13 Creative Ways to Stash Stuff in Your Living Room
Enhance the character of your living space while providing ample storage for all of your stuff with these interesting ideas
Lara Sargent
29 May 2016
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
The right storage solution can make your living room not only feel more spacious, but also look great. 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.
1. Consider all angles
Don’t despair at an awkwardly shaped room, sloping ceiling or unusual architectural feature. Instead, embrace the quirky corners and unused alcoves for storage areas, as in this living room.
The best storage solutions for odd angles like this tend to be custom-made to maximise the space, so it’s worth getting some professional sketches done. Once you’ve picked the perfect option, find a great cabinetmaker to build it for you.
Don’t despair at an awkwardly shaped room, sloping ceiling or unusual architectural feature. Instead, embrace the quirky corners and unused alcoves for storage areas, as in this living room.
The best storage solutions for odd angles like this tend to be custom-made to maximise the space, so it’s worth getting some professional sketches done. Once you’ve picked the perfect option, find a great cabinetmaker to build it for you.
2. Mix and match
For a room like this with no space for a bank of cabinets, several smaller storage items can work well. Tuck a basket under a table as a catchall for would-be clutter. Opt for a TV console that provides both open and closed storage for flexibility. Try an acrylic box to house items neatly on a small coffee table. Hang some discreet yet stylish wall storage.
If you have space under your sofa, try storing spare blankets or linens there in a slide-out box. You could also look at coffee tables with built-in storage. Before you know it, all of these small things will add up to a significant amount of storage.
For a room like this with no space for a bank of cabinets, several smaller storage items can work well. Tuck a basket under a table as a catchall for would-be clutter. Opt for a TV console that provides both open and closed storage for flexibility. Try an acrylic box to house items neatly on a small coffee table. Hang some discreet yet stylish wall storage.
If you have space under your sofa, try storing spare blankets or linens there in a slide-out box. You could also look at coffee tables with built-in storage. Before you know it, all of these small things will add up to a significant amount of storage.
3. Make your table work hard
This is a simple yet effective solution for adding storage in an instant. Swap out your coffee table, if you have one, for one with a shelf. It requires no additional footprint, and it’s perfect for books that won’t quite fit on a shelf.
See more coffee table alternatives
This is a simple yet effective solution for adding storage in an instant. Swap out your coffee table, if you have one, for one with a shelf. It requires no additional footprint, and it’s perfect for books that won’t quite fit on a shelf.
See more coffee table alternatives
4. Work around a corner
Don’t end your storage simply because you’ve come to a corner. A custom shelving unit can be made to hug your walls and will offer more space – not to mention look far more attractive – than two free-standing units set at right angles.
If you’re in a rental property or on a tight budget, you can also find ready-made shelves designed for corners. Alternatively, butt single wall shelves up against each other at right angles.
Don’t end your storage simply because you’ve come to a corner. A custom shelving unit can be made to hug your walls and will offer more space – not to mention look far more attractive – than two free-standing units set at right angles.
If you’re in a rental property or on a tight budget, you can also find ready-made shelves designed for corners. Alternatively, butt single wall shelves up against each other at right angles.
5. Keep it low
Low-level cabinetry keeps a room feeling airy while providing discreet yet accessible storage. If you have space for a run along the length of a wall, as seen here, you’ll get a good amount of storage with minimum impact on the look of the room. The top of the unit also makes a great spot for displaying decorative items.
If you can’t find a store-bought piece to fit your space, try configuring several cabinets in the shape you’re after, or commission a cabinetmaker to create a unit to fit your style and dimensions.
Low-level cabinetry keeps a room feeling airy while providing discreet yet accessible storage. If you have space for a run along the length of a wall, as seen here, you’ll get a good amount of storage with minimum impact on the look of the room. The top of the unit also makes a great spot for displaying decorative items.
If you can’t find a store-bought piece to fit your space, try configuring several cabinets in the shape you’re after, or commission a cabinetmaker to create a unit to fit your style and dimensions.
6. Add a small desk
Work space is becoming increasingly important, but most houses don’t have the luxury of a separate office. A small desk is a great multi-tasking piece of furniture that allows you to squeeze in a flexible work spot and some extra storage at the same time.
The cabinet and drawer in this vintage desk can hold everything from paperwork to napkins to candles, and the top flap can simply be folded down when it’s time to work.
Take a look at vintage writing desks
Work space is becoming increasingly important, but most houses don’t have the luxury of a separate office. A small desk is a great multi-tasking piece of furniture that allows you to squeeze in a flexible work spot and some extra storage at the same time.
The cabinet and drawer in this vintage desk can hold everything from paperwork to napkins to candles, and the top flap can simply be folded down when it’s time to work.
Take a look at vintage writing desks
7. Build a storage wall
Storage walls can be a godsend for living rooms. These often-custom creations can be built around your needs and can incorporate areas for a TV, photos, decorative items and books. Consider having some sections closed for less-than-lovely items.
If you’re using off-the-shelf units, you could buy a few boxes or baskets that fit the cubbies and use them as ‘drawers’ for pieces you want to hide away.
Storage walls can be a godsend for living rooms. These often-custom creations can be built around your needs and can incorporate areas for a TV, photos, decorative items and books. Consider having some sections closed for less-than-lovely items.
If you’re using off-the-shelf units, you could buy a few boxes or baskets that fit the cubbies and use them as ‘drawers’ for pieces you want to hide away.
8. 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 rental homes. They’re unobtrusive yet hold a good number of books.
Book towers are a great solution for narrow spaces, and they work well where built-in storage isn’t an option, such as in rental homes. They’re unobtrusive yet hold a good number of books.
9. 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 be used to stash different bits and pieces – books in one, DVDs in another, for instance – within easy reach.
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 be used to stash different bits and pieces – books in one, DVDs in another, for instance – within easy reach.
10. 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, two antique Swedish backpacks have been hung on the wall for clever storage. Think laterally and keep your eyes peeled at secondhand markets and garage sales.
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, two antique Swedish backpacks have been hung on the wall for clever storage. Think laterally and keep your eyes peeled at secondhand markets and garage sales.
11. Go for floating storage
If you don’t want to do built-ins 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, because floor space is maximised.
If you don’t want to do built-ins 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, because floor space is maximised.
12. Do something a little different
If you’re able to have something custom and a little quirky made for your home, go for it. 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 custom and a little quirky made for your home, go for it. 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.
13. Employ a classic trunk
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned trunk to store those odds and ends that don’t display well. It’s a fashionable addition that also works well as a coffee table.
Add a tray on top to hold your TV paraphernalia so it can easily be lifted off to access the trunk.
TELL US
What does storage look like in your living room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more ideas for your living room
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned trunk to store those odds and ends that don’t display well. It’s a fashionable addition that also works well as a coffee table.
Add a tray on top to hold your TV paraphernalia so it can easily be lifted off to access the trunk.
TELL US
What does storage look like in your living room? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more ideas for your living room
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Very good tips, thank you!
n questa casa abbiamo sfruttato la doppia altezza per creare una libreria a più livelli. Abbiamo trovato posto per tutti i libri e amplificato la sensazione di spazio .
In this house we have exploited the double height to create a multi-tiered library. We found place for all the books and amplified the feeling of space
Great suggestion as In #5 photo above:
Keep it low. Low-level cabinetry keeps a room feeling airy while providing discreet yet accessible storage.
Is there a height for the low level cabinetry that you would recommend to keep with the airy feeling created in this living room?
Thank you!