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Living room furniture storage ideas


20 Creative Ideas for Living Room Storage

By

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/31/22

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The key to a clutter-free living room is having a clean, put-together, and inviting space, but what if you have a small space or you own a lot of stuff? From throws to books to board games, you probably have a handful of items you need to store in your living room. The good news is—there are creative and simple storage ideas that can help keep your space tidy while providing a home for everything you have.

Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite living room storage ideas to keep your mess to a minimum.

30 Clever Living Room Storage and Organization Ideas

Photo: Sara Tramp Design: Emily Henderson 

Storage space in the living room can often feel awkward or out of place. While you want to maintain a level of formality, you also want to create a comfortable retreat with easy access to essentials like throw blankets, books, other entertainment essentials. With a little creativity, you can get the most out of every square inch (mainly if you live in a small space).

Scroll through our inspiration guide to lose the clutter and gain plenty of storage.

01 of 30

Catherine Kwong Design

In this living room, we're digging that the sofa provides extended storage with a built-in wood surface. The adjustable cushions and simple frame prove that stylish statement furniture can also be functional and comfortable. Notice how it offers up a large side table and a backboard to hang your loose items, like a pair of headphones.

02 of 30

Fantastic Frank

No matter how many nooks and crannies you utilize, sometimes there just isn't enough room to store all your things. But that doesn't mean your belongings have to stay strewn about your furniture and floors. Instead, think about ways to use your walls and ceilings to make your living room feel larger and more organized. Floating shelves are both stylish and functional, and hanging hooks are also a great way to keep linens, blankets, and hats nice and tidy. We also love how this room used a bench to keep things neat.

03 of 30

Nicole Franzen

A wide mantel can act as a bookshelf, a place to store tiny treasures, or a way to display artwork. Whatever the main use, choose items that complement the style of the fireplace mantel and your living room. Need extra shelving? Adding a floating shelf above the mantel can do the trick.

04 of 30

Fantastic Frank

We love how effortlessly elegant this little corner looks. It's the perfect example of how to stay organized in a small space or on a budget. Rather than just shoving everything into a closet or buying a large chest of drawers, you can make use of the furniture you already have as storage. If you leave your blankets lying around, they can make your space feel more cluttered and less formal, so tuck them away when you aren't using them.

05 of 30

Amy Bartlam ; DESIGN: September Workshop

Bar carts are great because they function as makeshift shelves, side tables, and drawers. They're particularly great for lofts and studios when the dining, kitchen, and living areas flow into each other. Don't drink? You can just as easily use it to display your decorative items and store your necessities.

06 of 30

Tessa Neustadt ; DESIGN : Katherine Carter

This stunning living room incorporates stylish storage solutions as part of the design. There's a magazine rack between the two club chairs to minimize a large pileup on the coffee table, a ladder leaning against the wall to drape throw blankets, and a media console with shelves for anything that should be tucked away. Each storage solution also happens to be a stylish accent piece.

07 of 30

Amy Bartlam ; DESIGN : D2 Interiors

A sofa with built-in storage drawers is definitely worth the extra price tag. Not only will it help you declutter, but it's also great for families who need to organize and store lots of items. With plenty of styles and colors to work with, you're sure to find one that fits your space.

08 of 30

Domm Dot Com

If floor space is at a minimum, turn your walls into storage units. Build a wall-sized bookcase, and fill it with more than just books. Use the shelves to hold plants, artwork, or travel souvenirs.

09 of 30

Lucky Plot 13

Find furniture that does double duty as seating or table space while also offering storage solutions. You might rest your feet on the top of the ottoman while reclining or add a tray on top in lieu of a coffee table. Inside, use the space to store throw blankets and other items.

10 of 30

KT2 Designs

If you are lucky enough to have a window bench, use the space underneath the seating for storage. Add drawers or turn the seating top into a flip-top bench to access a chest of space beneath.

