I think at some point, every person has struggled with “not enough storage,” especially when you feel you don’t have the space to be organized even if you wanted to be. There are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years that I’m going to share with you today to help maximize your living room storage while maintaining the style you want!
Create Dual-Purpose Areas
One of my favorite corners in our living room is where I’ve placed a dresser. This serves as both a side table and one of my largest storage areas in the room. It’s a great place to keep cards, board games, poker chips, extra blankets and so much more. Whatever you feel you have overflowing in your living space, put it in a drawer. Perhaps you need a place to set your stuff when you walk in the front door. Create a space that can serve as seating, storage and a “catch all” for those everyday items.
Opt for Light Paint Colors
You’ll definitely want a lighter color to allow sunlight to shine in and provide more openness. One of my favorite colors to use is Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray (or any other warm gray tone). It really does reflect light fantastically while providing a warm, cozy environment. It might be tempting to put your favorite blue on the wall, especially if your apartment manager will allow you to paint, but stick with a light neutral and bring the color you really want in through your accessories and wall art.
Utilize Media Stands
If you’re still lacking storage, bring in a media stand that allows you to remove clutter from your surfaces and leaves you with clean lines. Clutter on any surface will make a room feel more closed in, and when you are working with a small space, that is the last thing you’ll want.
Mirrors for the Win
It’s amazing what a mirror will bring into a room. Have you ever gone into a small restaurant in New York City? They often have an entire wall lined with mirrors. I remember walking into one place and wondering to myself how a building that looked so tiny outside was so big inside. Then I realized it was an illusion. You can create this same illusion in your living room by adding a well-placed mirror to help extend the feel of your room and allow for more light to bounce.
Choose Furniture Wisely
Every layout is different, but don’t feel limited to working with a couch and a loveseat. Even though your space might be on the small side, an L-shaped couch might actually work for you. People tend to stay away from bulky furniture when they feel their space is tight. But it might fit perfectly into your corner and allow you to leave the rest of the space open and airy without losing your seating.
Don’t ever feel like you can’t have the style you want because you are limited by space. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box and move things around. If you are still looking for a few more creative ideas on storage solutions, be sure to check out
this post.
