The family room is where we come together at the end of the day to unwind. Family rooms are where kids plop down after school or soccer practice, where toddlers drag their toys, where board games are played, and movie nights are held. It’s a known fact that family rooms become a bit of a drop zone. It can be hard to sit back and relax with the day’s clutter surrounding you on the coffee table, end tables, and at your feet. Having good storage systems in place for the items that tend to land on your family room surfaces makes it easier for the whole family to pitch in to keep the space tidy. Maintaining a neat space makes it so much more relaxing to kick back after a long day. Find inspiration and shop my favorite products for solving all your family room storage struggles.
blankets + throws
A nice throw coordinating with the colors of your space looks great tossed over the back of a couch or chair, but more than one and your space will start to look messy. Use a large basket to contain extra blankets and throws. If you want to show off your quilts or blankets use a wire bin—this can also be a way to give your family room a pop of color. Opt for a fabric or wicker bin if you’d like to conceal the color or if you want an easier cleanup—just toss them in and the space looks tidy.
How often are you summoned to the family room to help search for a lost remote? How often have you plopped down on the couch ready to cue up Netflix only to realize the remote is no where in sight? Use a shallow basket or tray on the coffee table as a landing place for remotes. Add in a succulent or decorative piece to make the whole display look purposeful and functional.
In a world of online shopping and digital media, there’s really very little need for magazines and catalogs, but there’s something I enjoy about having them around. Sometimes picking up a book or starting a show is just too big of a time commitment, and flipping through Real Simple or the Restoration Hardware catalog is the perfect escape. Use a small basket to keep your collection contained. Each time you get a new catalog or magazine toss the old one out—even if you did’t look at it! Who cares what was cool last month anyway? You’ll never have an overabundance, just the most current publications.
Bookcases and shelving obviously work great for storing books, but not every family room has this space. If you do, align books from largest to shortest, or vice versa, keeping the largest books against the wall. Alternate standing books upright and making neat stacks to give your shelves visual appeal. I prefer to keep the look of my family room light and neutral, so I show the bindings of my white and gray books while turning others backwards to maintain the neutral color palette. Similarly, you could choose to display the bindings of books that will bring your desired pop of color into the space.
If your family room isn’t adorned with bookcases or you’re looking to create a uniform look on your shelving, use baskets and bins to store your—or your kids’—books. The baskets and bins can be displayed on a shelf, within a console table, or even on the coffee table.
If you’re not using your family room as a space to display your book collection, I still recommended a small stack on the coffee table or end table. These can be coffee table books, your favorites, or just books in your ‘to read’ pile. A small display of books makes a great decorative piece while adding a little coziness to the space.
Display books in a way that is functional, looks great, and fits your personal style. If you’d like more tips about decorating with books, check out my post How to Style Shelves.
movies + CDs
First, go through your collection of movies and CD’s and get rid of any you know you’ll never watch or listen to again. Since we stream most of our media, we have eliminated all CDs from our home and greatly reduced the number of DVDs. Store the remaining items in an attractive album, bin, or basket to help them blend in with the decor of your home. This provides a way to conceal the entertainment clutter while creating a nice display on a console table, entertainment center, or even on open shelving.
It’s challenging to have a well-kept space that remains practical and functional for your family. It may seem ideal to toss all the kids toys in a closet or playroom, but you know that’s not a lasting solution. Before long those toys and games will make their way back into the family room. Create a space in your main living area that is family friendly. I use some cabinet space in our built-ins to house our Legos and games, but I also have wicker storage ottomans to conceal a portion of our toys. Choose storage ottomans or benches that coordinate with the decor of your space while concealing the toy clutter. The kids will be happy to have a stash of toys in the main living area, and you’ll be happy cleanup is quick and easy.
Always choose bins or baskets that fit in with the decor of your home. Wicker, wood, and metal are fairly neutral and fit in well with most decorative styles. Fabric bins can be a little trickier, you’ll want to ensure you have a good match with the existing fabrics in the room.
Having a designated space for items around the home makes it easier for the whole family to help keep the space tidy. Be sure to discuss any new storage methods with other members of the family so everyone knows where things belong.
Family room furniture—entertainment centers, console tables, bookcases, built-ins, coffee tables, and end tables—typically offer great built-in storage options to conceal clutter while keeping the space functional. Bins and baskets will help to keep your things well organized, even if they are concealed behind cabinet doors.
Want help creating functional storage solutions for your home?