Your bedroom is a very important space. However, when it comes to home decorating, people often leave it for last because they are unsure of how to pull it together.

After your bed, your dresser is probably the largest piece of furniture in your bedroom and plays a key role in setting your bedroom’s style. For most people, the top of the dresser becomes a catchall for jewelry, books and a mish-mash of toiletries, pictures, etc.  Sound familiar?  Here are five easy steps that will make your dresser worthy of House Beautiful.

1.  Clean it off. Take everything off the dresser top and wipe the furniture with polish to remove dust and grime. This is your chance to get rid of everything that doesn’t belong on the dresser (or in your bedroom for that matter.)

2.  Set center stage. Your dresser needs something large on the wall above it to provide visual balance. If the dresser is positioned underneath a window, your job is already done. If not, hang a large mirror, one large piece of artwork, or a collection of smaller pieces on the wall over the dresser. For best results, your mirror or hanging artwork should be at least half the width of the top of the dresser but not wider than the dresser itself.

3.  Find something tall.  You need a tall piece standing to the side of the hanging mirror. It is a great spot for a second lamp, if your bedside lamp is on the other side of the room. If you already have another lamp close by, you can choose:

• Tall houseplant
• Artwork standing on top of the dresser and leaning against the wall
• Decorative basket or collectible
• Tall pillar candle
• Vase filled with flowers, either real or faux

4.  Display a great looking tray. This is where you add something low and long.  An attractive tray is both decorative and useful. Place a tray you love on top of the dresser, positioned below the mirror. Use the tray to corral jewelry, perfume bottles or other toiletries, small memorabilia and even loose change. Select a tray that has strong enough style to really make a statement.

5.  Create balance with a few accents. You’ve created interest with a hanging mirror, a tall piece and a low tray. Now is the time to balance the look with a couple of medium-sized accents. You’ll want one or two accent pieces on the side of the dresser opposite the tall piece and another accent next to that tall piece. Choose accent pieces of varied sizes and shapes. Here are some options:

• Houseplants
• Framed photos
• Candles
• One or two hardback books
• Decorative boxes or vases
• Jewelry box

When all of your dresser-top pieces are in place, stand back and check the positioning. Adjust the pieces until they are to your liking. You can keep your décor interesting and mix things up a little by changing your dresser-top display to match the seasons or to decorate for the holidays