Rooms Living Room Decorating and Design Do This, Not That: Family Room Storage Straighten your family room—and give it an upscale look— with storage strategies that conceal electronics, games, and toys. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on May 19, 2016 Share Tweet Pin Email Do trade out a standard coffee table for a flip-top ottoman that can store blankets, throws, and extra pillows near the sofa. Then place a large tray on top of the ottoman to corral reading material and hold drinks when needed. Family-Friendly Living Room Ideas Not That: Limit your Storage Don't choose a coffee table with limited storage. Living rooms tend to collect extra stuff -- the last thing you need is nowhere to store it. Do This: Optimize Shelving Do employ decorative bins and baskets to group toys and games. Opt for containers without lids for items that are used often, and stick with a simple color scheme when choosing storage containers. It will create a sophisticated and cohesive look for your living space. Not That: Misuse Space Don't waste the coveted shelving of built-in cabinets only for decorative items or fill cabinets with disorganized clutter. Try to create rhyme and reason by combining storage with function. Do This: Have a Home for Everything Do add organizers to the top of your console table to create a handy drop zone for phones, writing utensils, or daily mail. Place large baskets under the console table to make use of otherwise wasted space. Give each person his or her own labeled basket to ensure items are organized and easy to find. Not That: Fill the Room with Unused Items Don't bother with extra furniture and accessories you'll never use. If one lamp sufficiently lights a space, it's pair doesn't need to be nearby and extra seating can be unnecessary and cumbersome. Do This: Disguise Storage Do store out-of-season or infrequently used items near the ceiling to maximize storage space. Also, consider choosing a media cabinet with doors and drawers that can hide the TV and other electronic equipment when they're not in use. Not That: Create More Work For Yourself Don't put decorative items up high. They'll be difficult to dust and a challenge to see. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit