Pro organizers share 7 winter storage tips for living rooms
When the seasons change, so do our needs and how we use our homes. Living rooms have to work much harder as we tend to hunker down in this space more, especially when it’s cold, or when guests visit and stay.
With it being the hub of the home during the holiday season, a living room’s winter storage solutions come to the fore. Clutter can quickly accumulate with extra blankets, logs for the fire, board games for evening fun, books for cozy moments and candles for extra ambience.
Each of these elements takes up space, and in a good way. There’s nothing lovelier than transforming your space for the upcoming seasonal shift, all you need is some perfect winter living room storage solutions and advice on what you’ll need.
1. First up, pack away summer
(Image credit: Studio McGee)
Before you start deciding what kind of winter storage you need for living room, it’s best to have a quick declutter from summer and fall. It might be that you swap out your drapes for winter weight designs and pack away summery couch pillows, lightweight blankets and rugs.
Audra N George, owner and pro-organizer at Pretty Neat agrees, ‘Pack away summer decor, lightweight fabrics, and brighter colors and adjust your surroundings to fall and winter decor and functional items like heavier winter blankets and softer wool pillows.’
She recommends rotating decor and decluttering during seasonal shifts, adding, ‘This is a great time to go through all of your items and decide what you no longer want or what you need more of. This is a must when going in between seasons so you are prepared when you begin to decorate.’
Keep these key pieces dust free and dry by storing them in Walmart’s anti dust large storage bags or Amazon’s vacuum storage bags that would be ideal for drapes and lightweight blankets.
2. Invest in closed storage
(Image credit: Divine Savages)
As much as we all love open shelving and glazed units, to keep a clutter free visual look consider closed storage. ‘Incorporate furniture that can store heavier blankets, family games, and seasonal items,’ says Audra.
Elissa Hall, lead designer at Awning and founder of EDH Interiors agrees, ‘For winter storage in the living room, flexibility and layered storage approaches work best. One effective solution is using closed storage.’
Sideboards are prefect for this, not only do they have a combination of drawers and shelving, but you can use the top surface for a table lamp, trays for nibbles if you have guests, or holiday displays and they work brilliantly in living rooms.
Brooklyn Sideboard with Metal Legs and Brown Handles
Built to last, this sideboard has a brown acacia wood finish and rustic black metal hardware. There are two cupboards each with two shelves and in the middle you’ll find three drawers. Its narrow depth makes it a good choice for smaller living rooms.
Jodie Mid-Century Modern Sideboard, Charcoal Gray
A stylish addition if you love a retro feel, this sideboard has adjustable shelves which is perfect when you need to store large items. The ribbed drawers and doors are right on trend too. It also comes in maple and white washed oak.
Wallace Cane and Oak Sideboard
This is a beautiful piece that’s on trend and timeless at the same time. With a caned oak veneer finish and wooden glides on the drawers this sideboard is high quality. Inside there’s plenty of storage for blankets and couch pillows, and you can keep board games and candles in the drawers.
3. The humble side table
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Side tables are a useful piece of furniture, especially if they have a shelf or drawers. Slimline and stylish, they are definitely worth it for smaller storage pieces.
‘Side tables with shelves or drawers offer a discreet space to store books, chargers, and other winter essentials that might otherwise clutter a room,’ says Elissa.
Target’s Wilson mid-century modern round end table comes with a bottom shelf, and can hold a table lamp and candle easily on top with room for books or magazines below.
4. The forever useful coffee table
(Image credit: Kara Childress Inc / Julie Soefer)
Coffee tables can be statement pieces or purely functional, with some style of course but essentially they can be a focal point if you have the space. They are also extremely good for storage, if you pick a design that has a practical element. What’s great about them is that you can use an ottoman to double up as a coffee table too.
‘Look for coffee tables with extra storage compartments, and ottomans that can open up to store blankets or toys,’ says Ana Coddington, lead interior designer at Archival Designs.
Samantha Bryan, owner and founder of Decorganize It adds, ‘They provide extra seating or serve as a coffee table while secretly storing cozy essentials like extra blankets, winter hats, gloves, and scarves. Look for multi-functional pieces that fit the color scheme of your living room for a seamless blend of style and storage.’
We’ve sourced our top three ottomans and coffee tables that have great storage potential below.
