Best Living Room Storage Options for Real Homes

A living room has to do a lot. It is where you relax, watch telly, host friends, sometimes work, and often store everyone’s bits and pieces too. That is why living room clutter feels so frustrating. It is never just “stuff”, it is the constant reminder that your home is working against you.

Most advice online is either unrealistic or overly aesthetic. It assumes you have a huge house, a separate playroom, or the kind of self control where every item goes back in its place instantly.

This post is for real homes. The goal is simple: a living room that feels calmer, looks better, and stays that way with minimal effort.

Quick rule of thumb

If something genuinely lives in your living room, it needs a proper home in your living room.

Otherwise you end up shuffling mess between rooms, and it never feels finished.

Before you buy anything, do this first

You will get better results if you match storage to the type of clutter you have. Take five minutes and pick your main culprits:

• Tech clutter: remotes, chargers, cables, game controllers
• Kid clutter: toys, books, craft bits, school bags
• Paper clutter: post, receipts, manuals, notebooks
• Comfort clutter: throws, cushions, hot water bottles
• Hobby clutter: knitting, puzzles, magazines, art supplies
• “Random” clutter: the things that do not belong anywhere else yet

Once you know the main category, choosing storage becomes much easier.

The best living room storage options, organised by problem

1) Best for quick tidy ups

Closed sideboard or cabinet

If you want to clear surfaces fast, closed storage wins. It hides the everyday mess without making your room feel like a showroom.

Best for:

• cables, chargers, remotes
• board games, candles, spare bits
• kids items you want out of sight

Look for:

• doors rather than open shelves
• adjustable shelves inside
• enough depth for baskets and bulky items
• a top surface you can style lightly

Avoid:

• very shallow cabinets that force you to pile things on top

2) Best for small living rooms

Storage ottoman

This is one of the most useful pieces you can add. It gives you hidden storage while also acting as extra seating or a footrest.

Best for:

• blankets and throws
• kids toys
• games and magazines

Look for:

• a lid that stays open safely
• a durable fabric if you have pets
• a firm top, or use a tray for drinks

Avoid:

• flimsy lids and soft tops that wobble under a mug

3) Best for remotes and daily bits

Coffee table with drawers

A coffee table can either create clutter or solve it. If yours has no storage, you will feel that daily.

Best for:

• remotes, coasters
• chargers and cables
• notebooks, pens, lip balm, those tiny essentials

Look for:

• drawers that slide smoothly
• enough clearance for legs and knees
• a finish that handles spills without fuss

Avoid:

• glass tops if you hate fingerprints

4) Best for families with children

Low unit plus baskets

Baskets are perfect for family life because they are easy to use. They also reduce the “everything must be perfectly folded” pressure.

Best for:

• toys, Lego, craft supplies
• pet toys
• spare throws and cushions

Look for:

• baskets that hold their shape
• matching sizes so it looks tidy
• labels if you want everyone to follow the system

Avoid:

• lots of different basket shapes that do not fit neatly

For more practical storage thinking, read Reimagining Storage: Creative Solutions for the Modern Home.

5) Best for books and a lived in look

Bookcase with closed storage at the bottom

A wall of books can make a room feel warm and personal, but a fully open bookcase can turn messy fast. The best compromise is open shelves for the nice things and closed cupboards below for everything else.

Best for:

• books, photos, objects
• hiding wires, paperwork, spare candles in the closed section

Look for:

• a deeper bottom section for bulky items
• adjustable shelves for different book heights
• a stable unit that can be fixed to the wall

Avoid:

• cramming every shelf full, you need some breathing space

6) Best for awkward corners

Tall narrow cabinet or corner shelving

Corners become dumping grounds because nothing fits them properly. A tall narrow unit uses height without stealing floor space.

Best for:

• games, toys, craft supplies
• small tech items in a closed cabinet
• styling items and plants on open shelves

Look for:

• vertical, slim proportions
• solid construction and wall fixing points

Avoid:

• deep corner shelves that swallow items and collect clutter

7) Best for hiding tech mess

Media unit designed for cables

If you have a television, you will have cables. A good media unit makes them disappear and keeps devices cool and accessible.

Best for:

• routers, WiFi hubs, streaming boxes
• consoles and controllers
• extension leads and adapters

Look for:

• cable holes at the back
• ventilation for heat
• doors that still allow remote signals, or use an open section

Avoid:

• sealing hot devices inside a cupboard with no airflow

For tips on making a room feel calmer without redesigning everything, read The Art of Home Lighting: Creating Ambiance Through Illumination.

8) Best for renters and flexible layouts

Modular shelving and stackable storage

If you rent, you want pieces that adapt. Modular systems let you change the layout, add boxes, or move the unit to a new home.

Best for:

• books and baskets
• combining display and hidden storage
• creating a soft “divider” in open plan spaces

Look for:

• shelves that do not bow under weight
• optional doors or drawer inserts
• a finish that works in most interiors

Avoid:

• very cheap units that lean or wobble, they always look messy

9) Best when you have no floor space

Wall shelves plus tidy containers

If your room is tight, wall storage can be a lifesaver, especially above sofas or near doors.

Best for:

• baskets with smaller items
• books, plants, framed photos
• keeping floors clear in compact homes

Look for:

• shelves deep enough for baskets
• fixings suitable for your wall type
• consistent containers so it looks intentional

Avoid:

• turning shelves into a display of tiny clutter

A simple storage system that stays tidy

Use this method if you want results without perfectionism:

1. Pick 4 to 6 living room categories. Examples: tech, toys, books, throws, paperwork
2. Give each category one “home”. One drawer, one basket, one shelf, one cupboard
3. Make daily items easiest to reach. Do not bury the remote under a pile of candles
4. Keep surfaces mostly clear. Clear surfaces make the whole room feel calmer

Quick wins you can do today

• Put a tray on the coffee table and limit it to three items
• Add one basket beside the sofa for throws and chargers
• Give cables one place, one box, one drawer, not five hiding spots
• Store board games upright like books, not stacked

If you want more fast fixes, see Small Space Solutions: 15 Genius Storage Hacks That Actually Work.

Your next step

You do not need to buy ten new things. You need two or three smart storage pieces that suit how you live, plus a simple system that everyone in the home understands.

If you tell me your biggest living room clutter problem, cables, toys, paperwork, or “random stuff”, I can suggest the best option to start with.