Living room storage ideas for a calm, uncluttered space

The living room storage ideas you incorporate within your home can make or break this space and have the power to take it from cluttered and chaotic to calm and restful.

In a room that is meant to induce a sense of restfulness and feel like a retreat at the end of a busy day, it is crucial that there is a place for everything within your living room design scheme – whether that is a spot to stow away children's toys or games consoles, or a space to stylishly display prized possessions out of harm's way.

Our round-up of living room storage ideas covers everything, from clever multitasking items of furniture, to ways of using high ceilings as an extra opportunity to house all your belongings.

Finding the right living room storage ideas for you

The kind of storage you choose will very much depend on the kind of living room ideas that appeal to you and what you intend to use the room for.

For some people this is a space that is purely meant for rest and relaxation –somewhere to switch off, sink into a big squashy sofa and binge watch the latest TV series doing the rounds. 

For others, it's a room in which to welcome guests and carry out a spot of stylish entertaining. In some cases, the living room serves as a cosy family space and needs to be able to handle the plethora of items that tend to go hand-in-hand with family life.

Once you have a good idea of how you intend on using the space, you can start to build a picture of the types of storage solutions that will best suit your needs.

1. Combine open display space with cupboards 

Living rooms should be a space in which to express your personality and a great way to do this is to showcase some of your treasured belongings. But while you may be happy to keep items that evoke happy memories on display, there will also be some things you prefer to stash away out of sight when not in use such as board games and remote controls.

This is where storage units that combine shelving with cupboards can come in handy. This living room has a pleasing symmetry to it thanks to the fireplace alcove ideas that use matching units on either side of the fireplace.

2. Get on board with the 'bookshelf wealth' trend

If you haven't heard the term 'bookshelf wealth' yet, then you soon will as this is one trend on the rise – and it is perfect for anyone after living room storage ideas that will reflect their individual style. 

"The ‘bookshelf wealth’ trend has overtaken paint and wallpaper to emerge as the best way to decorate and personalise the home," explains Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village. "Of course, there’s no single ‘right’ way to organise your bookshelf, so whether you lead with aesthetics and organise your curated selection of books in rainbow order, or opt for a practical A-Z-themed approach, the key is keeping it authentic. 

"That means only choosing books that you really love, but I also recommend filling your bookshelves with more than just books," continues Shelley. "Display cherished family photographs alongside artwork and a selection of ceramic vases for an eclectic and truly personal take on ‘bookshelf wealth’. This way your bookshelf will serve as a decorative and expressive style statement, rather than a perfunctory piece of furniture."

Shelley Cochrane

Shelley Cochrane is an accessories buyer at Furniture Village and has spent over a decade spent working in homewares and furniture. Her keen eye for trends helps her identify products that make your home functional and stylish.

Use one of these stylish bookcases to display your 'bookshelf wealth'

3. Look for stylish media storage solutions

If you plan on using your living room as somewhere to kick-back and relax in front of the television, then you really need to consider designing a smart media wall in which to house all your tech.

Bear in mind that, if you don't want the television on display at all times, there are media wall ideas that include built-in doors.

"Consider the option of bespoke joinery, which allows you to craft custom-built cupboards and shelves that seamlessly blend into your living space," says Claire, director of Claire Garner Interiors. "By incorporating built-in cabinets and shelving units around the television area, you can effectively conceal clutter while also displaying decorative items, maintaining a cohesive design throughout the room."

Claire Garner

Claire has over 15 years’ experience in the interior design industry, and over a decade running her own interior design studio. She has a BA in Textile Design, and has become known for her unique balance of texture and tonal colour schemes.

4. Sneak some understairs storage into your design

If you want your living room to feel tidy and ordered then you really need to be making sure you are not wasting any space that could be put to better use as storage. This is particularly important for those after small living room ideas.

In this bright and cheery living room, priority has been given to providing plenty of comfortable seating through a huge corner sofa, while storage needs have been provided for through built-in shelving under the stairs. 

5. Build a wall of floating display shelves

Floating shelves, where the fixings are all concealed within the wall to give the impression of the shelves being suspended from nowhere, fit in particularly well with minimalist living room ideas and make a fantastic spot to store belongings, books and so on. 

"Don't forget about the walls. Whether you are incorporating bookcases, shelving units or even wall hanging shelves, these are great ways to remove clutter from the floor to make a space appear bigger and provide you with a platform to showcase some of your much-loved accessories," advises Lena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse. 

"However, I’d advise that when it comes to open shelving units, less is more. Cut the clutter by styling just one or two key pieces per shelf, complementing them with a stack of books here and there to introduce further depth and interest, whilst ensuring they look neat."

In this smart grey living room, a series of full widths shelves have been finished in a shade that matches the walls and the interior of the hole-in-the-wall fireplace for a smart cohesive look. 

