5 Tricks to Eliminate Living Room Clutter in Under an Hour

Tired of having a messy and disorganized living room? We can help! Here are 5 tricks to getting rid of living room clutter in less than an hour. Thank us later!

It’s been a long time coming …

You always said you were going to tackle the living room and get it in order, and now you’re finally ready. No more waiting. You’re going to do it right now.

Today.

Don’t waste your precious time trying to figure out how to get started. We’ve done all the work for you by compiling this list!

Read these six tricks to eliminate living room clutter in under an hour and get to work. You’re burning daylight here!

1. Remove Items That Belong in Other Rooms

First thing’s first. You have to return everything to its proper place.

Living rooms tend to become a catch-all for everything under the sun. Throwing things on the couch or tables is all well and good until it sits there for two weeks.

Eventually, those belongings start to pile up into a mound of unsightly clutter.

To fix this little problem, find a box or laundry basket big enough to accommodate the objects camping out in your living room.

Do a lap around the room and pick up anything that doesn’t belong. Throw in all those toys, shoes, dishes, and loose change lying around. Make sure you check under the couch cushions.

Take a second lap if you think you need it. You don’t want to miss anything.

Once all the intruders have been escorted from your living room and sent back to their proper homes, things will already look a lot better.

2. Clear the Tables

Nothing clutters up a room faster than a lack of clean surface areas.

Take a look at your tables now …

How much stuff do you have piled up on your coffee table? What about the end tables? Can you see any part of the surface?

The truth is, you probably don’t need those five books you have stacked next to the couch all at the same time. And there’s more than likely a better place for your laptop.

It’s time to start clearing out everything that isn’t necessary.

Of course, you need your lamps and remotes. You don’t have to remove everything from the tabletops. That would just be silly.

But you do need to put away the things that don’t serve a vital role in your living room. Clean surface areas are the key to making a room feel less crowded.

A Note About Remotes

If you find yourself drowning in the various remotes — for your Apple TV, Fire TV, sound system, cable, etc. — it may be time for a change.

Imagine the fantasy land of only having to deal with one remote …

Well, it may not be such a pipe dream after all. A universal remote can do the job of all your remotes.

If you’re serious about decluttering, it’s well worth the money.

3. Store Excess Out of Sight

Sometimes it’s impossible to get rid of certain things. These are the items you need every once in a while, spare bits and pieces that have no real home.

The best thing to do with excess is to get it out of sight in the most stylish way you can manage. That way, you’ll have a nice piece of decor and less unsightly clutter.

Wicker baskets with lids are a good option for storing things away.

They look nice sitting beneath an end table or in a corner, much better than a bunch of random stuff lying around.

You can choose any kind of container you prefer that coordinates with your living room. Make sure it has a lid, too, or else you’ll just have a box of junk sitting off to the side. That would hardly solve your problem.

Enclosed storage is also great for sealing away clutter.

An entertainment center with doors and drawers is incredibly functional while also keeping your living room nice and tidy. You can store and hide away your gaming systems, games, and movies, no problem.

4. Use the Six Month Rule

This is a tough one. No one likes to get rid of things. We are a sentimental species, and we tend to hold onto stuff way longer than necessary.

But it’s time to let go.

This is really simple, I promise. You’re going to feel so much better when you get it done and see how much nicer your living room looks without the extra clutter.

Start pulling stuff out. Go one shelf at a time or take it down all at once. You want to grab your electronics, books, movies, and anything else stored away.

Now, ask yourself this question about every single item:

Have I used this in the last six months?

Obviously, this isn’t a foolproof technique. People keep books that they haven’t read in years. Favorite movies stick around for lifetimes. And those nicknacks from your Aunt Susan look really nice sitting on your mantel.

But if you can live without it, if you never look at it, or you forgot you owned it entirely, it’s probably time to donate it or throw it away.

5. Organize Those Crazy Cords

The entertainment center is often the focal point of a living room. But it’s easy for them to become horribly crowded.

A big issue with entertainment centers is the cords attached to every single thing. They just sit there, somehow get tangled, and look a mess.

I know you don’t want to — but it’s time to organize them.

Getting those pesky cords in order is a big step to decluttering your entertainment center. Not only will you keep them nice and neat, but it’s going to look a lot better too.

Tie back longer cords, or consider switching them out for shorter versions. Keep them all concealed behind your entertainment center so they stay out of sight.

You can even tuck cords inside a container that matches your living room to make everything look a little more put together.

Now you don’t have to be constantly reminded of them every time you sit down to binge your favorite TV show.

Bonus Tip: Enlist Help!

It’s a thankless job, but someone’s gotta do it.

However, you don’t have to do it alone!

If you really want to get things done fast, consider dragging your family and friends into your decluttering project. Give everyone a different task and watch the magic happen.

Everything’s better when you do it together!

So, what are you waiting for?

You know the tricks. You’ve got the time. Why are you still sitting here reading this?

No more excuses!

Put these six tricks to good use and enjoy your newly decluttered living room!

Author Bio: 

Ryan Sundling is a Group Marketing Manager at Cardinal Group Management. He has over ten years of experience in the student housing industry and works with Dwell the Towers on a daily basis to help them with their marketing efforts.