Living Room Storage Ideas, Tips and Tricks

If you lack living room storage you may totally hate your entire home. Whenever someone stops by unexpectedly you might be embarrassed by all of the toys that are in your space. However, you can really create a room that is functional as well as beautiful just by following a few of these tips.

The first step that you'll need is just to get rid of all of the stuff that you don't really need in the space. For instance, you might be able to get clutter out of every other room in the house such as the kids room so that they have more storage space in their for their toys. Then they can just bring out whatever items they really need to play with to really keep it the most manageable.

You could try holding a neighborhood swap or garage sale. This can provide you with extra stuff and gives you chances to meet new people and even find new treasures to redecorate your room quite inexpensively. The lack of storage isn’t very common in older homes. You can even store things in plain sight just by getting a vintage coat rack or by making one yourself. This is a must-have if you don't have a coat closet in your room.

Try to find multi-purpose furniture. For instance an ottoman of course can be a footstool but it can also lift it up to be a toy chest. You might be able to find an old hope chest that you could place near a window to act as a window seat or a bench. This will provide you with even more storage. Another option would be to just bring in old trunks to use as end tables. Of course with all these items you will need to make sure that they are safe for your kids to use so their fingers don’t get smashed.

There are a few items that are in these kind of rooms that can be a little bit unsightly. However, since everyone seems to have them in their living rooms you just might not pay a lot of attention. In this case, you could really get a high end look. For instance, you might be able to find an antique jewelry box that you can use to hide away your remote. Plus, then you always know where it is because it will have a very specific spot.

Bookcases are a classic of this kind of design style. They can add more presence to your basic fireplace mantel and create an entire focal wall. You will want to go from floor to ceiling. This will create long lines that can really provide you with more storage and also give you more of a high end design aesthetic. Some people might even confuse them for built-ins.

The type of bookcase you choose can really work within your overall theme. Of course this will really depend a lot on your own design aesthetic as well as your budget. If you will be working with a modern design style then you just want things to be very plain and simple. The wood should have a lot of grain so try painting your pieces black, white or chocolate brown. For a country design style then you'll be able to bring in a crisp white or even paint them blue or red. There should be a little bit of scroll work in subtle details such as wainscoting on the back. If there aren't any details then you can just try adding to your home with a lot of fun accessories in bright colors. A traditional design style calls for more substantial wood bookcases made from mahogany or cherry wood depending on your personal preference. This will really be the focal point of your entire room.

Another area that can become quite cluttered is that entertainment center. This really wasn't an issue in vintage homes just because this room probably would have had a TV on it. However, this can bring a feminine function into your room. Your family would probably revolt if you just try to get rid of the TV just because there wasn't a place for it. A more expensive flat screen can really free up a lot of space. In more contemporary homes often they even have a niche for the TV built into the fireplace which can save you a lot of precious wall space.