Granted, the first thing we think of when we're designing a living room is perhaps the couch or wall color, not savvy living room storage ideas. But while it might not seem as exciting, perfecting your storage is a key part of creating a harmonious living space.
After all, your living room should be one of the most relaxing rooms of your home so it's important to get it properly organized don't you think? Plus, storage can be as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical. In fact, the aim of all storage is that it needs to work hard as well as look good.
Living rooms take on myriad of guises: chill-out spots, family zones, entertaining spaces, multi-media hubs, and some even double up as dining rooms or at-home offices. Well-planned fixtures and fittings can be transformative in ensuring this hard-working space meets every need, regardless of whether you opt for a streamlined wall of built-ins or a charming piece of freestanding furniture.
We've gathered some rather inspiring living room storage ideas and expert advice to kick-start your storage hunt, allowing for to curate an inspiring design that is both beautiful and practical. Let's get into it.
15 Living Room Storage Ideas To Control The Clutter
These are the very best living room storage ideas beloved, used, and perfected by the experts to inspire you to make your space feel neat, tidy and organized, but still cozy, smart and on-trend. You're sure to find something here that works for your room, size, and style below.
1. Make the most out of your architecture
Embracing the natural features of your space is the first step to smart storage. Working with existing nooks and alcoves gives you storage solutions that feel cohesive rather than large and in charge. Camilla Clarke of Albion Nord says, 'make awkward corners a point of interest,’ so if there are any nooks or niches in your living room, use them!
In large rooms with generous ceiling heights, it’s especially important to play with scale in order to make the space more relatable. Where there are natural recesses in the architecture, use them to create niches for bookcases or shelving. This will give a room a style focus and serve a useful function.
From window recesses featuring seating and cupboards to alcove shelving and under-stairs ideas, incorporating storage into these areas can not only help maximize on the space available in your living room, but is a great way to celebrate and make the most out of the architecture of your home.
2. Add a wall of books
By no means a new concept, decorating with books is a tried and true way to add color and decor to a storage wall. With trends like 'Bookshelf Wealth' being at the forefront of design aesthetics in 2024, if you have books, you have an instant way to add color and texture and character to a room.
The key is to balance practicality with aesthetics. A setup like this one provides ample storage for books but it also has as much impact as a living room wallpaper and adds so much personality. Consider integrating closed cabinets at the bottom of your shelving unit for hidden storage for stashing away board games, electronics, or any items you want to keep out of sight but easily accessible.
'This wall between the family room and living room once stood bare, but by adding floor-to-ceiling bookcases, the clients have access to their impressive library and the colorful spines provide a lot of visual interest,' explains Bethany Adams who designed the space above. 'Low shelves are perfect for keeping their toddler's toys within reach. As a bonus, pocket doors are hidden within so that the two spaces can be separated.'
3. Use storage to make the TV less of a focal point
More often than not you want to disguise a TV, although they are usually the main focal point of a living room, you don't want a black screen to dominate the space. However, sometimes the best way to hide a TV is in plain sight. By building living room storage around the television you create a more interesting focal point and yes the TV is still there but it's part of a wider display.
'Efficient storage solutions take center stage amidst a backdrop of relaxed rustic charm in this inviting living room,' explains Natalia of Natalia Avalos Interiors. 'The slanted ceiling, adorned with skylights and natural wood beams, floods the space with abundant natural light, creating an airy and welcoming atmosphere.'
'Large windows flank the built-in entertainment center, framing views of the picturesque surroundings. Within the built-ins, white open shelving atop darker blue cabinets provides ample storage space while adding visual interest and depth to the room. From books to decorative items, everything finds its place in these stylish storage units, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetic appeal.'
4. Hide unaesthetically pleasing bulky items
Storage ideas can do more than just a place to hide clutter they can hide certain aspects of the room, be it the TV and awkward corner or in this case [above] a bulky air conditioning unit.
'In our living room, we created a custom piece of furniture from our bespoke cabinetry collection with Unique Kitchens & Baths to be truly multipurpose: bar cabinet and eye sore camouflage,' explains Anastasia Casey, founder of The Interior Collective.
'Between the two living room windows was a large split unit AC nearly to the ceiling. This is the only room in the house without central AC, so removing the split unit entirely wasn’t really an option. By cutting out the back of the custom bar cabinet, we were able to slide it directly in place, enclosing the AC unit inside, above the top shelf. To keep air flowing, we drilled holes in the cabinetry doors, sneakily cooling the living room'
'Below the AC unit, three more large shelves house all of our wine collection and barware. The drawers below store our dining linens like napkins and tablecloths, alongside larger serving pieces.'
5. Plan bespoke joinery and built-ins
From living room shelving ideas to cabinets and grand media units, planning bespoke storage for your living room can establish a unique design perfectly tailored to the exact size and needs of your space.
