16 Clever Ways to Use Furniture for Living Room Storage

Dresser

Seating area with green cabinets — Annie Schlechter

Dressers are typically found in bedrooms, but they can also work as storage furniture in living rooms. Fill the drawers with things you frequently use like books, movies, kids' toys, games, or electronics. If space is tight, a dresser can even serve as a TV stand that keeps all your entertainment necessities close at hand.

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Desk

Tuck a desk into a corner of your living room to create a functional home office space that doubles as storage. Choose a unit with drawers or cabinets so you can easily conceal items like pens and notepads. If you don't have a free wall or set of windows where you can position the desk, try sliding it up against the back of your sofa.

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Tiered Coffee Table

Living room with rug, fireplace, and coffee table — David A Land

While the surface of a coffee table offers plenty of function, this furniture piece can be even more useful when you choose a tiered model. Stack books and magazines on the shelf below and use baskets or trays to corral smaller items. Reserve decorative items, such as candles and floral arrangements, for the top shelf to add style to your room.

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Console Table

living room with sectional and sofa table two ceiling fans — James Nathan Schroder

Console tables are chic storage furniture options and often feature a slim profile that works well for sliding behind the sofa or against a wall. You can line up baskets or bins beneath it for additional storage. Plus, console tables come in all sizes, so you'll be able to choose a piece that's the perfect fit for your space.

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Storage Hutch

black chalk finish hutch — Adam Albright

Hutches, pie safes, cabinets, and armoires are timeless storage furniture additions for formal or traditional living rooms. These handsome pieces bring substance to a space while providing plenty of storage for organizing necessities. Plus, hutches are ideal for stocking items best kept out of sight, such as extra throws or entertainment gear.

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Bar Cart

A stocked bar cart can provide extra living room storage and ensure you're ready to entertain. Sort bottles, glassware, serving utensils, and other cocktail fixings with trays or baskets. Incorporate closed storage so you can easily conceal miscellaneous items in a hurry.

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Console Cabinet

Consider a console cabinet an essential piece of storage furniture for living rooms in an open floor plan. It's slightly larger than a console table and offers more behind-closed-doors space. Position one behind a sofa that "floats" in the middle of a room to provide a spot for lamps to illuminate the seating space, plus plenty of storage and a surface for placing drinks.

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Storage Bench

Pack two functions into one with a storage bench. A cushion on top provides a place to sit, while cubbies below can be used for books or bins full of toys, games, or crafts supplies. Place this living room storage furniture next to a window for an easy DIY window seat loaded with function.

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Built-In Shelves

Invest in built-ins to give your living room an architectural presence and a more organized appearance. For example, frame a doorway with shelves, or consider cabinetry around a fireplace. Built-in bookshelves work especially well for families with an extensive library of books or a large collection of decorative items to display.

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Nesting Tables

nesting coffee tables — Greg Scheidemann

Nesting tables, which usually come in sets of two or three, stack together but can be pulled out for extra tabletops. Ideal for small rooms, they take up less floor space but still offer room for storage. This living room features two nesting coffee tables that can be expanded to fit a larger group.

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Storage Ottoman

Available in various shapes, styles, and sizes, ottomans are a flexible storage furniture option that brings organization and function to your living room. Choose a design with a lid that lifts to reveal a roomy storage compartment ready to store anything, including blankets and gaming equipment. For added functionality, upgrade your ottoman with casters for mobile organization.

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Shelving Unit

Shelving units can bring eye-catching attention to an area of your living room while also storing and displaying your wares. This geometric shelf, for example, has shelves that dip down for added visual interest. An iron frame keeps it sturdy.

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Entertainment Center

Plan the storage furniture for your living room around movies, music, or books if those are your family's interests. This entertainment center was made for storing vinyl records, and it keeps a collection of albums in line. Entertainment centers come in all sorts of sizes and shapes, so you're guaranteed to find one that fits your home's needs.

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Coffee Table with Drawers

Drawers stacked beneath the top of a coffee table can conceal all sorts of items, such as board games, remotes, and magazines. Because these furniture pieces tend to be bulky, they work best in larger living rooms. Consider your family's needs before buying storage furniture. You want to make sure that the drawer measurements will work for the items you need to store.

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Skirted Table

Turn a simple table into hidden storage with the addition of a skirt. For a DIY version, cut and hem a piece of fabric to size, then place hook-and-loop tape around the top edge of the table and attach the skirt. Slide storage bins or carts beneath the table to boost living room organization.

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Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are perfect for stashing smaller items and displaying accessories. These shelves also help visually divide the space and break up a blank wall. Try hanging a set in an unexpected spot. Here, it's adjacent to a fireplace. Even though there are only two shelves here, the placement creates a third opening perfect for stashing firewood.

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