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DESIGN 101
An In-Depth Guide to Living Room Storage
The living room is one of the most versatile and highly trafficked spaces in many homes. During the day, your kids might transform the room into their indoor playground, leaving a trail of toys in their wake. At night, the living room could become your private movie theater and home gym. On the weekends, guests may gather to play board games or stay overnight on your couch.
These diverse activities involve a broad range of items, from cozy blankets to buckets of LEGOs. Over time, all this stuff can leave your living room cluttered and messy. Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to store your belongings until you need them. Our living room storage ideas will help you stay organized and balance function with style.
Storage Solutions for the Living Room
The living room is your refuge when you want to relax and focus on entertainment. But nothing ruins the vibe faster than having to step over a mountain of toys or hunt for the remote in a pile of blankets. Use these practical storage solutions to tuck away your belongings and maintain serenity.
Entertainment centers and TV stands
Organize your media collection with a stylish entertainment center or TV stand. This furniture typically has a flat surface for displaying decorations and housing your media devices. Place your television on top of this furniture, or mount it on the wall above to maximize your vertical space.
Additionally, most entertainment centers and TV stands have built-in shelves or cabinets. Use these storage spaces to house media-related objects.
Choose storage furniture with cable management to keep unsightly wires hidden and tangle-free. These features will help you create a clean, modern living room.
Sideboards and sofa tables
Keep your living room essentials within reach with a stylish sideboard or sofa table.
A sideboard — also known as a buffet — is a deep and long storage cabinet placed against a wall. This furniture typically has multiple cabinets with doors to hide objects from sight. Place a sideboard near your seating area as a catch-all for blankets, books, toys, and other items.
A sofa table is a slender stand typically placed behind a couch. This furniture may have one or two open shelves, but it doesn’t offer as much storage space as a sideboard. Choose this option if you want a space to display lamps, houseplants, picture frames, and other decorations.
Bookcases and open shelves
Bookcases give your living room an air of timeless elegance. If you’re an avid reader, you can pack the shelves with your collections of dogeared novels, comics, and other reading materials. Some people prefer to organize their books by color to create eye-catching displays. Others sort them by author or genre for an effortlessly scholarly, lived-in look.
Alternatively, you can use your bookcase to display a curated collection of your favorite books, art, and decor. This approach adds visual variety and spotlights your experiences and personality. For example, each shelf could feature a memento from your travels next to a horizontal stack of books.
Add vertical storage space with a freestanding shelving open unit or floating shelves. Use these storage solutions to showcase aesthetically pleasing objects that contribute to your living room’s atmosphere. For instance, you can display fancy candles, small houseplants, and sculptures.
Bookcases and open shelves
Storage bins are an affordable and practical solution for tucking away objects you don’t want to display. They come in various materials, including fabric, plastic, wicker, and wood. Choose stylish storage bins that fit your aesthetic. For instance, a large rattan storage basket will complement a rustic living room, while a woven metal bin will blend into a glam space.
Storing Living Room Items
When shopping for storage solutions, consider the types of items you’re storing. Here are a few common objects and storage recommendations.
Blanket and pillow storage
Blankets and throw pillows are cozy essentials, but you may not always need them, especially in the summer. Consider these unique living room blanket storage ideas:
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Choose a couch with built-in storage drawers.
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Hide throws inside an ottoman.
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Stack blankets and pillows in a large wicker basket.
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Use wall hooks to hang blankets behind the couch.
Game and toy storage
Scattered games and toys can make your living room feel messy. Stay organized by using these game and toy storage ideas in your living room:
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Place a toy box in the corner.
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Stack board games inside an entertainment center.
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Tuck toys inside baskets in a cube organizer.
Incorporating Storage Into Your Room Decor
People often assume that storage furniture always looks clunky or unattractive, but that’s not the case. Follow these tips to design a room that combines organization with style:
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Choose storage made from high-quality materials, such as metal, wicker, or wood.
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Look for items that match your aesthetic, such as a metal bookshelf for an industrial design.
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Pick minimalist pieces that blend into the background.
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Use cabinets and bins to hide objects.
Optimizing Storage Space in a Small Living Room
Thinking outside the box can help you overcome space constraints in your living room. Maintain tidiness with these clever living room storage ideas for small spaces:
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Add a cozy window seat with built-in storage.
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Choose multi-purpose couches, ottomans, and other furniture with hidden storage compartments.
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Store items inside a coffee table with drawers or shelves.
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Use vertical space strategically with tall bookcases and wall-mounted shelves.
Get More Out of Your Space With Living Room Storage
Living room storage solutions allow you to enjoy your downtime more fully. You can settle in for a Netflix marathon or spend time with your family without worrying about clutter. Storage furniture can also help you transform everyday objects like books and plants into stylish displays.
Get started by decluttering your living room and inventorying essential items. This process will help you understand what type of storage you need to organize your space. Next, explore our living room storage offerings to find solutions that fit your aesthetic, needs, and budget.