How to Organize a Cluttered Living Room
A living room is the heart of the home where you gather as a family. You watch your favorite shows together there and get cozy in the evenings. It’s where birthday parties are celebrated, Christmas gifts are dished out and friends gather to catch up.
Ensure your living room is organized, free of clutter and ready to enjoy all year round with our tips and ideas on how to make the most of the space.
How do I declutter my living room?
The first step to organizing any living room is to take the time to declutter your space. This means sorting through all those home accessories, items on shelves and even things like cushions and blankets to make the most of the room.
You can organize your belongings into four piles – keep, donate, store and throw away. A lamp that doesn’t quite work in the space can be loved again by someone new after being donated to goodwill. It’s time to make those tough decisions and create a space that’s free of clutter that you and the family can enjoy.
Find Storage Near You!
Benefits of organizing a living room
There are plenty of benefits that come with taking the time to create an organized living room:
- More space for gatherings – No more fighting for space. With functional furniture, less clutter and room for more seating, you’ll take the headaches out of get-togethers with family and friends.
- Calming atmosphere – The living room is where you go to unwind after a long day of work. Putting your feet up on the sofa in a disorganized space isn’t great if you want to relax.
- Easier to decorate – If you love to dress up your home for each season, a clean and organized living room makes this so much easier. You can swap your St Patrick’s day garlands for Easter chicks and eggs earlier in the year. And in October, throw out pumpkins with ease before decorating for Thanksgiving.
Keep your space functional
If you’re going after a minimalist look, functional and sleek furniture is key. This will ensure you have plenty of options when it comes to seating, but that any necessary clutter can be tucked away. Here are just a few options to consider:
Ottomans
These come in all shapes and sizes. But we’re fans of ottomans that feature comfy padding so that they double up as storage boxes and seating. When they’re not being used, you can keep scatter cushions and blankets on top, out of the way, while adding a pop of color to the room.
Bookshelves
Bookshelves double up as functional storage spaces but also work as decor. After that all important declutter, have fun arranging your bookshelves to house everything they need to but in an attractive way.
Organize book spines by color to create a fun rainbow effect. Alternatively, take that cluttered living room from bleak to chic with rattan or wire baskets on your bookshelves. They look neat and can house all sorts of bits and bobs such as controllers and cables.
Coffee tables
The perfect spot for that warm cup of joe is also an ideal storage space. Pick a coffee table with shelving underneath to house everyday essentials.
We love the trend of glass-topped coffee tables with compartments where you can store decorative items inside or everything from TV remotes to books.
Don’t be afraid to frequently rearrange
It’s easy for living rooms to return to their original state after being enjoyed and lived in. Think about rearranging the room regularly, not only to cut out the clutter but to give it a new lease of life each season.
Experiment with furniture placement, how you’re storing your belongings and what functional furniture you’re featuring in the room.
You may find new ways or organizing your living room, making better use of what light you have and switching things up to match your latest seasonal decor.
Set a cleanup schedule
It’s important to stop your living room from becoming unorganized again. To avoid this, plan a cleaning schedule.
This means taking 10 minutes before bed to reset the room, ready for the next day. Plump up the sofa cushions and make your seating arrangements neat.
Put controllers and remotes away and place any items that have been used throughout the day back in their designated homes. This is just one easy way of managing your room regularly and avoiding the dreaded buildup of clutter.
Find Storage Near You!
Living room organization tips
Achieve your dream organized living room goals with our tips:
- Grab a bin or bucket and use this to round up all the items that don’t belong in the living room at the start of your organization session.
- Make a note of things you need to fix your space. Maybe while arranging your TV unit, you became frustrated with all the cables. Try using cable ties to keep them under control.
- Keep items that rely on one another together. Your fancy watering can should be filled and placed next to your shelf of plants. Those matches need to stay near your candles. Find homes for things that make sense, so you can spend less time searching for a lost item.
- Baskets are your best friends. You can use them to hide unsightly clutter and they’ll look elegant in your living room.
Rent a storage unit
Storage units are ideal for bulkier furniture or items you’re not ready to part with. Maybe you have an armchair or a shelving unit that’s been handed down through the family, but your living room isn’t big enough to house it? A storage unit is the perfect solution.
These dry and clean spaces keep those much loved but not yet needed items tucked out of the way. For a low monthly fee, secure lock ups that are there when you need them.
We’ve had customers use our storage units for everything from storing furniture to climate controlled units for records, furniture, clothing or artwork.
