Living and dining rooms cop a lot — they’re where we relax, eat, dump bags, fold washing, wrangle kids, binge Netflix and sometimes stash things we don’t know what to do with. Whether you’re in an open-plan home or a cosy unit, these spaces can end up cluttered, messy and constantly “in use.”
But you don’t need more baskets or a bigger house — you just need storage that matches how you actually live. (After you declutter of course!)
Just like in part one of this series – Smart Storage Solutions for Small Bedrooms (Without Custom Joinery), let’s start with intention before diving into solutions.
Start with the Vision (Not the Storage Shop)
Before buying another cube unit pause and ask:
- If I had a magic wand, (and I didn’t need to worry about how it would get to my ideal look) how do I want this room to look?
- What do I want to be able to do in this room?
- Who uses it most?
- What always ends up here — even when it shouldn’t?
- What would be easier if this space was organised? (What would I gain from working on this space)?
When you understand the function of your living or dining room, you can set it up to support you instead of fight you.
Rethink Surfaces and “Drop Zones”
Coffee tables, sideboards and dining tables are often clutter magnets — not because you’re messy, but because the items landing there don’t have a proper home.
Think about what actually accumulates. Mail and keys by the door. Chargers and sunglasses on the coffee table. School forms and bills on the dining table. Remotes, coasters, and controllers scattered everywhere.
These things need designated spots, not lectures about tidiness.
Try This:
- Add, bowls, a filing tray, or dedicate existing drawers to your entryway for mail, keys, chargers and sunglasses. If you don’t have a space for this to land, only then think about purchasing a small table or similar to help organise it.
- Use a wall-mounted file holder or slim basket beside the dining table for school forms, receipts or mail that lingers. (or whereever the papers gather). Something that resembles the Action Station (My system for incoming paperwork).
- Store remotes, coasters and controllers in a lidded box on the coffee table. If you want to get fancy Etsy has some great wood-crafted remote boxes.
This isn’t about hiding clutter — it’s about creating designated homes.
Hot tip: every home has a “hot spot” — a surface where stuff lands. If certain items are always found on this surface, chances are, they are always used in this zone and needed (for function and efficiency) to be kept here. Once you’ve decided if that is true for you and this area, don’t fight it, instead give the items a dedicated home. If things pile up around this, that’s a clue that those items don’t have a true home yet. There home may not be in this zone, but this ‘hot spot’ is the place we’ve decided “I don’t know where this lives “stuff”, lives!”
Anchor Each Zone with Purpose
In open-plan homes especially, boundaries help keep things in their place. When you define zones clearly, items are less likely to migrate and the whole space feels more intentional.
Try This:
- Use a low bookshelf or console to divide lounge and dining areas — IKEA’s KALLAX can double as storage and a zone divider.
- Add a large storage basket or trunk beside the sofa for throws and cushions. Try IKEA’s FLÅDIS woven basket or something similar.
- Keep the dining table clear by storing placemats and decor in a nearby drawer, basket or buffet instead of on the surface.
Make Furniture Do Double Duty
If a piece of furniture only holds decor, it’s not working hard enough.
Try This:
- Choose side tables or coffee tables with storage underneath.
- Use storage ottomans or benches for toys, blankets or board games.
- In dining areas, use a buffet or low sideboard for servingware, puzzles, placemats or art supplies.
With the right pieces in the right places, your furniture becomes part of the solution — not just something to shuffle around.
Create Hidden Homes for Everyday Items
Clutter happens when items have nowhere to land — especially in shared or multipurpose rooms.
Baskets are your friends, but they need to be purposeful. A basket on the floor beside the couch for current reading material or magazines. Another near the TV for remotes and charging cables. One by the door for shoes that get kicked off the moment people walk in.
Contain the Tech and Cable Chaos
Chargers, controllers and cords breed clutter fast — especially if entertainment happens here.
Try This:
- Use a drawer insert like Howards’ Adjustable Drawer Organisers to separate cords and chargers.
- Set up a charging station in a cupboard, buffet or sideboard. Howards’ Cord Management Boxes can help hide the mess. Of course, IKEA has got you covered as well.
- Use adhesive cord clips or cable boxes to tidy behind the TV unit. JB Hi-Fi has a multitude of options, no matter your mess.
Even small tweaks can instantly clear visual clutter.
The Takeaway
Thoughtful storage isn’t about hiding things or squeezing more in. It’s about creating zones that support the way your household actually functions. When surfaces stay clear, items are easy to put away and everyday life has “homes,” your living and dining areas become places you enjoy — not just manage.
Need More Help?
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