11 of 30

Rikki Snyder

When trying to save space, it can be difficult to decide what is necessary and what is simply a want. If you choose furniture pieces that work together, you likely can have both. This living room contains a stunning decorative footstool that tucks away perfectly underneath the coffee table. This way, when not in use, the footstool can be hidden from sight to create more room.

12 of 30

Designed by Arlyn Hernandez for EHD/Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

While it's essential to ensure you aren't cluttering up every space in your home, sometimes underrated storage possibilities could be right under your nose. This bench has a perfect view outside and creates an ideal space to read—so the books are neatly stacked and placed under the bench. The books are still displayed yet tucked away to ensure they aren't kicked around.

13 of 30

Jean Van't Hul

Families who juggle a desire for stylish design alongside the need to store lots of kid stuff can get creative and do both. Dedicate a corner of the living room to the kids' play or art area and use rolling carts or under-table storage to put it all away at the end of the day.

14 of 30

Dazey Den

If you aren't able to hide away your belongings in a small space, make them all part of the decor. Use shelving to show off colorful books and mix and match storage units to add color and organization to small living rooms. Additionally, you may be surprised how much dećor can be mounted or hung up, creating an eclectic gallery wall.

15 of 30

Design & Styling: Desiree Burns Interiors, Photo: Tamara Flanagan

Those who live in pre-war apartment units or homes built in craftsman or bungalow style may have classic built-in shelving units. Think beyond books or China storage when decorating, though. Feel free to fill the shelves with pieces of artwork, small plants, or treasured dećor items.

16 of 30

Style It Pretty Home

In smaller spaces, creativity is key. If you have a hall closet or nook beneath the staircase, use every inch for storage. Replace a closet rod with shelves to double or triple the amount of closet storage.

17 of 30

House of Harvee

We always love a stylish coffee table—especially one that stores twice as many items! A two-tier coffee table adds an additional shelf at the bottom to store things like books, remotes, or small dećor items to display without throwing them in a box. It also works well when you need to clear the table for a game night or eat dinner without leaving all your items on the floor or the very edge of the table.

18 of 30

Rikki Snyder

Use the wall to your advantage and create vertical storage. Beyond bookshelves, look for options that match your style preferences. Floating cubbies or floating shelves can hold books and small trinkets, while small hooks can allow plants or other items to be prominently displayed.

19 of 30

Taggart Sorensen 

A trick used by tiny home builders and micro-apartment architects is to use every surface inch. There are several cubic feet of unused space under most staircases. Instead of leaving blank walls, install roll-out shelving or storage cubes.

20 of 30

Amy Bartlam

To create a uniform space that feels a little tidier, gather all your candles in one place. Unique placement is key here in order to look intentional. Stack wax or flameless candles inside an old fireplace, windowsill, or alcove for a clever way to add warmth and organization.

21 of 30

Gold A La Mode

TV, video game systems, and sound systems all have multiple cords that look messy no matter how you arrange them. For a simple fix, opt for a console table with blurred glass panels in the front. All your cords and consoles can be tucked away without much hassle, and the fogged glass still gives the impression of what's behind the cabinet doors without needing to open them.

22 of 30

Ashley Montgomery Design

Instead of doing floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, create a wall that combines both. Use bookshelves for display, and store clutter in the well-designed cabinets. The combination also creates a vertical interest along the wall.

23 of 30

Leaf and Lolo

Houseplants add a sense of calm and a pop of green to any room. For small living rooms, store your plants vertically. Stack them on shelves or use tall plant stands that utilize wall space instead of floor space.

24 of 30

Design by Emily Henderson Design/Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Don't leave the remote or tablet on the coffee table. Store it inside instead. A coffee table with hidden shelves or drawers adds more usable space and will help keep your living room tidy without extra cleaning.

25 of 30

Tyler Karu Design

While there are table options available to create extra storage, it can be easy to repurpose items if you already have them. This vintage trunk creates a sturdy table to balance books and other items yet has plenty of room to store additional items in the living room.

26 of 30

Jenn Pablo Studio

Towel hooks in bathrooms or coat hooks in the hall entryway let you easily store items you use frequently. So why not steal the idea for your living room? Use pretty hooks to hang throw blankets when not using.

