Living room storage should follow the activities that actually happen there — reading, television, play, hosting — rather than the number of surfaces available. Closed storage for visually busy categories such as cables, toys and games; a small amount of open display for the things you enjoy seeing; a strict limit for mobile items like blankets and remotes; and seating and walking routes kept free.
The three decisions
- Name the activities and give each one a small, contained home beside where it happens.
- Choose the open-to-closed ratio: cube units and shelves for coherent, low-volume groups, doors and boxes for everything mixed.
- Test any storage furniture for its primary job first — a coffee table with a lift-top must still be the right height for the sofa.
Tall units and cube storage above waist height should be anchored to the wall, especially with children in the home. The guides below cover each part: living room organisation, cube storage ideas, shelving ideas, storage furniture and toy storage.
