DIY Home Organization: Living Room Hacks

Last Updated on August 21, 2024

By Stephanie Hyland, Storage.com

Here at Storage.com, we want to help people get their homes organized and clean, whether through the use of self-storage or helpful online tips and hacks that you can try yourself.

When it comes to storage space, there’s one thing that everyone can agree on: there’s never enough! In high-traffic areas of your home, such as your living room, you want to make sure that you have enough space for your everyday items. However, you don’t want to lose too much of your living space to items that can quickly turn into clutter. Here are ten hacks that can create more space in your living room.

1. A PLANT LOVER’S DIY HANGING TERRARIUM.

Just because you’re a little short on space doesn’t mean you have to give up on your green thumb. Instead of keeping your favorite plants on your side tables, consider using a DIY hanging terrarium to free up some table space in your living room. Not only will you still be able to indulge your gardener’s heart, you’ll also create a one-of-a-kind indoor garden you can enjoy.

hanging terrarium
via Adventures in Cooking

2. TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS WITH A DIY BLANKET LADDER.

Who doesn’t love to cuddle up with a blanket on the couch? Everyone has their favorite blanket, which means the pile can grow pretty big when they aren’t being used. Create the perfect spot for your favorite throw in your living room where they’re out of the way: a DIY blanket ladder.

blankets on repurposed ladder
via The Tale of an Ugly House

3. RETHINK YOUR COFFEE TABLE.

A coffee table is a feature that’s typically found in many living room arrangements. However, with most of these tables being in the middle of the room, they can easily obstruct walkways or take up too much living space. Consider creating a DIY coffee table that can fit behind your couch. Not only is it out of the high-traffic areas of the room, but you can also store your favorite books, TV remotes, game controllers, and even blankets if you create a table that has cubby space inside.

coffee table behind couch
via Young House Love

4. DIY SPOOL SIDE TABLES DO DOUBLE DUTY.

If you’re looking for the perfect side table that would add some organization to your living room, consider creating a DIY side table that can do more than just hold your drink coasters. You can upcycle materials, like a cable spool, and create a dual purpose for your everyday storage needs.

Books on spool side table
via Pink Stitches

5. A MULTI-PURPOSE DIY WINDOW BENCH.

If you have a rather small living room, you want to make sure that the furniture that you have serves a number of purposes. With comfort and storage at the top of that list, make a DIY window bench that’s also the perfect place to store everyday items.

Pillows on window bench
via Mommy Vignettes

6. THE PERFECT DIY TV CONSOLE.

If a large coffee table isn’t your style, create a DIY TV console that can house a variety of everyday items that would otherwise create clutter on your furniture or floor. This type of organization can easily store books, magazines, and electronics. This streamline storage option also allows all of your favorite items to be put away nice and neat, but still in sight.

TV and books on console
via iHeart Organizing

7. CREATE A DIY TOY CHEST.

For families who have little ones, tripping over toys can be a daily occurrence if there’s not a designated spot for the toys to be stored. By setting aside a DIY toy basket in the living room, parents can save their toes and decrease the amount of clutter that can happen when you have a family to entertain.

toy basket with toys
via Organized by Kelly

8. THIS DIY PEG BOARD IS A HOLE IN ONE.

If you would rather not have a basket for a toy box or other small items, create a DIY peg board that would hold only your favorites or most used items. Make it your own by using a fun paint color or stain. This would also be a great place to keep your car keys in order to avoid those rushed moments of looking under every couch cushion because you can’t remember where you put them.

peg board with pegged items
via Shanty 2 Chic

9. STORE GAMES IN EASY DIY JARS.

Does your family enjoy a weekly game night in the living room? If your family members are avid game lovers, you more than likely have a big collection of games and puzzles. However, those boxes and bags can take up a lot of room, so instead of stacking them in the corner of your living room, turn the smaller games and dice into decor by storing them in DIY game jars. Not only are your favorite games accessible, they also make for unique living room decor.

game pieces in jars
via Apartment Therapy

10. USE DIY FLOATING SHELVES ON OPEN WALLS.

Do you have some white space on either side of your fireplace that’s not being utilized? By building and installing a few DIY floating shelves in that space, it can create a tool that’s not only functional for your living room, but also nice to look at. This is a great way to showcase a few of your favorite photos and knickknacks.

shelves on wall
via Shanty 2 Chic

What are some of your DIY living room hacks? Let us know in the comments!

Stephanie Hyland often writes blog posts about how storage units can not only benefit those who are moving to a new city, but also those of us who are traveling, going to college, or just looking for a way to alleviate some of the clutter within our home. When she is not writing for Storage.com, she likes spending time with her husband and playing with their two dogs.