27 of 30

Black and Blooms

Need a place to set down your cup of coffee or a candle next to the couch? Gather large books (library sales are a great place to find art books and other coffee table books at a discount) and stack them to form a small shelf. You can play around with various sizes and stacking options to achieve exactly what you're hoping for.

28 of 30

Dwell Aware

While we've mentioned turning space under a staircase into a place for cabinets and drawers, there are other uses for it as well. Adding an extra chair or small table that may make a living room feel cramped can easily be transported under the stairs to create a simple reading nook.

29 of 30

Amy Bartlam

If you have an older home with a gorgeous mantel and empty fireplace space, don't let it go to waste. We know you're already using the mantel as a shelf, but don't forget the old fireplace, too. Fill it with books for a literary space, or stack items like these wooden logs to add visual interest and decoration.

30 of 30

Design: Emma Beryl; Photo: Nick Glimenakis

When in doubt, using baskets can be a godsend. Opt for small, decorative options for smaller items that need to be tucked away when not in use. They can be stored in shelving units or placed in less conspicuous places like behind the sofa.

How to Make the Most Out of a Living Room That Doubles As a Dining Room

Unusual living room storage ideas - Storage

No big walls in small living rooms! Let's figure out what storage methods can help out in this case. They eat up the space often not so big rest rooms. However, if they are standing there, then all these things need to be stored somewhere.

To begin with, we advise you to arrange a review of subjects. Maybe something can be thrown out? The post "How to get rid of unnecessary things" will help you decide. Necessary, but not now, but in the future, can be folded into containers sent to be stored in special chambers, many offer services at a reasonable price. Maybe you can free up more space with a rearrangement: "Secrets of arranging upholstered furniture in the living room"

It's possible that reworking storage spaces in other rooms will relieve the living room. For example, it is more convenient to store towels in the bathroom, bed linen in the bedroom, and winter clothes in the hallway. What to do with the rest of the things?

Wardrobes that don't overwhelm space

In order to organize your storage wisely, you first need to choose the right furniture. Low furniture will make the room more spacious. Try to get by with a spacious TV stand instead of a wall and a chest of drawers or dressing table instead of a wardrobe. nine0003

Choose light colors and light-looking designs. Mirrors, glossy surfaces, and painting furniture to match the walls also work well - all these are camouflage techniques that will help preserve the space, at least visually. Furniture with legs looks lighter, but consider maybe you need another drawer at the very bottom of the chest of drawers. An alternative option is to put light baskets under the furniture with legs.

If the room has a niche, use it as a storage space. If the doors are decorated to match the walls, it will seem that the room does not have a closet at all. The same effect can be achieved by a cabinet to the ceiling, placed along a short wall in its entire width. nine0003

Does your living room have high ceilings? Make a shelf for books and boxes of rarely used papers right under the ceiling around the perimeter of the room. If you still use a rack, let it have an additional benefit - make zoning with it, placing it sideways against the wall.

Open shelves create more air in the space, but chaos on them can achieve exactly the opposite effect. Try to alternate open sections with closed ones, leaving only the neatest and most beautiful in sight. About creating beauty on the shelves of the racks, read here: "5 rules for arranging decor on the shelves." nine0003

Original ways of storing

Storage space in your living room can be unexpected, at first glance, things. Imagine how much you can put in a coffee table-chest. Tables with storage space are quite common.

In the same way, things can be stored in the cavity of a pouffe, footstool or bench. The containers inside sofas and armchairs will not surprise anyone anymore - a great place to arrange spare bedding or seasonal items like roller skates and a Christmas tree. nine0003

But the outer parts of upholstered furniture can also be used for storage. For example, a reading chair, which is also a small bookcase. Shelves on the side of the sofa or behind its back will also be useful. If they are not included, they can be supplied separately.

