Good living room storage is essential, particularly if you live in a small space, but it can oftentimes be difficult to source functional storage pieces that also complement your aesthetic and don’t detract from a well-designed room.
Here, three interior designers weigh in with useful, actionable tips on how to make your living room storage pieces look expensive. You’re just a few steps away from a more practical, elevated-looking living space.
Think Modular and Streamlined
In many homes and apartments, the living room doubles as an entryway of sorts and is where families store their day-to-day shoes and the like. Elissa Hall, the founder of EDH Interiors, recommends opting for modular and streamlined storage solutions here.
“Switching from an open shoe rack to one that has closed compartments creates a cleaner look,” she says.
Once you’ve done so, take things a step further by switching out the knobs on a big box store shoe storage system and installing ones that better suit your design style, Hall adds. You can easily source affordable and stylish-looking knobs on Amazon.
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Elevate Your Baskets
For families with young children, living rooms often double as play areas, even if there is a designated playroom located elsewhere in the house. Rather than taking the simple route and opting for clear bins to hold dolls, games, and more, think about ways that you can make corralling toys appear a bit more pleasant.
Hall suggests saying no to plastic toy storage bins and going with textured baskets instead. This solution will create a high-end look with design intention behind it, she says. You can always label each bin to make it easier to keep items sorted by category.
Skip Furniture Sets
When purchasing closed storage for the living room, it can be tempting to order a bunch of pieces all at once from one singular retailer in order to check this task off of your list. However, if you desire an expensive-looking living space, make an effort to steer clear of matching furniture sets. Instead, take your time to source a variety of pieces with personality, Heidi Tate, the founder of Tate Interiors, suggests.
“Mixing materials and styles—like a sleek modern credenza paired with a vintage mirror—creates a layered, high-end look that feels personal,” she says.
Facebook Marketplace can be an excellent resource for tracking down special yet budget-friendly vintage finds that no one else on your street will have in your living room.
Add Art
Don’t let a corner of your living room become completely overwhelmed by a storage piece. A great way to distract from a more functional setup is by adding some purely decorative flair, Tate explains.
“A carefully chosen piece can transform a storage area into a true focal point,” she says.
Whether you source a beautiful original piece at a flea market or even DIY your own abstract canvas, you can’t go wrong, as long as you select a piece that complements your color scheme and design style.
Take Your Own Style Approach
Think a bit outside the box and don’t aim to be so literal when choosing furniture pieces for your living room, Julieta Alvarez, the founder of Julieta Alvarez Interiors, encourages.
She advises skipping mass-produced coffee tables from inexpensive vendors and opting for something more attractive. Alvarez recommends opting for a high-quality and non-trendy coffee table that can withstand the test of time and has stylish baskets underneath like rattan or felt bins.
“This would not only add storage but it can add some much-needed texture to a space,” Alvarez says.
Weave in Some Accessories
Don’t let your open storage turn solely functional. Alvarez suggests bringing in some decorative accessories to break things up and will often turn to Etsy in search of one-of-a-kind, eye-catching pieces.
Some of her favorite items to search for on the site and display on shelves include bone inlay boxes, vintage brass accessories, marble chains and bowls, and the like.