Lena Gierasinska

Lena is Head of Product & Displays at Barker and Stonehouse and has worked at the business for over 8 years. She has more than 13 years’ industry experience working with brands in the interiors and retail sector.

6. Fill alcoves with built-in storage

Alcoves to either side of fireplaces have to be the number one spot for built-in storage solutions so be sure to look into ways to ensure your living room fireplace ideas will be capable of incorporating storage. There are so many ways to use this space, from walls of shelving to smart fitted cupboards that conceal any mess. 

In this cosy living room, the alcoves have been lined with vertical timber cladding, before being fitted with a couple of floating shelves. Cabinets beneath give somewhere to stow away items that don't need to be on display.

8. Invest in a few purpose made storage items

Living room storage doesn't have to be built-in – freestanding, purpose-made furniture has many benefits, including the fact that it is more flexible and can be moved when required. 

“For an added pop of personality look for a coloured storage solution," suggests Becca Stern, creative director and co-founder of Mustard Made. "The versatile nature of freestanding storage means it can be easily shuffled around or swapped out to another room if you change your colour scheme later down the line.”  

“Investing in storage solutions that are both stylish and functional goes a long way in creating a calm, contemporary and uncluttered home," says Shelley Cochrane. "A sleek sideboard in a hallway is not just a clever option that keeps this space tidy, but it can only be used to display vases of fresh, seasonal flowers, so that the space feels welcoming and inviting."

Here, The Lowdown in Poppy from Mustard Made provides colour and storage in this bright and cheery living room.

9. Create calm with a symmetrical storage layout

When used in interior design, symmetry is a great way to create a feeling of balance, harmony and calm – all of which are highly desirable in a living room. Both your living room layout ideas ,as well as the methods you use to create storage can really help here. 

This living room is a great example of how, even with freestanding items, a smart symmetrical look can easily be achieved using the alcove space either side of a focal point, such as the fireplace. 

10. Make vertical spaces work for you

Don't forget to look up when designing your living room storage – full height storage units can offer so much useful space without encroaching on the rest of the room. 

"For those who are working with a smaller living room, extra-tall fitted furniture can help provide additional storage without sacrificing floor space," explains Simon Tcherniak, senior designer at Neville Johnson. "If your living room has alcoves and nooks, these are a great spot for bespoke fitted storage, adding both functionality and a bit of quirky character to your space."

In this living room, bespoke furniture from Neville Johnson has provided a space for everything, while the oak ladder gives easy access to the higher levels. 

11. Turn your storage into a focal point

Just because storage is generally thought of as something very practical, there is no reason why it can't also add plenty of character and style to your living room at the same time as being highly functional. 

One way to really highlight your storage, be that a built-in shelf or a stylish sideboard, is through great living room lighting ideas. 

"A table lamp placed amongst your books, or a floor lamp stood beside your shelf, will help to highlight this area of the home and create a focal point out of your shelf so it becomes a feature, rather a simple storage solution,” says Shelley Cochrane.

Here, concealed lights placed strategically within the modern built-in shelving really give the whole wall a stylish finish.

FAQs

What are the best storage solutions for small living rooms?

If you don't have much space for large walls of shelving and huge sideboards, it is often necessary to think about what storage items you could invest in that serve more than one purpose.

"Opt for multifunctional furniture pieces such as ottomans with hidden storage or coffee tables with drawers to maximise space and discreetly stow away any clutter," suggests Claire Garner. "Embrace vertical walls by installing tall bookcases or wall-mounted shelves to make the most of what is often unused space, all while keeping the floor area uncluttered and open.

"Also consider integrating stylish storage baskets and bins to organize smaller items in an aesthetically pleasing manner, ensuring they remain easily accessible yet neatly arranged."

These Seagrass Storage boxes from Dunelm come in two different shades and are ideal for storing toys, blankets or remote controls.

Is built-in or freestanding storage best?

While the choice between freestanding and built-in storage ideas is very much down to personal preference, there are certain cases when one will work better than the other. 

Built-in, and certainly bespoke, storage tends to be a better way to make the best use of wasted space and can be more effective where space is at a premium. However, on the downside, having units custom made is generally more expensive than buying standard, off-the-shelf items.

Freestanding storage furniture is great if you want more flexibility and to be able to shift things around once in a while. Don't forget too that some of the best storage solutions are those that have been modified by homeowners themselves – shelves fashioned from old crates and upcycled dressers for example.

Great living room storage ideas are just one part of designing a living room and should be planned out alongside the rest of your scheme as a whole - especially if you are considering open plan living room ideas where you need to fit lots into one space. 

You should also think about lighting, furniture layouts and, of course, the best living room paint ideas to finish off the space in style.