If the room has two or more windows, as often happens when the kitchen is combined with the living room, storage can be organized in the piers between them. If niches with shelves are made between the windows, they can be covered with curtains, creating the illusion of one giant window. nine0003

An excellent place for storage is under the windowsills, especially under the deep ones, on which it is convenient to organize a seating area.

Even when choosing classic storage spaces, pay attention to original solutions. If the shelf itself becomes a decor, its placement already makes more sense.

Photos: roombowl.com, afroglobe.net, inclinterior.com, 4homeinterior.com, gristyle.com, acouzic.com, meddiodesign.com, houseofarch.com, home-style.ro

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Ideas for storing things in the living room, bedroom and in the kitchen

Cabinets and the sheet of them - the most common way store things even in the bedroom, even in the kitchen. But this is not always the best option. For example, it turns out that the distance between the shelves is too large, so it is inconvenient to view things. nine0003

Often some space is empty and cannot be used. So, usually there is no space between the kitchen set and the wall, behind cabinets and in other hard-to-reach places.

Living room

Closets are not often placed in the living room. If there is such a need, then it is better to build in a wardrobe and paint its facade in the color of the walls so that a piece of furniture that is too large does not catch the eye.

On the other hand, racks and shelves can be easily turned into an independent piece of decor. Let's say shelves of an unusual shape or arrangement decorate the wall, and a metal rack or a designer chest of drawers will attract attention, becoming the center of the interior. nine0003

In addition, if there are niches in the room, they should also be used - close the facade and arrange a wardrobe or hang shelves and put a desk.

Bedroom

The wardrobe in the bedroom can be built along one of the walls or stand behind the door, near the window.

If the distance between the shelves is too large, this can easily be corrected by stacking containers. For the topmost shelves, baskets or boxes are sometimes used, which are easier to get. nine0003

If space permits, a separate linen chest of drawers at the foot of the bed would be a good idea.

Do you have a lot of things? Replace bedside tables with narrow compact chests of drawers.

Kitchen The standard kitchen set has two shelves, and part of the space above them is empty. The same goes for the cabinet under the sink.

Use hanging shelves and baskets to maximize space. nine0003

In small gaps - for example, between a refrigerator and a set, between a wall and a stove - we recommend installing narrow drawers.

If the ceilings are high, then the space above the hanging cabinets is suitable for containers or baskets.

Another option is to order a second row of headset directly under the ceiling for rarely used items.

Hallway

A closet in the hallway is always a good idea. It is convenient to clean outerwear in it - this will help to avoid the feeling of a mess. nine0003

But when there is no room for it, a wall hanger comes to the rescue. You don't have to limit yourself to just her. Shelves under the ceiling and above the door will cope with the storage of many useful things in boxes and baskets.

And a wall-mounted mesh with hooks allows you to place small things - from keys and bags to hats and shoes that can be hung by laces or eyelets.

Bathroom

Bathroom storage is a particularly challenging task. Usually this is the smallest room in the apartment, but you need to manage to find a place in it for household chemicals, cosmetics, bath accessories, towels. nine0003

Great if you can build in a narrow cabinet. It is also good to hide a washing machine in it.

Wall-to-wall wardrobe can be hinged, with mirror fronts. Then it will be almost invisible.

Use the space above the toilet as well - it is usually empty, but a hanging cabinet or a hanger will solve this problem.

Tips from Leroy Merlin Repair School

Shelves throughout the wall space. nine0063 Walls are the most unused area in the house: even where they are at least partially used, there are always several tens of centimeters under the stream that are empty.

Install shelves all around in each room to make use of the ceiling space. It will be possible to place everything that you do not use every day, but keep in the closet. You will be surprised at how much usable space you managed to free up in the closet.

