Sometimes your living room can seem like the most chaotic room in your house. With so much going on, it can be difficult to find a place for everything.
But don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with some simple tips and tricks that will help you get your space in order. So whether you want to organize a small space or an entire room, keep reading!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| – Keep your living room organized with simple tips such as decluttering, arranging furniture for functionality, and creating designated spots for items. |
| – Use clever storage solutions to maximize space in your living room. |
| – Create a warm and inviting living room by incorporating cozy elements such as candles, throw pillows, and blankets. |
| – Make sure to maintain your organized living room by creating habits such as decluttering regularly and keeping frequently used items in easy-to-reach spots. |
| – For additional inspiration and resources, explore further reading materials from expert sources. |
Make A Plan
The first step to organizing your living room is to make a plan. You can’t get anywhere if you don’t know where you are going and it is much easier to create a plan when you have already organized your room.
If the space isn’t already tidy, sort through everything in it, decide what items should go where and then organize them into their appropriate categories.
Once this has been done, take out paper and pencil or grab your laptop (or whatever it is that people use these days). Jot down what needs to be done in each section of the room if there are multiple sections like mine (the couch area vs the coffee table area), I would just write down what needs to be done for both areas on one piece of paper.
If there are only small things that need to be accomplished (like cleaning off my desk), then those could be listed separately from larger tasks like rearranging my entertainment center or re-painting my walls.
Maximizing Storage in Small Spaces: Creative Solutions for Organizing Your Apartment: Small spaces can be challenging to organize, but with some creativity and the right tools, you can make the most of your living area. Our article on Maximizing Storage in Small Spaces offers tips and tricks to help you optimize your apartment’s storage space.
Pick A Room To Start With
Now that you’ve decided to make a change, the first step is choosing the room where you want to start. Your options are wide open.
You could start with your kitchen or dining area if those are more functional than your living room. Or maybe the family room is where clutter seems most out of control.
You might choose whichever space has been bugging you for a long time—the room that needs it most, as opposed to the one that’s easiest to clean or organize because its contents are less accessible than others’.
If so, don’t worry about whether this approach makes sense from an organizational standpoint; just pick whatever room bothers you most and go from there!
If all else fails (and no single area stands out), look at each space objectively: What do I spend most time in? Where do I need more storage? Which space has furniture/accessories taking up too much room? Once we’ve identified which rooms fit these descriptions best—that’s when we can begin plotting our attack!
| Rooms | Why It’s a Good Starting Point |
|---|---|
| Living Room | A living room is often the center of activity in a home and can be a great starting point for decluttering and organizing. |
| Bedroom | Starting with a bedroom can help create a peaceful and restful space, allowing for better sleep and more productivity. |
| Kitchen | By starting with the kitchen, you can create a more efficient and functional space for cooking and meal prep. |
| Home Office | Starting with a home office can increase productivity and decrease stress by creating a functional and organized workspace. |
| Garage | A garage can become easily cluttered with seasonal items and tools. Starting here can create a more functional area for storage and car maintenance. |
Get Rid Of The Clutter
If you’re looking to declutter, there are a few ways to go about it. First off, get rid of anything you don’t need and haven’t used in a long time.
If it’s something you can donate or sell online, go for it! If not, consider giving the item away to someone who’ll use it instead of letting it collect dust in your living room.
Finally, if nothing else works out and you really can’t bear parting with an object for good even though it may be taking up space store things in boxes until you figure out what to do with them later on down the line.
Maximizing Space in Your Living Room: Clever Storage Solutions: A cluttered living room can negatively impact your overall well-being and leave you feeling stressed. To keep your space organized and tidy, try implementing our clever storage solutions, as outlined in our article on Maximizing Space in Your Living Room.
Purge The Extras
It’s time to get rid of things you don’t need, don’t use and can’t keep organized (even if it’s just a box).
You should also consider donating any items that you no longer have a use for but may be of use to someone else. Don’t keep anything for sentimental reasons alone if it doesn’t bring you joy anymore, donate it!
