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Minimalist living is all about organizing and making your space work in harmony with you - whether your living room is a sprawling affair or a snug little nook. By keeping things simple and clearing out clutter, you can create an environment that brings you more joy and calm into your daily life. The key is to make the most of every inch of space, especially in small spaces where wasted space can quickly turn into a cluttered nightmare.
So, the first step is to take a good, hard look at what's really important to you in your living room. Get rid of all the clutter and stuff that's just taking up space - and the things that don't add any value or happiness to your life. For example, wall-mounted shelves and baskets are a great way to stash accessories and keep surfaces clear, so your room feels calm and inviting. Here are some tips that can help enhance this process. And by keeping your storage solutions on point and your surfaces tidy, you'll find it's a whole lot easier to keep your living room looking peaceful and clutter-free.
Loads of homeowners we've spoken to in Port Perry have the same complaint: they want a cleaner, less cluttered living area that's actually functional for their everyday lives, and that's where we come in. The good news is you don't need to rip out the carpets and redo the whole room to get there - just some thoughtful planning and simple, practical steps that make the most of every inch of space, especially in limited space situations .
Creating a more functional living room starts with understanding how you actually use the room, spotting any wasted space and choosing the right storage solutions to support your daily routines. And if you arrange your stuff in a way that supports your daily activities, you'll find it's much easier to keep your space tidy and functional.
This guide's got everything you need to transform your living room into a practical, welcoming space using living room organisation, smart furniture, simple space saving ideas and some everyday habits that make all the difference.
Before buying new furniture or messing with the layout, take a good, long look at what you've got. Don't worry too much about it - just get rid of anything that's out of place, like old mags, extra blankets, mountains of paperwork or random clutter from around the house. Give it a quick tidy, focusing on your belongings, and see what's working and what's not.
Look out for:
The space behind your couch that's just begging to be used
Unused shelves or drawers that are just taking up space
Tables that are so cluttered with junk they're not even functional
Doors that can't open properly because of clutter
Wall areas that are just crying out to be used more effectively
This first pass gives you an idea of where your storage challenges are. To make things clearer, take photos of your current living room layout and note what needs to be changed.
One of the best ways to make a small space feel bigger is to choose multi-functional furniture that can do double duty and serves multiple purposes. A storage ottoman, for example, is perfect for stashing toys, remote controls or extra blankets. And a coffee table with drawers or shelves instantly knocks down clutter.
By choosing multi-functional furniture, you'll need fewer pieces overall, which helps keep the space feeling open and uncluttered.
When you're shopping for new furniture, think about pieces that can help with daily organisation and function , like:
A TV unit with cabinet doors
A slim console table with drawers
Built-in shelf units
Benches with lids and internal storage
A narrow side table that can squeeze into tight spots
These aren't luxury upgrades - they're practical choices that make everyday life easier and create more usable space.
Loads of large living rooms feel cramped because the furniture is laid out all wrong. By making a few tweaks to the placement of your pieces, you can open up more space, improve the flow of the room and make it feel more inviting.
When you are planning your layout, remember to:
Leave enough space to move around the room
Pull furniture away from the wall by a few inches
Make sure doors open fully
Use natural light to guide your arrangement
Avoid blocking out windows
A layout that's designed with how you move through the room in mind gives you an instant feeling of calm and simplicity, even in a small space.
Wall space is one of your most significant assets in a small living room. The key is to use it well without turning your home into a storage unit.
You can:
Hang a floating shelf or two
Install a slim bookshelf unit
Add some hooks near the entry for hanging items
Use a narrow vertical storage unit
Place a tall cabinet in a tight space
Just be careful not to go overboard - you want to keep the space feeling open and airy.
When choosing storage, don't be tempted to go for anything that clashes with your decor. Aim for some that blends in seamlessly, and you'll find it's a whole lot easier to maintain a clutter-free living room that actually works for you. In a living room, visible storage can all too quickly turn into a real visual mess if you're not careful. But there are some fantastic storage solutions out there that can stash your belongings away while keeping the room looking nice and clean.