It is permissible to add a few more shelves along the perimeter, dispersing them in different places on the walls. Before installing them, draw a plan for their location. Ideally, the shelves should make a graphic pattern against the background of wallpaper or paint. nine0003

Shelving does not require complex installation work and special furniture assembly skills. Ready-made modules are sold - from the basic ones with two sections to the largest ones with 25. The main advantage of the rack is variability. It transforms as your needs change. Initially, this is a design without a blank back wall. But the base can always be supplemented with hinged doors, baskets, special spacers, thanks to which a drawer is placed in the section. nine0003

Do you have many books? Arrange the books inside the rack sections, leaving them through. Need to keep something very personal? Privacy will be protected by doors installed on one or more sections. Need to stack a lot of small items? Put them in the box and put it in the open section. Do you often wash the floors and are afraid that the frame will swell? Screw the legs to the bottom tier.

Space around radiators. Most apartments have modern compact radiators that do not take up much space. We suggest installing small rectangular racks between or next to the batteries. nine0003

Bathroom cabinets without doors are suitable for this: they are made of chipboard and will definitely not dry out from the heat. It is better to hang lockers at a small distance from the floor - it will be more convenient to do wet cleaning.

It will not be superfluous to add screens for radiators to the shelves. To make the overall furniture composition look perfect, it is worth choosing screens painted with white enamel, which is most often used in finishing bathroom furniture.

Additional coat hanger in the corner of the room. nine0063 Even after you install storage shelves on the wall, there are still unused spaces in the room - say, the space behind the door. Putting a closet there is hardly possible, but there is definitely enough space for a hanger.

Useful for storing dresses, jackets and other clothes. To keep hanging items from being conspicuous, it is best to pack them in opaque storage cases with a zipper. For complete camouflage, choose the color of the covers to match the wallpaper.

Pegboard (pegboard) - perforated panel on which brackets are installed - a useful tool. You must have seen them in the store - they hang various small household goods on them. Creativity plus a little paint - and you get a panel that will look organic. And on the balcony, it will definitely fit.

Installing a similar board in your kitchen, you can hang many baskets, rods and hooks designed for this system on it and store small kitchen utensils on the board. nine0003

But this is not the only device for hanging small things on the walls. In a frame with an imitation of a baguette, instead of a photograph, you can insert a piece of cardboard with a sheet of cork glued to it. It will be convenient for the hostess of the house to hang jewelry that she often wears on such a board.

Images: @remont.diary, Aiya Design, Anddesign, Art Twins Design, Artway, Boho Studio, Buro Brainstorm, Bw Buro, Clover Home, EEDS, Elements Studio, Head Home, Home Emotions, Huge Studio, Konstantinovi De, Line Design Studio, Misura Studio, Perfect Space, Per Jansson, Sign Studio, Us Interior, Yu Design, Alexandra Chastova, Alexander Maksimov, Alexey Klimkin, Alisa Svistunova, Anastasia Kalistova, Anastasia Kondyurina, Anastasia Rozonova, Andrey Sorokin, Anna Leontieva , Anna Pavlovskaya, Anton Likhtarovich, Bureau Iva, Valeria Moskaleva, Valya Voinova, Vasily Khurtin, Vlada Zagainova, David Aksenov, Daniil Annenkov, Dina Zhanibekova, Evgeny Gnesin, Evgeny Kulibaba, Evgeniya Ivlieva, Ekaterina Titenko, Ivan Sorokin, Inna Azorskaya, Inna Soltmann, Irina Kalamurza, Katya Chistova, Kirill Suntsov, Konstantin Malyuta, KubKvadrat, Leonid Semov, Lisa Veruk, Lilia Salakh, Lyubov Utkina, Margarita Sivukhina, Marina Karalkina, Marina Pakhomova, Maria Rylova, Mikhail Zam kovsky, Mikhail Loskutov, Mikhail Chekalov, Natalia Aksenova, Natalia Vershinina, Natalia Mavrenkova, Natalia Shirokorad, Olga Shangina, Pavel and Svetlana Alekseev, Polina Marchenko, Polina Poludkina, Roman Alekseev, Svetlana Svetlitskaya, Sergei Ananiev, Sergei Krasyuk, Sergei Melnikov, studio Bon-tom, Mesto interior studio, Tatiana Kashtanova-Damiani, Tekhproekt, Yulia Kaufeldt, Yulia Sologubova, Yury Grishko, Yana Volkova.

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