Cabinetmaker Ed Keyser says, 'Built-in cabinetry is not only an investment and will hopefully add value to your property, but is also personal to you as you will be living with it every day.'
As shown in this luxurious living room designed by Studio Ashby, the bespoke wooden unit creates a beautiful wall of storage and eye-catching display space, with the bespoke design further enhanced by a sliding painting that covers the TV, great for living room TV ideas.
Studio Ashby's founder and creative director Sophie Ashby says, 'The TV must never be on show; that’s one of our rules at Studio Ashby. In every project, we’ll commission joinery to conceal it, like in this project in London’s Mayfair, where we’ve used this beautiful Jack Penny artwork to hide the TV.'
6. Try a freestanding vintage cabinet
Alternatively to custom storage that fits every quirk and crook of your room which of course maximizes all the space available, a freestanding unit can also have its benefits.
The versatility of a freestanding cabinet means it can be moved and repurposed in various rooms or even homes over time. Unlike built-ins, a freestanding piece offers flexibility meaning you can change its placement or function depending on your needs, making it an adaptable solution.
We like to use vintage and antique cabinets in the living room to add a unique quality, like in this living space designed by Chused & Co. From an aesthetic standpoint, a vintage piece gives the room a sense of history and story, it’s a great way to make your living room feel collected rather than decorated. Particularly if it's a family heirloom.
7. Use a pop of color to create a characterful look
Of course, you want your living room storage ideas to be functional and extremely practical, but you also want your chosen storage designs to feel united with your style and with the chosen color scheme for the space.
Interior designer Lucy Cunningham says, 'make a feature of built-in shelving or cupboards by painting them or backing them in wallpaper.'
Whether you use your storage to create a bold accent in a space, as shown beautifully above by Sarah Brown Interiors, with the striking blue shelving establishing a stunning design statement, or simply try your hand at painted furniture ideas, embracing a colorful and characterful design can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.
8. Double-up living room storage as a home bar
Home bars are a huge design trend for 2024 – pick the right design and they can fill an underused corner and double as some extra living room storage too. By cleverly using a cabinet, console, or shelving, you can create a chic and compact bar that offers both practicality and playful appeal.
'This empty corner of the living room was made beautiful and functional by the addition of the Nada Debs "Funquetry" bar,' explains designer Bethany Adams. 'With storage for liquor and glassware above, drawers for bottle openers and the like, and a roomy cabinet below, the clients are always ready to entertain.'
'When the doors to the bar are closed, the bar takes on the effect of a sculpture, with its beautiful, dimensional walnut and colorful inlaid marquetry,' adds Bethany. If space allows, you can even add a small wine rack or a mini-fridge inside the cabinet for easy access to chilled drinks.
9. Soften cabinetry with upholstery or fabric
If you're tired of painted cabinetry or raw wood finishes, a rising trend is to use upholstered fronts or fabric hung inside glass-fronted cabinets to soften the look and add pattern and texture.
'Millwork that is tailored not only to your personal style but also your space is an investment that gains a return in value and resale. Customization allows for every square inch to be accounted for, and maximizes living room storage when there are unique conditions in your home, like varying depths or angled walls,' explains Jessica Geller, co-founder of Toledo Geller.
'In this family room [above] we concealed storage on either side of the fireplace with millwork, however, in order to keep up with our stylish homeowner, no simple cabinetry would do. We custom designed these built-ins with panels upholstered in delicious suede fabric, and included curbed styles, detailed molding and edgy hardware.'
Upholstered storage pieces, like benches or ottomans, can also serve a dual purpose - providing both storage and extra seating.
10. Make the most of a narrow space
With the right approach, you can turn even the narrowest recess into a practical, visually appealing feature. Living room alcoves are the perfect place to squeeze in some extra storage, no matter how narrow that space may be.
Going for bespoke built-in storage will really allow you to maximize that space, especially if it is a bit of an awkward area as can be seen in this space above designed by Natalia Avalos Interiors.
'This California oasis surrounded by redwood trees showcases a sleek fireplace with built-in cabinets and shelving. The fireplace mantel, crafted from rift white oak, brings warmth and clean lines to the space, while the natural stone wrapping adds an earthy feel, enhancing the overall texture. Artwork graces the mantel, adding a touch of personality and depth to the space. Together, these elements create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for relaxing evenings by the fire,' explains Natalia.
11. Use a mix of open and closed storage
Using a combination of open and closed storage allows you to showcase decorative pieces while concealing everyday essentials that might disrupt the room’s aesthetic.
Steve Clinch, head architect at Echlin states, 'When creating storage, consider how it will be used, and make sure you think about shelves versus drawers or cupboards to make sure it doesn't become a dumping ground for items you don't know what to do with'.
