Being safe at home the past few months has created extra family time for everyone. The family room is a special place where you enjoy great moments with your partner and kids. It’s also a space where you entertain guests and gather. Given its multi-functional uses, the family room can also be the most difficult room to keep clutter-free. Here are 6 tips to keeping your family room organized.
Determine the function of the space
Do you have multiple “living room” spaces? What is each of their functions? Is it a space for the family to gather and watch movies/play games? Do you want to focus on entertaining in your living room? To organize your living spaces, you must decide on their function. This will help determine what needs to be stored in each living space. Having intention with your spaces will help you stay organized.
Maximize space with your furniture layout
Is your furniture layout working for or working against your room's intended purpose? Rearranging your living spaces or moving just a few pieces could help create more space or aid in the functionality of the room. Does the current layout allow for playing games, watching movies, or entertaining guests? Do you need more storage and need to open up space for a new piece of furniture? Play around with the layout and see what works!
Declutter
You knew I was going to say this! Donate any items you no longer want or need and move items that don’t belong in the family room. When it comes to decor, pick your favorite items and things that really bring joy, not just items that take up space. I love displaying items, like souvenirs and inherited items, that bring back fond memories. I’m also here to tell you IT IS OKAY FOR YOUR STYLE TO CHANGE. Decor items that you once loved, may not be your thing any more and that is okay! Donate it to someone who will love it.
These are some items to go through when creating an organized living space:
Books and magazines
Go through your books and donate those that you know you will never read. Keep the books that you need for reference or that you may want to read again. I’m all for keeping your top favorite books!
Keep what you have the space for. Consider using ebooks and the library for quick reads. Host a book exchange gathering for you and some friends to keep your reading material to a minimum.
Make sure you have enough storage space for them and style it! Color coded books will make anyone smile!
When it comes to magazines, read and recycle. Tear out specific articles or recipes you want to use and have a system in place for the paper
DVDs
Donate the ones you no longer like and ditch the cases for a CD binder. It takes up so much less space.
Games
Think about the storage in your living room, are there shelves, a cabinet, or a nearby closet? Only keep what your space allows and donate any games that your family no longer loves.
Are you really pressed for space? Ditch all the boxes and use zipper pouches to contain game materials.
Toys
I think toys should be kept to a minimum in the living spaces, but parents that's for you to decide.
If some toys are kept in the living room, make sure there is adequate storage for them. A simple toy box or large basket can be a quick clean up solution for toys in the family room.
Coffee tables and end tables
Keep surfaces clear and decorations to a minimum.
Think of a home for everything, like a tray for the remotes to go.
Buy furniture with storage. A simple drawer in an end table or coffee table with storage can do wonders for holding blankets and other family time items.
Think about your storage
A mix of open and closed storage is usually best. Closed storage is usually best for items that are “busy” to look at, such as games and DVDs. Open storage is for “prettier” items to display like books, family photos, and decor items. Think about the types of items that actually need to have a home in the living room. Could some items live elsewhere? Go back to the function of your living space and that will determine what needs to live there. When buying furniture, choose pieces with storage in mind, even your coffee table could have drawers or an open shelf. If you’re having trouble storing family room items even after you’ve purged, think about maybe using a nearby closet for any overflow items.
Hide cords and cable boxes strategically
This helps for a cleaner, clutter free look. Is there a piece of furniture or decor nearby that could hide that cable box or modem? There’s several DIY ideas on Pinterest to hide those unsightly cords. Search “how to hide cords” on Pinterest for more ideas.
Make this a room for everyone to enjoy
At the end of the day, this is where we want to spend quality time with our families. We can’t do so if it's filled with junk.