Have an “anything goes” zone in your living room where there are no rules on what goes where; this is where items that don’t belong anywhere else go until they’re sorted out later on or thrown away completely
Put Everything In Its Place
It’s no secret that the living room is a space where you spend most of your time. It’s where you entertain guests, relax on the couch with a good book or watch TV after work. If your living room feels cluttered and chaotic, it can be hard to relax in there.
To keep things organized in this room, start by putting everything back where it belongs. The same goes for any other areas in your home: if something doesn’t have its own place, create one!
Put like things together: pens with pens and magazines with magazines; don’t let your mail pile up on the countertop—find an attractive box or basket to keep mail organized.
Also consider how visible certain items are; what do you see first when walking into this space? Are there things hanging on walls or sitting out that add clutter or take away from the overall design of this area?
Take down anything that isn’t necessary (like notes pinned up on bulletin boards) and put away items that need regular use (like books).
Lastly, consider using baskets or bins to organize smaller items such as remote controls and game controllers so they all have their own designated spot.
Decluttering Your Living Room: A Step-by-Step Guide: Clearing out the excess in our living rooms can create a peaceful, calming space to relax and unwind. Follow our step-by-step guide on Decluttering Your Living Room to help make clearing out the excess simple and achievable.
Create Play Stations And Toy Storage Zones
When it comes to organizing your living room, play stations and toy storage zones are the way to go.
A play station is any area of your living room that’s dedicated to specific activities for kids. For example, if you have a fireplace mantle, this could be used as a reading corner or homework station.
Or if there’s enough space and light in one corner of your living room, you could create an art zone where your child can draw on the floor while sitting on pillows (or better yet if they’re still small enough on their knees).
Toy storage zones are areas where toys are kept out of sight but accessible. This can be done by creating specific places for toys like bins labeled “Legos” or “Art Supplies” so that when kids want to play with these items they know exactly where they’ll find them without having to rifle through closets and drawers every time they need something new.
| Play Station or Storage Zone | Why it’s Beneficial |
|---|---|
| Storage Ottoman | A storage ottoman can provide a comfortable seating option while also being a convenient spot to store toys, books, and other items. |
| Cube Organizer | Cube organizers provide many storage areas in one unit, allowing you to keep toys and other items organized and easily accessible. |
| Reading Nook | Creating a reading nook complete with books, beanbags, and a cozy throw can help encourage reading and give kids a designated space for this activity. |
| Chalkboard Wall | By painting a wall with chalkboard paint, you can create a fun art station for kids that is easily erasable and can be changed as often as desired. |
| Homework Station | A homework station can consist of a small desk, chair, and necessary school supplies. This area can help kids focus on their schoolwork and stay organized. |
Keep Everything Organized By Dealing With It Immediately
There’s this old adage that says, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” For many people, this is easier said than done. It can be hard to keep clutter from building up and making your space feel cluttered.
The best way to avoid this problem is to deal with things immediately when they come up: Put things away as soon as possible instead of letting them linger on surfaces while you decide where they belong or what you want to do with them; don’t leave things lying around on the floor; don’t let things pile up on tables or counters; don’t let clutter get out of control.
Creating a Cozy and Organized Living Room: A living room is a space that should be inviting and comfortable. With our guide on Creating a Cozy and Organized Living Room, you can have a space that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also welcoming to your guests.
Work On One Area At At Time
While you’re making a to-do list, don’t try to tackle everything at once. Focus on one area at a time. If it’s too much of a project, start with the most important or obvious items first and then move on from there.
For example:
- If your living room table is covered in papers, magazines and other clutter (because of course it is), get that cleared away before worrying about other items that may take less time to organize—like bookshelves or entertainment systems.
- Or maybe you have kids who need toys picked up? Start with those toys so they won’t have as many places to hide them later on when they want something still messy but out of sight (or reach).
