De-Clutter the Great Room by Maximizing Hidden Storage Space

While the great room may be one of the biggest rooms in the house, it is also among the most used, which means that DVDs, CDs, magazines, books and other items tied to the function of the room can end up causing visual clutter leading to a disorganized space. Maximizing hidden storage space will help you stay organized, letting you easily find whatever you may be looking for while helping to keep the room streamlined, cleaner and clutter free. This let’s the most beautiful elements of the room – contemporary wall sculptures or paintings – command the attention and respect they deserve.

Here are some tips to maximize hidden storage space in the great room.

Storage, Display and Organization

Media cabinets with doors and built-in storage are a wise choice for the great room to help keep media items like CDs and DVDs organized and handy, yet out of sight. Keeping these items in storage drawers or cabinets will also keep them dust free and you can organize them in whatever way you please – by genre, artist or actor, alphabetically, etc.

Another great option for the media room is an entire wall of built-in cabinetry which offers display space for the TV, open shelving for books and decorative pieces and closed space electronic accessories, games, DVDs, CDs and anything else that you’d like to tuck away. Fabric covered boxes or baskets on the shelves can be used to hide smaller items and can intermix attractively with your arrangement of books and decorative accessories on shelves; weave a common decorative thread throughout the room by choosing accents in colors and styles that complement metal wall sculptures and wall art on a nearby or adjoining wall.

If you great room doubles as a family office, consider a computer armoire or roll-top desk so that your computer or papers can be easily hidden behind closed doors at a moment’s notice.

Benches, Chests and Trunks

Benches or ottomans that offer seating above and storage below offer extra space to hide away magazines, games, decks of cards, puzzles, toys and extra throws or pillows. Chests and trunks can be used for storage as well and add a little personality to the room. They can be used as a charming coffee table or accent piece; put one by a window and top it with a long cushion for a window seat, or top it with a sheet of glass or decorative trays and use it to display a grouping of potted plants.

All text copyright angelaglancy. Photo from Flikr - "Living Room 1" courtesy of B1gJ4k3.

Baskets, Bins and Boxes

Baskets, canvas bins and decorative wood or fabric wrapped boxes offer storage for remote controls, magazines, writing paper and pen, crossword puzzles and catalogs. Have one on a table near the entry for a convenient place to drop your keys and mail.  Tall wicker baskets or canvas baskets look stylish in a corner or beside a couch; tuck in colorful rolled up blankets and throws for a cozy look, or use them to hold knitting, cross stitch or other craft and sewing items between sessions.

Finally, don’t forget to make the most of storage space you already have: For example, Cleaning out the closets and adding shelves to make the space more efficient can help keep clutter under control.

 All text copyright angelaglancy. Photo from Flikr - "Shelves in Use - top" courtesy of mrbill.