Managing Clutter In Messy Living Rooms – 5 Simple Strategies That Work


5 organizational strategies for a clutter-free living room – If you struggle to maintain an organized and clutter-free living room, these tips are for YOU.

Let’s talk clutter SOLUTIONS for your living room and continue this series to help you get organized in every room of your messy house.

5 Simple Ways To Manage The Clutter In Your Messy Living Room

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Is your living room constantly invaded by clutter, courtesy of your husband and kids? You’re not alone!

Managing clutter in a messy living room can be a real challenge, but with the right strategies, you can regain control and create a space that feels calm and inviting – and NOT a space you’re embarrassed to let anyone see!

Organizational Strategies To Try

Let me share 5 effective little strategies I use to maintain an organized and clutter-free living room in my home.

While these aren’t exactly organizational ‘secrets’, they really work for ME. Hopefully, they will help you as well.

5 simple tips for managing clutter in your messy living room

Use Decorative Storage Or a Drop Zone

Does everything just get DROPPED in your living room?

At any given moment (especially at the end of the day) my living room accumulates everything from backpacks to shoes to random toys and whatever-the-heck came in the house that day.

Think about creating a drop zone or a designated basket for each family member to corral their belongings. Not only does this declutter the space, but it also makes it easier for everyone to find their stuff when they need it.

Or, let’s be honest – makes it easier for YOU to find THEIR stuff (we moms are AWESOME, right?!!?)

 This smaller basket is perfect for smaller clutter…I Found It Here We use a BIG basket like this for blankets and stuff…I Found It Here

 

Create A Toy Storage System

Next, let’s talk about the never-ending battle against toys. It’s like they multiply when you’re not looking!

After you’ve decluttered the toys, try implementing a “one in, one out” rule.

For every new toy that comes into the living room, have a current toy go BACK to their room. Or have a specific basket ONLY for living room toys – and only toys that fit IN the basket can stay in the living room.

Hey, I get it – the living room is the LIVING room – it’s where the family hangs together – so of COURSE your kids will have toys in there.

But putting a limit on how MANY toys is really important to keep things from getting out of hand.

Hence, the toy basket idea – Not only does the basket make it easier to clean up toys, but it also keeps toy clutter out of sight.

 This toy basket is the perfect size – and it’s pretty…I Found It Here Or a toy storage box with a lid REALLY helps hide the clutter…I Found It Here

 

Create a Designated Charging Station

Ah, all the electronics… and ALL the chargers and charging cords. Sheesh! One of the best things I did in this house was to get a big ol’ central charging station for ALL the things to be plugged into each night.

We have a routine of putting the house to bed each night, and charging all the things in the charging station area is one of the few quick tasks we do.

 This charging station charges ALL the electronic things…I Found It Here And this charging station charges and HIDES all the things…I Found It Here

 

I can’t talked about a messy living room without mentioning the infamous TV remote (or, in our case, remoteS – seems EVERYTHING has its own remote control these days).

My solution was to get a remote control organizer that sits on an end table closest to the most common sitting spot (ie, the hubby’s recliner haha!).

This not only helps to keep the remotes in one place, but it gives all the remotes a “home” so…. yep, everything has a “place”

Remember our mantra: A place for everything and everything in its place!

Try A Digital Organization System

When it comes to **managing paper clutter**, a simple filing system or paper drop spot can work wonders.

Designate a specific spot for incoming mail, school papers, and important documents.

The only tricky part of this is making SURE you regularly sort through and file or recycle papers to prevent stacks from piling up.

And finally, let’s address the “stuff without a home.” You know, those random items that seem to float around with no designated spot.

Those are going to be the items that are the biggest challenge when trying to keep your living room neat and clutter-free.

If those items MUST stay IN the living room (things like throw blankets), give a thought to investing in pretty storage baskets or something similar to give all those odds and ends a home.

If they really don’t belong IN the living room, get them OUT of there and put them where they DO go.

 This storage bench is multipurpose – a place to PUT stuff and a place to sit…I Found It Here Don’t ignore affordable storage furniture pieces to tame the clutter…I Found It Here

 

A living room is MUCH easier to clean – and KEEP clean – when the only items to clean up are things that belong IN the living room.

Remember, managing clutter is an ongoing process. It’s okay to have a little mess now and then – after all, a lived-in home is a happy home!

Just keep implementing these tips and tricks, and soon you’ll have a living room that feels cozy and clutter-free.

And hey, if all else fails, just remember that a little mess adds character to the space – or at least that’s what we tell ourselves, right?

✅  Recommended:

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(image above links to a LOT of declutter challenge printables, cleaning schedules and MUCH more!)


My House Was a MESS!
And my anxiety was through the roof!

I needed a plan to get it together - it was all pushing me over the edge.

Thing is - we LIVE here... I never had the fantasy that my home would ever look "Pinterest perfect".

I simply wanted more control, less clutter and much less anxiety.

I finally found something that worked for ME.
  • My house is now easier to clean - I can now clean it in minutes, instead of hours.
  • I can now actually FIND the things I'm looking for.
  • I learned some simple decluttering systems that make me much more efficient every day - and I'm more relaxed and less overwhelmed all the time (finally)
  • My house now looks pretty darn good almost all the time.
  • Best of all - I no longer stress about guests unexpectedly showing up.
Turns out, it was so much easier to do than I ever expected.

This is how I did it.




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