Would you describe your living room as functional, or has it been feeling a bit dysfunctional and all over the place lately? Whether you have introduced a new item to your living room or you have simply grown tired of the design and flow – you have the control to change this.
Creating a more functional living room is going to make life a lot easier, as you can just sink into the couch and relax, without having to shuffle around the space and just make it work. It’s not as easy as repositioning the coffee table, but it’s time you won’t regret investing. Now, take a seat in your living room and get ready to think differently because we are going to get to the root of this living room functionality and come out the other side with a space you actually want to spend time in.
Establish what the function of the room is and eradicate everything else
Every household will have a different purpose for their living room, and you have to clearly define yours so that you can exclude all other items and clutter that has wound up there. A typical living room is a place for a family to connect, be entertained and entertain others – and what is how we are going to set the function of the room.
If your living room also doubles as a place of work, then contain those working materials to an area of the room, and if you don’t work here then remove any chargers, work bags or unnecessary items. This also means no laundry hanging under the heater, no shoes occupying space on the floor and no clothes that have been cast on the couch! Your living space has a purpose, and anything that doesn’t meet that purpose will have to be rehomed somewhere else in the house.
Storage
Now if your answer to the above is that your living room only holds essential items but that can’t seem to fit it all cohesively – then you might actually be facing a storage problem. Smart storage is truly the hero of any household, and you no longer have to suffer unsightly plastic containers to contain all your required bits and pieces. A better option is to use furniture that doubles as a storage solution, which complies with our rule of keeping your living room clutter-free.
You might consider choosing a new TV unit that doubles as a storage solution, rather than having a pile of folded blankets on your couch or on the floor getting in the way. There are also couches and chairs that can be pulled a certain way to reveal storage below, so if you are already in the market for new furniture make sure these functions form part of the criteria.
Go vertical
Have you ever stopped to consider the orientation of the furniture and features in your living room? If you are like most people, you have too many horizontal items that occupy a lot of prime real estate in your living room and make things feel a little tight. A more functional option is to choose vertical items as they can still deliver the same impact but use far less floor space. You won’t be able to achieve this absolutely, as your couch is obviously going to be horizontal – but get creative in thinking about how you can make this space just as function but without feeling like you need to squeeze into the room.
Understanding what your living room is used for, bringing in some storage solutions and changing the orientation of the items in your living room is going to make an enormous impact on the function of the space. Remember to have fun with this refresh and don’t be afraid to ask for advice and buy-in from your friends and others living in the house!
Photo by Vecislavas Popa from Pexels