Peral Velvet Ottoman, Olive Green Velvet
If you want to keep what you’re storing concealed then opt for a closed storage design. This plush ottoman will keep essentials hidden whilst acting as a stool and coffee table. Finished with a luxurious velvet in lush green.
Elemental Layers Coffee Table, Bronze
With a marble top and oak bottom shelf, this coffee table is super smart and stylish – and also practical. Round coffee tables help the eye to flow around the room and prevent bumps. This design has shelf underneath that’s great for books, board games and for hiding things like charges (in the middle) and you could even fold up a blanket under this one.
Orden Upholstered Ottoman, Charcoal
Rectangular designs are great for living rooms that have a smaller space in front of the couch. With a weather wood finish and charcoal button backed top, this ottoman has a shelf underneath that’s ideal for spare couch pillows piled up.
5. Utilize your walls
(Image credit: Forge & Bow / Arris Photography)
Keeping the floor free from clutter is always essential, and during the holiday season that can happen with gifts, trees and extra decorations.
Clear down your living room shelving from the previous seasons pieces and use it for winter accessories instead. Ana advises, ‘Wall shelves are a great way to create more space in your living room, especially if you’re hosting parties or have kids running around.
‘Shelves keep things off the floor and out of the way, so your living room feels more open and organized. They can hold everything from books to holiday decor, giving your space a clean, clutter-free look while adding some stylish storage.’
Couch pillows and neatly folded up blankets look great on chunky shelves, the key is to keep them looking tidy and not to make ‘open shelving’ mistakes. Candlesticks can also be stored on them.
Storageworks Underbed Storage Box, Ivory White, Medium, 2 Pack
Store extra throws or blankets under your sofas in neat storage boxes such as these. They’re easy to pull out and the viewing window on top helps you find what you’re looking for quickly.
6. Baskets in different sizes
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Perhaps one of the most versatile of storage pieces, the basket suits any room and in a living room for winter storage it’s perfect – think log baskets for starters!
Victoria Holly, founder of LA based Victoria Holly Interiors, uses them in living rooms, ‘I always love to use large, woven baskets for holding cozy items like throws or even firewood. They’re great for keeping these extra items while also adding to the design of the room. Keep one next to the sofa or fireplace to keep everything within reach.’
We like the Will & Atlas jute baskets from Nordstrom, they come with handles which makes them easy to carry around, whatever you have stored in them.
Samantha has a great idea for baskets, ‘I recommend labeling (check out Amazon’s basket clip on labels) so it’s easy to grab what you need, especially when it’s time for a cozy movie night or gathering with guests.’
7. Use a console table behind the couch
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Console tables are really useful, not only do they add height to your table lamps and displays, but are slim enough to sit behind a couch.
Some come with a shelf underneath too, so they have a double storage purpose.
‘These pieces are super practical and help keep your living room organized by tucking away extra stuff, so your space feels clutter-free and ready for whatever the season brings,’ says Ana.
Target’s Gretna narrow console table in natural has a modern design and comes with a shelf.
Meet our experts
Audra is the owner and pro-organizer at Pretty Neat: An Organization Solution in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It’s are a professional organizing company that serves the unorganized, the overwhelmed, and the busy family.
Elissa Hall is the lead designer at Awning and founder of EDH Interiors. At EDH Interiors, Elissa unites creative vision and design strategy to create beautiful interior environments that help clients maximize their most valuable investments – their homes.
Ana is an experienced residential design professional with over 10 years of industry expertise. She has bilingual proficiency (EN/SP) and in-depth knowledge of building codes (IRC), and is skilled in design consultations, CAD software, and space planning.
As a professional organizer with over 10 years of experience, I’m passionate about helping individuals and families declutter their spaces and create systems that enhance productivity and peace of mind.
Victoria Holly of Victoria Holly Interiors is a Los Angeles-based interior designer with nearly two decades of experience. Renowned for her artistic skill and meticulous attention to detail, she creates warm, inviting interiors across the United States and internationally.
Swap out your lighter accessories to free up space, and then see what you might want for the winter months.
Bulkier items like couch pillows and blankets will need larger storage solutions.
Also layer your textiles and that includes what you choose for your storage – embrace wool, rattan and felt.
Next, learn how to make your living room storage ideas look more expensive.
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