12 living room storage ideas to clear away the clutter

In a perfect world, every living room — better yet, every room — would come with a walk-in closet. But in the real world, every tabletop in our living room is so often covered with stuff that we can hardly find space to put down our coffee cup. The solution? Declutter with living room storage.

The right storage furniture will blend beautifully with your home decor and give you the space you need to organize all your throw blankets, board games, and kids’ toys into neat little rows (or at least into neat little storage baskets). To squeeze a little more life into your living room, take a look at our favorite living room storage ideas.

A dozen ideas to add living room storage

Get ready to rethink every piece of furniture in your living room — from your sofa to your side table. Everywhere you look, you can add a little extra storage.

1. Coffee tables

If you’re in the market for a new coffee table, look for one that offers drawers (like the Persia 6-Drawer Storage Coffee Table) or a shelf (like this Coffee Table With Shelf) where you can add storage baskets.

If you’re suddenly looking at your current coffee table and cursing it for not offering any storage space, take heart— nearly any coffee table can add storage to your room if you slide some baskets underneath.

2. Storage ottomans

Ottomans are multi-functional pieces of furniture. They can act as a footrest, provide extra seating, or take the place of a coffee table. Storage ottomans add one more function to the list: You can stow blankets, board games, or seasonal home decor in their hidden storage compartment.

A small storage ottoman, like the Cube-Shaped Storage Ottoman in Dark Brown, works well in a small space or in a room that already has a coffee table. A larger ottoman, like the Tufted Storage Ottoman With Turned Legs, can take the place of a coffee table.

3. Console tables

Console tables and sofa tables are the supermodels of home decor. These tall, slender pieces fit neatly along a wall or against the back of your sofa. They not only add storage space, but also style. They’re accent tablesmeant to complement your interior design with their graceful lines.

For maximum storage and style, look for a console table with drawers and a bottom shelf, like the 2-Drawer Demilune Shape Console Table.

4. Bookcases

To add a lot of storage with just one piece of furniture, get a bookcase. While bookcases may not be as sexy as console tables, they’re comforting — they add the instant coziness of a library to any room.

You can display your favorite knick-knacks on the bookshelves, or add baskets and cubbies to the shelving to store anything that’s not ready for prime time. In a small living room, place a bookcase or two flush against the wall to create the appearance of built-ins.

In a larger living room, you can use a freestanding bookcase, like the Seymour 5-Tier Bookcase, to create a DIY room divider. Separate your space into a living area and a home office, yoga corner, or reading nook.

5. Entertainment centers

An entertainment center is the ultimate storage solution. It’s made up of two bookcases with a media console and a bridge in the middle. The media console sits at floor level, and the bridge gets installed between the tops of the two bookcases. Your TV goes in the middle of the entertainment center between the console and the bridge.

For example, you can create a glamorous titanium and silver entertainment center by pairing two of the 3-Drawer Media Towers with one 2-Door TV Console and one 3-Compartment Bridge. This storage unit provides space for all your electronics and media.

6. TV stands

If your living room isn’t big enough for a full entertainment center, a TV stand like the 2-Drawer TV Console in Dark Walnut and Glossy White allows you to add storage beneath your television. It gives you somewhere to put your cable box, Wi-Fi router, and PlayStation with room to spare for books, movies, and board games.

7. Sofas

You may not think of your sofa as a piece of storage furniture, but if you have a sofa or sectional with high legs, like the Gulfdale Cushion Back Upholstered Sofa, then you have room underneath to add storage baskets. Store kids’ toys, dog toys, or seasonal decor, then simply slide the basket out when you need to access your stuff.

8. Side tables

Side tables and end tables can be tricky for storage — many offer little more than a tabletop. But if you choose a side table with at least one drawer or shelf, like the Rectangular End Table in Dark Cherry and Antique White, you’ll have a perfect place to store your TV remote, magazines, and board games.

9. Sideboards

A sideboard (or credenza if you’re feeling fancy) looks equally at home in the living room, dining room, or bedroom. These elegant pieces provide plenty of different storage options. You can find sideboards with drawers, double doors, or both. There are even options with built-in wine storage like the Parkins Server With Lower Shelf in Rustic Espresso.

10. Storage cabinets

An accent cabinet, like this 2-Door Accent Cabinet, is a great way to add storage and make a style statement. You’ll find accent cabinets in a variety of shapes and sizes — from tall cabinets to glass curio cabinets to wine cabinets.

You can even find a storage cabinet to take the place of your freestanding coat rack. For example, the Swivel Accent Cabinet includes three hooks for hanging coats and totes, plus a mirror, cubbies, and a cork board.

11. Bar carts

Make an art form out of storing your alcohol with a bar cart. A cart like the 3-Tier Serving Cart allows you to display your cocktail shaker, decanter, glassware, and favorite spirits. It’s an elegant way to serve guests at parties, and it’s easy to wheel into another room when you want more space.

Of course, if you’re the resident mixologist in your social group, you can forgo the cart and make your bar a permanent fixture. Add a freestanding bar — like the 1-Drawer Bar Unit in Rustic Oak — to your living room so you can store even more bottles and glasses. The next time you imbibe, you’ll feel so organized.

12. Storage bench

Benches are a common form of entryway storage, but they make a great addition to the living room as well. Tuck one under a window or place it along the wall. Then, pull it up next to the sofa anytime you have guests. This functional furniture gives you both extra seating and extra storage.

Choose a model with a large hidden storage compartment, like the Corner Split Storage Bench, and you’ll have plenty of room to hide spare blankets and throw pillows.

Storage gives you more to love in your living room

If you have a small living room, you need every piece of furniture to pull its weight in terms of storage space. Add storage baskets under the sofa, trade in your tripod end table for one with a drawer and shelf, and make sure your coffee table and ottoman offer ample storage.

But even if you have a large living area, you can run out of room for all life’s little extras. Add living room storage with larger pieces like entertainment centers and sideboards to fill your space and store your stuff.

Take a look at your living area, choose your favorite ideas from the list above, and find the living room furniture that matches your style and storage needs.