It’s okay if you don’t get everything done right away; just make sure that whatever work you do gets done within a reasonable amount of time so things aren’t left undone forever
| Area | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| Coffee Table | The coffee table is often the centerpiece of the living room and can quickly become cluttered. Starting here can create an organized and tidy focal point. |
| Bookshelf | A bookshelf can be a great place to begin decluttering since it’s easy to sort through items and donate or sell what you no longer need. |
| Entertainment Center | With so many cords and electronics, it’s important to take your time and work on this area to make sure everything is organized and functioning properly. |
| Sofa | By focusing on the sofa area, you can clear away any items that don’t belong and create a more cozy and comfortable space for relaxing. |
| Windows | Starting with the windows can help create a bright and inviting atmosphere, allowing more natural light to shine in. |
Change Your Habits To Keep It Tidy Long Term
One of the best ways to keep your living room tidy is to change your habits. The more you practice keeping things in the right place, the less effort it will take over time.
Don’t leave things out for too long – If you have something new on display, try to keep it there for no more than a week before putting it away again.
This way, when you come back into the room, everything will look fresh and tidy again (and not like an unorganized mess).
Put things away in their correct locations – It’s easy to get distracted by what other people are doing or watching on TV while cleaning up around the house but if there’s one thing that can help prevent clutter from building up in your living room, it’s putting all of your belongings back where they belong as soon as they’re used or finished with them!
You’ll save yourself so much time later on down the road if you do this simple task every day instead of leaving everything out until tomorrow morning when cleaning time rolls around again…
The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Books in the Living Room: There is no need to have books cluttering up every surface in your living room. Instead, use our guide on Organizing Your Books in the Living Room to create a welcoming space for rest and relaxation.
Reward Yourself For Your Efforts
Reward yourself for your efforts. It’s important to reward yourself for all the hard work you put into organizing your living room because otherwise, it can be easy to feel like a martyr when you’re trying to get the room done.
After all, the home is where we should feel most relaxed! To help keep up your spirits, try treating yourself to a nice dinner or maybe even taking a day off work so that you can relax and enjoy life again. You deserve it!
You could also give yourself a pat on the back by giving yourself massages or buying something nice for yourself—the key here is just making sure that when things get really stressful, there are at least some rewards in sight.
| Reward | Why it’s Beneficial |
|---|---|
| Treat yourself to a coffee from Starbucks | Celebrate your achievements with a comforting and tasty beverage. |
| Take a break to watch your favorite show on Netflix | Taking a break and relaxing can help refresh your mind before getting back to organizing. |
| Splurge on some new decor items from IKEA | New decor items can help renew your motivation for organizing and create a fresh look in your living space. |
| Order takeout from your favorite restaurant | Give yourself a break from cooking and enjoy a delicious meal from your favorite restaurant. |
| Take a walk outside and enjoy the fresh air | Taking a moment to step outside and enjoy nature can help reduce stress and boost your mood. |
Conclusion
Thank you for reading! I hope these tips have been helpful and that they will help you keep your living room organized.
If you have any other suggestions or questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help with organizing your living room:
HGTV: Tips for Maintaining an Organized Living Room – This article offers tips for maintenance to keep your living room clean and organized after the initial organizing process.
Homes & Gardens: 15 Living Room Organization Ideas – This article offers 15 organization ideas to keep your living room clutter-free and aesthetically beautiful.
Livingetc: How to Organize a Living Room – This article offers advice and tips for organizing your living room in a way that is both stylish and functional.
FAQs
How can I organize my living room quickly?
If you are short on time, focus on smaller tasks that can be done quickly, such as clearing clutter or reorganizing shelves. Break larger tasks into smaller pieces and tackle them one at a time.
What is the best way to store books in the living room?
Consider shelving or stacking similar-sized books vertically or horizontally to maximize space and create a visually appealing display. You could also consider using a bookcase or built-in shelving unit.
How do I organize my living room when I have kids?
Designate specific spaces for your children’s toys and other items in the living room. Consider purchasing storage units or baskets that are easy for kids to use and access.
How often should I declutter my living room?
Aim to declutter your living room at least once per season, or more often if you are short on space. Regular decluttering can help you maintain an organized space.
How can I keep my living room organized for the long term?
Good organization habits such as only keeping what you need, regular cleaning and decluttering, and smart storage solutions can help you maintain an organized living room for the long term.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James. I’m a professional decluttering expert who loves to help people get their homes in order. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life—from high school students to retirees and everything in between—to help them clear out clutter and make the most of their space so they can focus on what matters most to them.