7 signs you have too much stuff in your living room – and how to 'instantly' make this space feel more organized
Get the family room back in action with these quick decluttering tips


It doesn't take much for clutter to build up in a living room – a few extra books on the coffee table, a couple of trinkets on the mantel, and an extra blanket for cozy Spring evenings.
Add in other family members and their belongings, and it can go from being streamlined to cluttered in a matter of days.
We've asked our panel of professional organizers for their top tips on things to declutter in a living room when you feel there's too much stuff.
Signs you have too much stuff in your living room
1. You can't find things
Living room storage should be easy to navigate, whether its shelving, storage furniture, or tables.
How many times have we all misplaced the TV remote? I've certainly lost count – and that's without mentioning the favorite book that slips down the side of the couch or the in-law's reading glasses hidden under a blanket.
When finding these essential items becomes a recurring problem, it may be time to employ some decluttering tips, particularly focusing on decluttering accumulation pieces.
Preston Konrad, designer, lifestyle expert, and founder of Preston Lane says, 'When your couch or chairs start doubling as storage, it’s a sign you need better systems. I love incorporating hidden storage ideas like ottomans or coffee tables with compartments. They keep the essentials like extra blankets or remotes out of sight but still accessible.'
This sofa arm organizer from Walmart offers you a place to slot TV remotes, glasses, pens, chargers, and books so nothing gets lost in your living room again.
2. Walls look 'busy'
Having some blank space on the walls lets your eyes rest, preventing your living room from becoming overstimulating.
It's not just about what sits on the floor, it's about your walls too. Too many family photos or pieces of artwork can look cluttered if too close together. Similarly, lots of paintings with bold designs and patterns can be overpowering. Not every wall should have something on it.
Courtney Cummings, owner of The Stylish Organizer advises, 'Don’t forget to assess your wall space. While you might think it is great to showcase 20 small family photos on one wall, think about limiting your gallery to a few large pieces and rotate them out when new family photos are taken.
'This way your family’s faces are still radiating joy into your room, but in a more intentional and curated way. It’s okay to embrace some empty wall space – your brain will thank you,' she adds.
It is also worth noting that, while ornate frames can be beautiful, they too can add to visual overload if used often in a small space. Whether gallery wall frames should match or not can depend on your style, but it can help reduce the visual clutter.
You can buy sets of gallery wall frames from Etsy, to make decorating with artwork easier.
3. You can't see the floor
Leaving visible sections of floor isn't just important to navigating the space – it can help the room look larger, too.
When you can't see the floor or are constantly tripping over things, it's a big sign there's an issue.
It's easily done – especially if your living room is small. Preston explains, 'A cluttered floor can make a space feel chaotic. If things are always underfoot, it usually means they don’t have a dedicated home. I always recommend large woven baskets for things like throw blankets, toys, or books. They look stylish and instantly make a space feel more organized.'
Audra N George, CEO and owner at Pretty Neat: An Organizational Solution adds, 'When a space feels cramped like there is no room to breathe, have walking space, or just relax then lessen the size of the furniture and what is stored in the area to simplify the overall feel and look of the living room.'
With your floor clear, you can then consider investing in some smart home cleaning tools, such as the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro, available at Amazon, which our head of Solved Punteha Van Terheyden gave five stars. She loved that it cleaned and emptied itself, and mopped and vacuumed her floors, minimizing the time she spent on chores, even in a household with children and pets.
Below we've sourced our top three buys that will help you to see your floor again.
This tall woven storage basket is available in three styles and two sizes, and are perfect for storing blankets and extra throw pillows out of the way in your living room.
Spacious interior
This stylish storage ottoman doubles as a coffee table or side table, with a sturdy wooden top that can support up to 300lbs of weigh.
Console tables work brilliantly in living rooms especially narrow designs – place it behind a couch where it can act as a touch of secret storage. Or, if you have a spare wall use it there and make a feature of it with a table lamp and vase or plant. This design has tapered legs and a narrow top, making it ideal for being useful whilst being inconspicuous,.
4. Too many toys and games
Using storage at children's height can encourage them to tidy their own toys up after playtime.
It's quite likely that toys creep into the living room, especially during weekends and over the holidays. To keep this in check and organize a living room, consider integrating designated storage solutions to keep them hidden away during the evenings and when guests are over.
Courtney suggests, 'If, after your initial decluttering, you still find yourself with a few too many things, use the trick of closed storage to give your brain a break. Toys and board games are great in closed baskets and bins, positioned out of walkways, but still in reach when you need them.'
When organizing a home with kids in mind, keep storage on their level, to help them tidy up on their own.
This handy storage unit offers shelves for books and décor, and lower concealed storage for toy storage that children can easily reach.
