Organizing your Living Room

You want your living room to be neat and organized so that you can spend quality time with your family without worrying about clutter.  If you keep the living room organized, you can also cut your cleaning time in half and not be embarrassed when guest show up unexpectedly.

Plan your zones

The living room presents special challenges because as on of the most visible rooms of the house, it sets a tone for the rest of our home, and says much about who we are.  It is where we play with our children, gather with the family, and sit down to relax at night. 

For activities such as board games, and photo albums, you can use an armoire for storage.  An entertainment center large enough to support your television is a good idea and would be an ideal place to store the CD’s and DVD’s that you have.  If you have many blankets for napping or for the kids to have on the floor, a trunk would be a good place for these.  Alternatively, you can use a decorative basket to hold them in. 

If you entertain a lot, then a good place to hide the napkins, placemats, liquor, glasses, and snacks would be in a console.  Be creative in using existing storage units in nontraditional ways. 

For example:  

Use a hutch or buffet to store papers, files, or hobby supplies. 
You could also use one bookcase to display your collectibles and adding some lighting to highlight them. 

Rearranging Furniture

• Shift seating to face a window, a fireplace, or an entrance to a room. 
  Place a sofa or a desk perpendicular to the wall, or in the center of the room, to serve as a room divider.
  
• Put two bookcases back to back to separate living room from dining room.  Store books in the living room side; vases, serving bowls, or decorative objects in the dining room side.
  
• Put small tables next to chairs or sofa for people to set down drinks, food, and reading glasses.
  
• Do not feel restricted by lack of electrical outlets.  You can always use extension cords.

Stretch Your Space

• Switch to furniture that can do double as storage units.  Such as coffee tables, end tables, and trunks.
  
• Make use of the often overlooked spaces between and under windows; they are ideal for extra bookshelves.
  
• Use that spot behind the sofa for a low cabinet or short bookcase; they will not take up much floor space.
  
• Build some built-in bookshelves or closets.
  
• Use window seats for storage; they can be built in if you don not already have them, and they will add an elegant touch.
  
• Install wall-mounted shelving or storage units in your zones.
  
• Adjust shelves so there is no wasted space between them.  This will give you room to add an additional shelf or two. 

Ways to sort Objects

You can sort your CDs or tapes by mood or type of music, or you can always try alphabetical order.  Sort your books by size, subject, or author.  You can also divide paperback and hardback.  Remember that each item that you keep increases your cleaning time and you loose space for the things that you need or want in that room.  If you are not using an item, get rid of it. 

Here is how:

• Create your own book of the month club by shipping packages of books you have already read to faraway relatives who might enjoy them or pass them on to friends.
  
• Share the pleasures of a good book by donating those that you have enjoyed to senior centers, schools, libraries, or hospitals.
  
• Keep a log of the books, videos, and CDs you get rid of and where; if you ever do need them again, it will be easier to locate.