Some absolute must-haves when it comes to storage solutions include:
Lidded baskets - they are perfect for stashing things away and keeping them out of sight
Closed shelf units - a great way to stash books, CDs or other items you don't want cluttering up the shelves
Simple storage bins with lids - an easy solution for keeping things tidy and in its place
Wall cabinets with doors - a great way to hide things from view and keep the kitchen and living areas clutter-free
Entryway tables with deep drawers - the perfect place to stash shoes, gloves, and other items you need to get to every now and then.
By keeping the space feeling welcoming and free of clutter, you can still have a lovely house, even with all the everyday things you need to store.
You don't have to do a complete overhaul of the whole house - just a few simple tweaks to the living room can make the space feel brighter and more inviting.
Give these a go:
Swap out your curtains for sheer ones and let loads more light in
Choose one big piece of statement furniture instead of loads of little ones, it can really make a difference to the look of the room
Keep your colour palette light and neutral, it can make a room feel way more spacious
Give the windows a clear out and get rid of all the clutter that's accumulated there
Add a nice little rug to define the living space and keep it feeling cozy
It's not about stripping the room of all its personality - it's about choosing things that make the space feel relaxed and calming.
Your living room shouldn't have to be a storage unit for everything in the house - think about where else you can store things that you don't use that often.
For example:
Take the extra blankets and stash them away in the bedroom chest
Move kids' toys out of the living room and into a dedicated play area
Store holiday decorations in labelled boxes so they are easy to find and put away next time
Keep kitchen items in the kitchen, not the living room
Consider storing some items like toiletries or cleaning supplies in the bathroom - it's often a big, underutilised space that can be used for loads more things
This simple trick can free up loads of space in the living room and make it feel so much bigger.
Every house has those corners, skinny bits of wall or dead spaces that just drive you mad - but with a bit of creativity, you can turn them into something really useful.
Some ideas to try are:
A narrow shelf for magazines - who knew it could be so useful?
Squeeze a skinny console table into the gap behind the sofa
Stick a tall cabinet into that unused nook
Use a two-for-one entry table with drawers to make the most of the space
Hang up organisers or racks on the back of a door to make the most of all the tight spaces
You'd be amazed at how much extra storage you can fit into a room without making it look cluttered.
One of the easiest ways to get that minimalist look and style is to just keep the flat surfaces tidy - including all the accessories.
Limit each surface to:
One or two nice decorative items to brighten the space up
A lamp or some other light source to set the mood
A small plant to bring in a bit of green
A functional tray to corral all the remote controls and magazines
This way, your space looks tidy and not cluttered without losing its personality.
To get a really functional living room, you need to strike a balance among the different factors that make a room work: storage, flow, comfort, style, and ease of use. Think of the room as a hub - a place to hang out, relax, and make memories with the family and friends.
Functionality comes from:
Being able to get your hands on the things you need without having to dig around for them
Clear paths to walk through the room without tripping over anything
Surfaces that stay tidy and not cluttered
A layout that just makes sense
Choosing furniture that's the right size for the space
Choosing pieces with some hidden storage to boot
When everything has a clear home in the room, it becomes so much easier to manage and keep tidy.
These principles work in any size house, and the key to a functional living room is to make the most of your storage for every season .
Baskets, shelves and storage units are essential for a minimalist living room - but it's all about using them in a way that makes sense.
Try these:
Fabric baskets to hide kids toys and the like from view
Built-in shelf walls that go all the way up to the ceiling - great for books
A low-profile TV unit with doors and drawers so you can stash all the mess out of sight
A slim unit tucked into a corner
Wall-mounted hooks to hang up coats and bags without taking up any valuable floor space
If your living area is open-plan or multi-purpose, consider using living room storage to stow away cookware or pots and pans. This way, you can keep your space tidy while still having easy access to everything you need.
These options keep things hidden and out of sight, but still easy to find when you need them.
Your windows can make a massive difference if you get them right - just keep them clear and let loads of natural light in and instantly the room feels bigger.
