ends that you truly can't find a place for, set aside a drawer or storage container for miscellaneous items. Step9 put things back in their proper place after use. _______________ Set aside an hour every week to tidy things up so your house doesn't become a disorganized mess.