13 Stylish Storage Solutions for Living Rooms You’ll Love
Clear and refresh your living room without losing its character with these neat storage ideas
The right storage solution can make your living room feel more spacious, as well as look great, so getting it right is key. Whether you have a bundle of books you need to shelve, a prized collection of vintage vessels without a home, or a bunch of things you want to hide, check out these ideas to help you find the perfect storage solution for your living space.
Mix and match
For a room like this with no space for a bank of storage, several smaller solutions can work well. Tuck a basket under a table as a catch-all for wayward items; opt for a TV console that provides both open and closed storage for flexibility; try a Perspex box to house items neatly on a small coffee table, and hang some discreet yet stylish wall storage.
If you have space under your sofa, try storing spare blankets or linens neatly folded in a slide-out box. You could also look at coffee tables with integral storage. Before you know it, all of these small containers will add up to a significant amount of additional storage.
For a room like this with no space for a bank of storage, several smaller solutions can work well. Tuck a basket under a table as a catch-all for wayward items; opt for a TV console that provides both open and closed storage for flexibility; try a Perspex box to house items neatly on a small coffee table, and hang some discreet yet stylish wall storage.
If you have space under your sofa, try storing spare blankets or linens neatly folded in a slide-out box. You could also look at coffee tables with integral storage. Before you know it, all of these small containers will add up to a significant amount of additional storage.
Make your table work hard
This is a simple yet effective solution for adding storage to your living room in an instant. Swap your coffee table, if you have one, for a design with a shelf underneath. It gives you extra storage with no additional footprint, and is perfect for books that won‘t quite fit on the shelf.
This is a simple yet effective solution for adding storage to your living room in an instant. Swap your coffee table, if you have one, for a design with a shelf underneath. It gives you extra storage with no additional footprint, and is perfect for books that won‘t quite fit on the shelf.
Work around a corner
Don’t stop your storage simply because you’ve come to a corner. A tailor-made shelving unit can be designed to ‘hug’ your walls and will offer a bigger boost to your storage capacity – as well as looking look far more aesthetically pleasing – than two freestanding units propped up at right angles.
If, say, you’re in a rented property or on a budget, you can also find a variety of ready-made shelves designed for corners. Alternatively, butt two single wall shelves up against each other at right angles.
Don’t stop your storage simply because you’ve come to a corner. A tailor-made shelving unit can be designed to ‘hug’ your walls and will offer a bigger boost to your storage capacity – as well as looking look far more aesthetically pleasing – than two freestanding units propped up at right angles.
If, say, you’re in a rented property or on a budget, you can also find a variety of ready-made shelves designed for corners. Alternatively, butt two single wall shelves up against each other at right angles.
Keep it low-level
A low-level solution is perfect for keeping a room feeling airy while providing discreet yet accessible storage. If you have space for a clear run along the length of a wall, as here, the cupboards should provide a good amount of storage with minimum impact on the look of the room. The top of the unit would make a great spot for displaying decorative items, too.
If you can’t find a shop-bought piece to fit your space, try configuring a series of cupboards into the shape you’re after, or commission a joiner to create a tailor-made unit exactly to your style and dimensions.
A low-level solution is perfect for keeping a room feeling airy while providing discreet yet accessible storage. If you have space for a clear run along the length of a wall, as here, the cupboards should provide a good amount of storage with minimum impact on the look of the room. The top of the unit would make a great spot for displaying decorative items, too.
If you can’t find a shop-bought piece to fit your space, try configuring a series of cupboards into the shape you’re after, or commission a joiner to create a tailor-made unit exactly to your style and dimensions.
Add in a bureau
Work space is becoming increasingly important, and most houses don’t have the luxury of a separate study. A bureau is a great multi-tasking piece of furniture that allows you to squeeze in a flexible work spot and some extra storage, too.
The cupboard and drawer in this vintage design will hold anything from paperwork to napkins and candles, and the flap at the top can simply be folded down when it’s time to work.
Work space is becoming increasingly important, and most houses don’t have the luxury of a separate study. A bureau is a great multi-tasking piece of furniture that allows you to squeeze in a flexible work spot and some extra storage, too.
The cupboard and drawer in this vintage design will hold anything from paperwork to napkins and candles, and the flap at the top can simply be folded down when it’s time to work.
