Make a house a home…

[Ponylovingmum]

Hi all,
Just looking for ideas/inspo/experience on how you’ve managed to organise storage for dd’s toys etc. in a small living room.
Everything always seems to end up cluttered and too much everywhere! I don’t think there is too much room in here but it always seems there is!
no where to store coats, shoes, etc. as main door opens straight into the Living Room.
How do you choose your design for maximum use?! Is it worth getting an interior designer, or something if the sort?!
Help/advice of any kind welcome as I’m struggling to see a way out🙈

Is there any scope at all to use something like a Kallax as a dual-purpose storage unit and divider between the front door and living room?

Otherwise, you need to make sure that every piece of furniture also has a storage function: sofa and beds with ottomans if and when you can afford to replace, or wheeled storage boxes underneath; trunk-style coffee table; TV unit like pictured Kallax etc.
You can also potentially look to build drawers or boxes into the treads of the staircase, as pictured.

And, get into a routine of taking coats and shoes upstairs to wardrobes when you come in.

We stored most toys in ikea boxes in the bedroom but had one in the living room. Change it around.
Could you use an under stairs cupboard for storing coats and shoes?

Can you post a floor plan?

build as much vertical storage as you can. The cube storage systems are great for this because you can keep everything separate and the cubes are very spacious and you can get lightweight boxes so children can put their own toys away.

I find in a small space you have to be very strict with what you keep and what you keep out. So first make sure you’ve decluttered as much as possible, and then only keep out the things you’re using. My friend’s front door opens straight into the living room. They have a small coat stand in the corner but strictly only keep their current season coats on it so there’s never more than 3 coats hanging in the living room.