Two sizes
Keep toys hidden but easy to access by using simple pull out baskets on existing living room shelving.
Three colors
Don't fight against toys laying around your home, keep them where you children use them using lidded storage baskets to keep them playing and feed their imagination.
5. Your living room is visually overwhelming
Having lots of empty space for your eyes to rest can prevent your living room from feeling overwhelming, reducing stress and anxiety.
If you walk into your living room ideas, take one look, and walk back out again, then it's time to rethink.
Preston says, 'I'm a huge fan of a curated space, but it's so easy for a living room to become cluttered – especially when it's the heart of the home. The key is balancing style with function so that everything has a place without feeling overwhelming.
'If your walls, shelves, and surfaces feel overcrowded, try editing down your décor. I love keeping sentimental items, but not everything needs to be displayed at once. Rotating pieces seasonally can make a big impact.'
To reduce visual clutter in a living room, invest in a couple of matching cabinets with generous shelving that gives you more practical storage.
A storage shelf with half closed, half open storage offers you should display space while providing some hidden storage to keep essentials while minimizing visual clutter.
6. Your family are avoiding the living room
Your living room should be a hub for relaxing and enjoying time with family. If the mess makes it impossible, it may be time to declutter as a group.
Audra explains, 'If your family are actively avoiding the space, it can be a sign that the space is difficult to relax in and doesn't feel usable. Declutter and simplify for more space or reconsider the choices in furniture – get things that fit your family lifestyle now.'
This could be down to the color scheme, the furniture – including sofa arranging mistakes – and how cluttered it feels. It's important for a living room to feel right, it should be cozy and relaxing but not cramped.
If your room is filled with a huge sectional and not much else, then downsize. Consider seating that suits, such as a smaller sectional that has storage, a side table that has a shelf, and an occasional chair or two.
Look for a couch or sectional that has storage too, this design has an ottoman with a seat that lifts up, ideal for blankets and extra couch pillows. This smaller design will add comfort without taking up a huge amount of space. It is also available in five colors.
When you want to improve the flow of a room then choose round over square. Pop this side table at the end of the couch or occasional chair and use for a table lamp on top and book storage below. The design will work in both classic and modern schemes.
Make a statement with this bold orange accent chair. The upholstered seat is filled with high-density high-quality foam making it a comfy seat for reading and watching TV in. The upholstery is 100% linen and sits on a solid wood frame, available in 11 colors.
7. You can't see the top of your coffee table
A coffee table can display some coffee table books, or some interesting art, but there should always be space for you to put down a drink.
Easy to overload, it's easy to make the common coffee table mistake of over-styling. If yours has disappeared under a pile of books, blankets, and general clutter then that's a sign you have too much stuff in your living room.
Preston says, 'Coffee tables tend to become dumping grounds for mail, magazines, and random objects. A simple trick is using trays to create defined spaces – one for decorative items like candles or books, and one for functional things like coasters or remotes. It keeps the table looking styled rather than cluttered.'
Made from burlap glazed ceramic, this simple storage tray can corral common living room clutter without making it look overwhelming, for a neater looking coffee table.
A spacious and sturdy tray, the Liesl Tray is both functional and beautiful. The woven mendong grass construction lends a casual and organic detail to any corner of the home.
These Speckled Ceramic Coasters add character and warmth to a table setting. Each coaster is handmade from stoneware with a speckled glaze, protecting your surfaces while elevating your tabletop decor.
Meet the experts

Preston Konrad is the co-founder of Preston Lane, a plant-powered, non-toxic home fragrance and cleaning product company. He's also a lifestyle expert, creative director and TV personality based out of New York.

Courtney Cummings is the founder and owner of The Stylish Organizer, a professional organizing business based in Dayton, Ohio. Whether working on her own home or helping her clients discover the same calm and beauty in theirs, she crafts every detail with an eye for design and function.

Audra is owner and professional organizer at Pretty Neat: An Organization Solution in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It's a professional organizing company that serves the unorganized, the overwhelmed, and the busy family. Audra's favorite product is a Lazy Susan, for the sheer functionality that they embody.
You don't have to declutter alone. Encouraging your family to declutter can make it quicker and easier while reducing your mental load. It is the best way to make a living room more relaxing.
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Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 20 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time, both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor for indie magazine, 91, she trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched Flowers Inside My Head where she curates beautiful flowers for modern weddings and events. For Homes & Gardens, she writes features about interior design – and is known for having an eye for a beautiful room.
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