Your windows can make a massive difference if you get them right - keep them clear and let loads of natural light in, and instantly the room feels bigger. Don't Block the Light - Keep Furniture Away from the Windows
Try not to put an oversized sofa or heavy furniture in front of your windows unless you absolutely have to - if you do, then go for something small and low to the ground to keep the light flowing in.
Light is a straightforward way to make your living room look a whole lot simpler, giving credit to the design choices you make .
You don't need to break the bank to create a minimalist, functional living room. There are loads of affordable storage solutions and nifty ideas that can help you take advantage of making the most of a tiny space. For example, turn an old trunk into a coffee table with hidden storage, or use a storage ottoman to stash blankets and magazines out of sight.
Narrow shelves and baskets are great for keeping things tidy without taking up too much room - perfect for small spaces. Go vertical with wall-mounted bookshelves to make the most of any unused wall space and keep your floor clear. Simplify your space, chuck out the clutter, and you'll be left with a tidy, joyful living area that feels both peaceful and practical. The really good options are often the simple ones - double-duty furniture and storage solutions that help you stash more while keeping your living room looking stylish and uncluttered.
Updating your living room with new storage solutions doesn't have to be a right old hassle. Loads of shelves, cabinets, and storage units are designed for easy peasy installation - requiring just a few basic tools and minimal elbow grease. For instance, a storage ladder or a shelf with pre-drilled holes can be slotted in quickly, giving you some extra space to stash books or display some fancy bits without having to assemble a load of complicated parts.
Furniture that's been designed with built-in storage, like a sofa with drawers or a TV unit with secret compartments, can really help you get on top of clutter and create a more organised space with hardly any fuss. If you're stuck for ideas or tips, then why not check out some advice from a professional organiser - they often share their expertise for free online. By choosing storage solutions that are dead easy to install and assemble, you'll be able to create a functional, clutter-free living room in no time, freeing up loads of time actually to enjoy your home.
Here are a few top tips from homeowners who know a thing or two about keeping things tidy:
Take 5 minutes each evening to chuck any clutter away
Try to put things back in their place as soon as you've finished with them
Use baskets with lids so you can just shove everything in at the end of the day
Leave your open shelves lightly filled so they don't look a mlike ess
Don't go too mad and collect too many things - quality over quantity is always the way to go
Give your decor a good old shuffle now and then so it stays looking fresh and interesting
If you use someone else's ideas or inspiration, then be sure to give them a shout out
These little habits really do make a big difference in keeping clutter at bay.
Just be consistent with your habits and use baskets and drawers to stash the everyday stuff and try not to collect too much junk.
Get furniture that's made for small spaces, add some vertical storage, and try to include some multi-purpose bits like storage ottomans - and of course, don't forget to hook and shelf everything to make the most of the space.
Chuck it in the closet, use some bedroom storage bins, or stick it in a labelled box in the bathroom or hallway - anything to get the clutter out of the way.
Be a smart cookie, chuck out any clutter, and get creative with your storage. Use double-duty furniture and don't waste any space behind or under it.
Clear out the window sills, keep the decor to a minimum, use light colours on the walls, and keep the pathways clear. And if you really need to, chuck out some of the big furniture.
Once you've sorted out the big changes, it's time to add those final touches that make your living room feel complete. Choose some decorative items and accessories that bring you inspiration and a smile to your face, but keep them to a minimum so you don't go back to clutter central. For example, use a nice basket or a stylish container to stash everyday items - this keeps your space tidy while adding a bit of personality.
Think about the role that each bit of stuff plays & plan your space in order so that every single item has a real job to do. As the seasons change, you might want to swap out some accessories or storage solutions to keep your living room feeling lively and clutter-free. Pick items that can be easily popped from one spot to another - that way, your space can keep evolving with your changing needs, rather than getting stuck in a rut. By keeping your living room tidy, looking its best, and actually designed to serve your needs, you'll create a space that's just gorgeous but also - and this is the most important bit - actually perfect for how you live, which in turn brings you happiness & feels like a proper home.