Build a storage wall
Storage walls can be a godsend for living rooms, offering both essential storage and display space. These often bespoke creations can be built around your needs, and incorporate areas for a TV, pictures, ornaments and books. Consider having some sections closed for less-than-lovely items.
If you’re using off-the-peg units, you could buy a few boxes that fit the sections snugly and use them as ‘drawers’ for pieces you wish to hide away.
See storage solutions for hallways you’ll love
Storage walls can be a godsend for living rooms, offering both essential storage and display space. These often bespoke creations can be built around your needs, and incorporate areas for a TV, pictures, ornaments and books. Consider having some sections closed for less-than-lovely items.
If you’re using off-the-peg units, you could buy a few boxes that fit the sections snugly and use them as ‘drawers’ for pieces you wish to hide away.
See storage solutions for hallways you’ll love
Invest in vertical bookshelves
Book towers are a great solution for narrow spaces and they work well where built-in storage isn’t an option, such as in rented homes. They’re unobtrusive, yet store a good number of tomes.
If the classic Ptolomeo bookcase is beyond your budget, consider buying a few Umbra Conceal bookshelves to create a similar effect.
Book towers are a great solution for narrow spaces and they work well where built-in storage isn’t an option, such as in rented homes. They’re unobtrusive, yet store a good number of tomes.
If the classic Ptolomeo bookcase is beyond your budget, consider buying a few Umbra Conceal bookshelves to create a similar effect.
Use all levels
Go multi-tiered with your storage by offsetting tall, skinny alcoves with long lean units that won’t crowd your space as one big piece might.
The different zones can then be used to stash different bits and pieces – books in one, DVDs in another for instance – for easy-access storage.
Go multi-tiered with your storage by offsetting tall, skinny alcoves with long lean units that won’t crowd your space as one big piece might.
The different zones can then be used to stash different bits and pieces – books in one, DVDs in another for instance – for easy-access storage.
Repurpose a vintage piece
If you’re really in need of additional storage but don’t want to go for something conventional, repurpose a vintage item. In this living room, vintage rucksacks have been hung on the wall for clever, original storage. Think laterally and keep your eyes peeled at car-boot sales and fairs.
If you’re really in need of additional storage but don’t want to go for something conventional, repurpose a vintage item. In this living room, vintage rucksacks have been hung on the wall for clever, original storage. Think laterally and keep your eyes peeled at car-boot sales and fairs.
Go for floating storage
If you don’t want to go built-in, but still have significant storage needs, try a floating shelf unit like this. It’s crisp and contemporary, and, because it’s wall-hung, it makes the room feel bigger, as there’s maximum floor space.
If you don’t want to go built-in, but still have significant storage needs, try a floating shelf unit like this. It’s crisp and contemporary, and, because it’s wall-hung, it makes the room feel bigger, as there’s maximum floor space.
Do something a little different
If you’re able to have something bespoke and a little quirky made for your home, grab the chance. There are all sorts of ways to conceal storage so you’d never know it was there, as with this hidden bookcase. A skilled craftsperson can help you figure out what might work in your space.
If you’re able to have something bespoke and a little quirky made for your home, grab the chance. There are all sorts of ways to conceal storage so you’d never know it was there, as with this hidden bookcase. A skilled craftsperson can help you figure out what might work in your space.
Employ a classic trunk
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned trunk to store those bits and bobs that don’t display well. It’s a fashionable addition, works well as a coffee table and is practical, too.
Add a tray on top to store your TV paraphernalia in an orderly fashion, so it can easily be lifted off for access to the trunk.
TELL US…
What does storage look like in your living room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned trunk to store those bits and bobs that don’t display well. It’s a fashionable addition, works well as a coffee table and is practical, too.
Add a tray on top to store your TV paraphernalia in an orderly fashion, so it can easily be lifted off for access to the trunk.
TELL US…
What does storage look like in your living room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
Don’t despair at an awkwardly shaped room, sloping ceiling or unusual architectural feature. Instead, embrace the quirky corners and unused alcoves for sneaky storage areas, as in this living room.
The best storage solutions for odd angles like this tend to be bespoke, to maximise the space, so it would be worth getting some professional sketches done. Once you’ve picked the perfect option, find a great joiner to build it for you.
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