The living room is often one of the most versatile rooms in the home. A place where guests can gather and socialize. This is where we read books and watch TV at night. Sometimes, it can be where you work from home. Because this room serves so many purposes, it can quickly become cluttered with extra items that are misplaced or stored carelessly. This messy, overcrowded look can ultimately detract from the living room’s main purpose: a relaxing and inviting space. So, if you want your living room to look more simple and purposeful, turn to a minimalist approach. To get some advice on editing down, we asked several professional organizers and designers what minimalists would never put in their living rooms.
lots of framed photos
We’d never tell you to get rid of your favorite framed family photos, but if you want your living room to look less busy, organizing your collection is a good idea.
“If you’re a minimalist like me, all of my living spaces are curated,” says Ashley La Fond, founder of home organization company Of Space & Mind. “You’ll never find a ton of photo frames.”
Carol Appelbaum, founder of Luxury Pro Organizer, agrees that you won’t see personalized picture frames covering the shelves or walls of a minimalist living room. “Too much decoration can make a room feel cluttered and defeat its original purpose,” she says. Of course, you don’t have to get rid of all your precious family photos. Simply organize your collection and showcase your favorites.
pile of mail
“A minimalist living room is more than just a place for piles of mail and clutter. It’s about keeping things tidy and stress-free,” says Jenny, a certified professional organizer. says Dietch. Therefore, instead of leaving things on the coffee table or living room console, try to get into the habit of putting things away as soon as you enter the house. “Open your mail, file it the same day, and put your keys, glasses, wallet, etc. in their place as soon as you get home,” Deitch says. “It’s much easier to get rid of one thing now than to deal with a pile of things later.”
extra unnecessary furniture
You may love a cute side table or decorative stool, but think twice before adding extra furniture to your living room that doesn’t have a clear purpose.
“Another big no-no[in a minimalist living room]is unnecessary furniture,” says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Jensen & Company Interiors. “Things that serve little or no functional purpose, such as extra side tables or plain ottomans, are often excluded.”
Interior designer and home stager Shirin Sarikani agrees, adding that a minimalist living room is also likely to be free of oversized entertainment units and bulky furniture that take up unnecessary space.
visible cables and wires
Visible cables and wires can quickly make a room look cluttered and chaotic. Salikhani says that in a minimalist living room, there would be no cables, wires, visible cell phone chargers or power strips. Cord storage boxes and cable clips come in handy.
small decorations and accessories
“In general, minimalists tend to avoid things that can create a lot of visual noise in a space,” says David Hurless, director of operations at storage service Stor-It. “The first thing that comes to mind is all kinds of additional decorations, like little knick-knacks.
If you’re going for a more minimalist look, you can reserve decorative accessories, Jensen explains. “Putting a book or a vase of flowers on your coffee table can bring visual interest to a space without looking cluttered,” she says.
excess blankets and pillows
Speaking of visual noise, cozy blankets and pillows can quickly clutter the look of your living room. “I’m all about coziness, and too many[blankets and pillows]can make a space look cluttered,” says La Fond.
“We like to have nice blankets and pillows in the living room, but it’s important that they have a place to stay when they’re not in use,” she added. “Adding a basket to store your blankets makes for a nice display so you don’t have to keep them draped over the couch.”
Items not used in the living room
Another key to a minimalist living room is that everything in the living room should have meaning for the room itself. “While you’re in the living room, you won’t find anything unnecessary in the living room,” says La Fond. “I’m very bullish on having a place where things make sense and can be used.” That means even if you have a spacious storage console in your living room, there’s no room for seasonal decorations or extra items. This is not a place to store office supplies. Instead, use it for books you might read in the living room and any remote controls or electronic devices you use in that space.