Often, when planning living room storage ideas, using both open and closed storage is best. This allows for you to store away more unsightly items in cupboards and cabinets, and keep more decorative, aesthetically pleasing items on display on tables and shelving. Decorating shelves can sometimes be quite a daunting prospect, with the pressure on to curate a beautiful display and arrangement that doesn't feel cluttered or messy, so for some inspiration and expert advice on where to start, explore our guide on styling a shelf.
12. Embrace more unique storage methods
When many of us think of living room storage ideas, we are instantly drawn to shelving units and bookcases, however, there are many other creative avenues to explore when styling your space.
Camilla Clarke of Albion Nord explains, 'Don’t be afraid to use unusual furniture pieces: a bookshelf doesn’t have to be a bookshelf, you can stack books on a bar cart, on the fireplace mantel or on a windowsill.' Storage ottomans, baskets, and bins can also help you to keep things organized.
Take the Dominique Bar Cabinet from Anthropologie, seen above, which not only serves as a glamorous home bar, but the tiered design creates resting areas ideal for lamps, books, and accessories, a great, multipurpose option for small living room storage ideas.
Storage ottomans no matter how big or small are a genius way to give yourself an extra storage opportunity in your seating area. Wrapped in a textured boucle, the stacked silhouette will make a statement.
These woven storage baskets are a must in any space, but work great in living rooms either placed on the floor to house blankets or stacked inside your storage cupboards or shelves to help organize smaller items.
A classic wooden trolley with a twist, the Dorothea bar car has been designed in natural oak for a modern appeal and fluted edges. Either pile yours high with drinks or use it as a library on wheels.
13. Build storage into seating in small living rooms
In small living rooms, optimizing every inch of space is crucial, and integrating storage into seating is an effective way to achieve this and create a cozy reading nook for yourself.
Storage couches, benches, and window seat ideas have come a long way, with many designs today certainly not compromising good looks for the sake of extra stowaway spots. They can be particularly useful for keeping throws close to hand, or a quick place to tidy toys away.
If you’re not in the market for a new sofa but your current model has legs, consider placing some low storage boxes underneath it in the same color or material, for a close-to-seamless look.
14. Mix and match for an eclectic feel
Matching furniture isn’t for us all, and different pieces that each tell a story can be equally as beautiful in a living room. When it comes to storage, embracing an eclectic approach can contribute to the room’s unique character.
Slim cabinets or console tables are great for small living room alcoves, like in the above green living room designed by Studio Duggan, and are great for placing lamps and vases on, whilst heavier, larger items like ottomans can deal with the seasonal throws, board games and books. You can also mix and match both freestanding and built-ins here.
The key is to still make it work visually by having a common living room color scheme – in this room, green follows through from the walls to the decor.
15. Shop your own home for unexpected pieces
Not every storage item has to be living room specific - or brand new for that matter. Often, the best storage solutions are right under your nose. By looking at what you already own, you can find unique ways to integrate pieces into your living room design that you might not have considered.
Repurpose furniture that you’ve already got – move the unit from the bedroom that never quite worked to the living room instead – it might fit that alcove perfectly and create extra storage space that’s much needed.
A pretty box that once held a gift can now store remotes or coasters, while a decorative basket can hide away magazines or toys.
In collaboration with LA-based Katie Hodges, this media console is playful yet classic thanks to its warm wood tone. Use it to store electronics, books, games, and even toys.
The Ernesto bookcase from Lulu & Georgia will add natural texture and warmth to your space. Its arched wood frame is backed with woven rattan paneling, setting off a vintage look full of charm.
Timeless with sleek, this cabinet had sliding reeded glass doors that opens up to functional shelves for storage or display opportunities. With antique brass handles, this is all about the details.
FAQs
How do you add storage to a living room?
'Take stock of what you need to accommodate, covering things such as where you wish to keep music systems, books – and whether you want them on display or concealed,' says Barbara Genda, founder & principal designer, Barbara Genda Bespoke Furniture.
'The single most forgotten issue is coats and shoe storage; if you have an open-plan space, this needs serious consideration. Re-arranging a room will be difficult once fitted furniture is in place, so dimensions and positioning must always be carefully considered.'
How do I organize my living room nicely?
When organizing a living room, some of the key factors to consider are: a functional layout, plenty of storage, multipurpose furniture pieces (think ottomans and adaptable shelving) and regular decluttering and sorting (everything must have a home!)
The best place to start is looking at everything you own, and working out if all your items have a purpose – both practically and decoratively. Which items are display pieces? Which do you need close to hand? Which needs to be hidden out of sight? Which no longer sparks joy?
Your chosen pieces of furniture and storage solutions should then not only reflect your style and fit in with the size and layout of your living room, but they should cater to your collection of belongings, helping to ensure everything has a place in the space.
Keeping a living room organized requires frequent tidying and sorting, but by choosing practical furniture and thinking long and hard about how you will use the room on a daily basis, you can create a more organized and calming space that perfectly caters to your lifestyle.
