11 Clever Living Room Organization Ideas For a Simplified Space 

This post is all about how to create an organized living room.

We all know that the living room is the heart of the home—a place where we relax, entertain, and spend quality time with loved ones. 

But let’s be real: between Netflix marathons, kids’ toys, and day to day mess, it can quickly turn into a cluttered chaos zone. 

So, if your living room is feeling more like a stress-inducing mess than a peaceful oasis, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with some easy, practical, and stylish living room organization ideas that will bring a feel of ease to your space.  

Start by decluttering your living room

Before you can organize anything, you’ve got to do a little (or a lot) of decluttering. 

This may involve taking everything out to really access what you have. Then you can decide what you do and don’t need. 

What to declutter from your living space 

• Old magazines or newspapers
• Too many decorative pillows and throws 
• Broken furniture (fix it and keep or donate)
• Too many kids toys, board games etc.
• Electronics you no longer use (DVD player, speakers, gaming systems etc.)
• Books that you won’t re read or have never read
• Knick knacks/ trinkets. Don’t let your space feel like a souvenir shop
• Outdated decor that doesn’t fit your current style 
• Drawers of unused cords and chargers 

The Best Living Room Organization Ideas 

1. Use Multi-Functional Furniture for small living rooms

If you have a small living room, using multi-purpose furniture is an absolute game-changer. 

These pieces are perfect for stashing away anything you need but don’t want to display 24/7.

Small living room storage ideas: 

• A storage ottoman can hide toys, blankets, or extra pillows. (a vintage trunk works great for this!)
• A coffee table with storage gives you a stylish spot for books, coasters, and your t.v. remotes.
• Fold-out couches or chairs. Perfect for overnight guests!  
• Closed media console to hide clutter

2. Floating shelves to make the most of vertical space

If you’re running low on floor space floating shelves are perfect for adding some vertical storage to your living room. 

They’re easy to install and can display everything from family photos to books and small plants.

Don’t go overboard though! Keep it simple so it doesn’t end up looking cluttered. 

3. Thrift stylish baskets and bins for hidden storage

Baskets and bins are super helpful because you can easily drop items in and not have to look at them! 

Make sure to use a variety of containers so it doesn’t look too uniform. Play around with different shapes, textures, and colors. 

Where to use baskets and bins:

• Under the coffee table: If you have open space under your coffee table, tuck a couple of baskets there to keep remotes, books, or puzzles out of sight.
• In built-in shelves or media consoles: Use bins to keep DVDs, game controllers, and cords from getting tangled.
• By the couch: A cute basket next to the couch is perfect for storing extra throw blankets or pillows.

4. Remote caddy on the side of the couch or magazine holder on the wall

We all know the feeling of constantly losing the T.V. controller. Create a designated spot for it to live instead! 

Use a couch caddy to store your remotes or a magazine wall holder to stash remotes, magazines, books, chargers etc. 

{RECOMMENDED POST: Copy These 30 Cheap DIY Bedroom Organization Ideas}

5. Toy bin for living room or designated corner

If you’ve got kids, you know the struggle of toys everywhere. A dedicated toy bin in the corner keeps things tidy and makes cleanup a breeze.

Make sure that after your kids are playing they know where their toys go, either in the toy bin, back in their rooms etc.! 

Only have 1-3 toy organizers in the living room. You can always rotate which toys are available to ensure your kids have different things to play with but make sure that not everything is “out” at once.

Store the extra toys in a spot they can’t access to keep the rotation surprising!

6. Make the most of corner shelves for extra storage options 

Those awkward corners in the living room can actually be super useful with the right furniture! 

Corner solutions for storage space:

• Corner shelves can hold books, plants, or display items.
• Corner cabinets or baskets are perfect for extra storage.
• Add a comfy chair/day bed and floor lamp to make it a peaceful reading spot.

7. Define sections of your living room

Sometimes we get tricked into thinking that more space means it will feel less cluttered.

This can be true but other times this just leads to more items piling up. 

If you have an open floor plan or large living room layout section it off into areas such as:

• Desk area
• Reading nook
• Play center for kids 
• Meditation/yoga corner
• Crafting area

These sections will depend on your needs and lifestyle! 

8. Use slim furniture like a tall lamp

Stay far away from bulky furniture! Try your best to thrift furniture that is tall and slim. This will keep the floor space open and make it feel like your living room is bigger. 

This tall lamp fits perfectly in the corner of this living space and also stays out of the way.

9. Prioritize vertical storage units

Make the most of the wall space that you have! I love this quirky bookshelf because you can get a lot of storage out of the cubicles it creates. 

Sometimes small living rooms require extra creativity. Play around with unique furniture and different living room layouts.

{RECOMMENDED POST: 10 Realistic Book Storage Ideas for Small Spaces And a Cozy Vibe}

10. Use simple colors and choose one pattered item 

This tip will vary from person to person because not everyone wants to be a minimalist and that is perfectly ok! But if you want your living room to look and feel cohesive it can be helpful to choose 2-3 base colors (generally neutrals), one color that pops, and one pattern. 

In the living room example above it contains: 

Base: grey, cream, brown 

Pop of color: burnt orange 

Pattern: The patterned rug 

11. Use room dividers to hide clutter 

This is the last tip for a reason! Try to use the tips above before using this one. If you need extra storage space in your home and simply can’t declutter items, use a room divider.

Use a corner of your living room as extra storage space for items you don’t use very often. Choose a room divider that matches the decor of your space to hide the clutter.

Be careful with this tip, if you choose the wrong divider it can look tacky or it will look obvious that you’re hiding clutter. Again, everyone’s space is different and if you have small bedrooms or don’t have a garage you may have to get creative with storage space! 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 13 Life-Changing Ideas For How To Organize Your Small Bedroom}

Minimalism and Small Living Room Ideas

You don’t need to be a professional organizer (or have to hire one!) to create a cohesive living space. Minimalism can help you do that!

The less you own, the less you have to organize. Aside from decluttering your living room, here are some other things to keep in mind: 

• Keep decorated items limited to things you truly love! Your personal style matters and will help your space look put together in the long run. This also helps to cut down on home decor shopping. 
• Use small baskets (or upcycled cardboard boxes) inside of furniture to keep small items together.
• Be mindful of how much goes on open shelving. Visual clutter can add up! 
• Clutter on a side table (and other surfaces) can build up quickly. Be sure to have a daily pick-up routine. 

Living room organization hacks 

Keeping your living room organized doesn’t have to be a huge hassle. With the right strategies, you can turn it into a clutter-free, cozy space that you love spending time in. 

Whether you’re using baskets to hide the mess, floating shelves to show off your favorite books, or multi-functional furniture to get the most out of a small room, these tips will help you enjoy your living room!

Have any other living room organization ideas? Let us know in the comments below! I’m sure others in the community would love to learn from you as well.

Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you would like sustainability and wellness tips sent directly to your inbox!

Stay well, 

Maggie

This post was all about living room organization ideas.

Other posts you may like: 

Your Ultimate Guide to Baking Storage Ideas For an Organized Kitchen

Genius Tips For How to Organize Water Bottles in Your Kitchen

Copy These Easy Apartment Kitchen Ideas for Renters

Learn 31 Best Ways To Organize Your Small Kitchen (Clutter Free Heart of the Home)

If you would like to save this living room organization ideas post for later-Pin it!