How Do You Declutter and Organize a Living Room?

To organize a clutter-free living room, start by clearing out smaller items, reassessing your furniture layout, and giving everyday belongings designated places. From remotes and cords to toys and decor, a few simple organization strategies can make your living room feel more open and easier to maintain. 

Here’s five tips to help get you started. 

Living Room Organization Essentials:

• Remove smaller items before reassessing the room layout.
• Keep furniture arranged to maintain clear walkways and usable seating areas.
• Assign designated places for remotes, chargers, toys, blankets, and daily-use items.
• Use trays, baskets, and decorative boxes to contain small items.
• Display a limited selection of décor and rotate lower-use pieces by season.
• Keep toys in lightweight bins or covered baskets.
• Put away extra furniture, seasonal décor, and household overflow that crowd the room.
• Complete a short reset to return items to their designated places.

Living Room Organization at a Glance:

1. How Do You Clear a Living Room Before Organizing?

Clear a living room by removing smaller, movable items before changing the layout. This gives you a clearer view of the furniture, walkways, and surfaces that create clutter.

Items to remove first include:

• Pillows and blankets
• Lamps
• Candles and décor
• Small furniture
• Toys
• Items without a designated place

Leave large furniture in place unless it blocks walkways or does not fit the room’s current layout.

2. How Should You Reassess a Living Room Furniture Layout?

Reassess a furniture layout by checking whether each piece supports the room’s daily use and leaves enough space to move comfortably. Remove or put away furniture that blocks walkways, crowds seating areas, or no longer fits the room.

Arrange sofas, chairs, tables, and storage furniture around clear paths. Return smaller furniture only when it has a defined purpose in the updated layout.

3. Where Should You Keep Remotes, Cords, and Electronics?

Keep remotes, cords, and electronics in designated zones near the entertainment area. Use a tray or low bowl for remotes, then use cable ties, clips, or sleeves to group cords and reduce visual clutter.

Store extra cables, adapters, and device accessories in a labeled container. Keep power strips contained where possible and label cords when multiple devices use the same area.

4. How Can You Display Décor Without Crowding the Room?

Display décor by selecting a limited number of photos, artwork, and household items for shelves, tables, and walls. Use picture ledges or a gallery wall to group photos while keeping tabletops clear.

Rotate seasonal décor instead of adding more items throughout the year. Keep printed photos and personal media at home in albums, scrapbooks, or labeled containers.

5. How Do You Organize Kids’ Toys in a Living Room?

Organize kids’ toys in lightweight bins, baskets, or covered containers that fit the shared living space. Keep active toys easy to reach, then return them to the same basket or bin when playtime ends.

Toy organization ideas include:

• Use covered baskets for faster cleanup.
• Keep books in a low bin or shelf.
• Use clear containers for building sets and small pieces.
• Choose lightweight bins that move between the living room and bedroom.
• Sort toys regularly and put away lower-use items.

6. What Should You Put Away When Decluttering a Living Room?

Put away lower-use items that crowd the living room without supporting your daily routine. Common examples include extra furniture, seasonal décor, hobby supplies, labeled household bins, and items from completed home projects.

A storage unit can create more room for permitted, clean, dry household overflow while you organize the living room. Use drive-up storage for furniture, boxes, shelving, and other bulky items you can load from a vehicle.

What Storage Unit Size Works for Living Room Overflow?

Choose a storage unit size based on the number of boxes, furniture pieces, and household items you plan to put away. Measure large furniture and leave an aisle if you expect to retrieve items during the rental period.

Use the Public Storage size guide to compare unit sizes before reserving.

How Do You Keep a Living Room Clutter-Free?

Keep a living room clutter-free by returning daily items to designated places and reviewing the room regularly. A short reset prevents remotes, toys, blankets, paperwork, and household items from becoming permanent surface clutter.

Use this living room reset:

1. Return remotes and chargers to their designated areas.
2. Put toys, books, and games into labeled bins.
3. Fold blankets and return pillows to seating areas.
4. Clear the coffee table and side tables.
5. Put away items that belong in another room.
6. Review décor and remove items that no longer fit the space.

Create More Room for Everyday Living.

Clear smaller clutter, arrange furniture around open walkways, and assign daily items to simple storage zones. Public Storage can help you put away permitted, clean, dry household overflow while you create a living room that is easier to use.

Clear the room. Use the space.

Living Room Organization FAQs

What Is the First Step to Decluttering a Living Room?
Start by removing smaller, movable items so you can see the furniture layout, walkways, and surfaces clearly. Then decide what belongs in the room before returning items.

How Can You Organize a Living Room Without Much Storage?
Use covered baskets, decorative boxes, trays, shelves, and multifunctional furniture to organize daily items. Put away lower-use household items when the room still feels crowded.

How Do You Organize Remotes and Electronics in a Living Room?
Keep remotes in a designated tray, bowl, or container near the entertainment area. Group cords with cable ties or clips and store extra adapters in a labeled bin.

How Do You Organize Toys in a Living Room?
Use lightweight baskets or bins to create a designated toy zone. Keep active toys accessible, return them after playtime, and put away lower-use toys regularly.

What Should You Put in Storage When Decluttering a Living Room?
Put away permitted, clean, dry extra furniture, seasonal décor, household bins, hobby supplies, and other lower-use items. Keep printed photos, personal media, and daily essentials at home.