Build In Storage to Get the Most From Your Living Room
Whether you're looking for a place to stash a few books, or are more interested in a colourful display space, this will give you some ideas
Built-in storage is good news in any part of the house, but in the living room it needs to do more than offer practical, stash-it-all space. This is a busy, public part of the home, after all, so any storage must work hard, looking great as well as offering a home for DVDs or the Xbox console.
Luckily, creative solutions abound. These spaces show what an asset clever storage can be, helping to keep a living room tidy, but also contributing to its aesthetic; providing display space for those pieces you want to enjoy, and a home for those you prefer to hide.
Luckily, creative solutions abound. These spaces show what an asset clever storage can be, helping to keep a living room tidy, but also contributing to its aesthetic; providing display space for those pieces you want to enjoy, and a home for those you prefer to hide.
Update tradition
Building storage into chimney alcoves is tried and trusted, but the storage in this beautiful living space updates the traditional approach. It avoids the usual design of shelving above and cupboards below. Instead, shelves painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Blue Black’ stretch floor to ceiling, creating a discreet space for the TV which, thanks to the dark colour, almost disappears when not switched on.
The shelves were also designed to sit proud of the chimney breast, providing deep storage and framing the fireplace beautifully.
Building storage into chimney alcoves is tried and trusted, but the storage in this beautiful living space updates the traditional approach. It avoids the usual design of shelving above and cupboards below. Instead, shelves painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Blue Black’ stretch floor to ceiling, creating a discreet space for the TV which, thanks to the dark colour, almost disappears when not switched on.
The shelves were also designed to sit proud of the chimney breast, providing deep storage and framing the fireplace beautifully.
Say it loud
Adding colour takes built-in storage to a whole new level, moving it beyond the practical and picking it out as a fun, exciting feature of a living space. Here, a rainbow of shades has been used to liven up the various shelves and cupboards in this wall of units, brilliantly giving it the ‘wow’ factor.
Adding colour takes built-in storage to a whole new level, moving it beyond the practical and picking it out as a fun, exciting feature of a living space. Here, a rainbow of shades has been used to liven up the various shelves and cupboards in this wall of units, brilliantly giving it the ‘wow’ factor.
Tuck in a book
This built-in window seat offers a place to sit and read, but also open storage for books beneath.
This built-in window seat offers a place to sit and read, but also open storage for books beneath.
Rise above it
Mounting a wood-burning stove on a simple, built-in brick structure solves the problem of how to store logs and kindling neatly. The open cavities in the design create room for stacking logs or tucking in a basket. It’s a streamlined, space-efficient option.
Mounting a wood-burning stove on a simple, built-in brick structure solves the problem of how to store logs and kindling neatly. The open cavities in the design create room for stacking logs or tucking in a basket. It’s a streamlined, space-efficient option.
Cut out and cover
This alcove storage has been cleverly designed with a cut-out section for the TV screen. Below, the key consoles and pieces of tech are neatly stowed, but the doors also open to reveal further storage …
This alcove storage has been cleverly designed with a cut-out section for the TV screen. Below, the key consoles and pieces of tech are neatly stowed, but the doors also open to reveal further storage …
… Alongside the screen, there’s useful space for books and ornaments, so this alcove looks equally appealing when open. When closed, the textured wallpaper lining the doors creates interest.
Think big
Floor-to-ceiling storage is much-used in bedrooms, but it works equally well in a living space. Using panels, tongue-and-groove or textured materials prevents the doors looking dull when shut …
Floor-to-ceiling storage is much-used in bedrooms, but it works equally well in a living space. Using panels, tongue-and-groove or textured materials prevents the doors looking dull when shut …
… When open, this bank of storage reveals log baskets, a TV and tech. There’s even space for a neat home office, with a slim desk and stool.
How to squeeze in a home office
How to squeeze in a home office
Combine seating and storage
Where space is tight, creative storage can perform multiple tasks to squeeze maximum functionality from a limited footprint. In this tiny cottage, simple built-in sofas hug the walls, providing both ample seating and storage, which is concealed beneath the cushion pads.
Where space is tight, creative storage can perform multiple tasks to squeeze maximum functionality from a limited footprint. In this tiny cottage, simple built-in sofas hug the walls, providing both ample seating and storage, which is concealed beneath the cushion pads.
Hide and seek
Depending on the depth of a chimney breast and its flue, there may be space to build shelves in above the fireplace, but if you don’t want to lose this surface for displaying art or hanging a mirror, consider doing both! This home has a gorgeous painting over the fire. So far, so normal… Behind, though, shallow shelves for books are neatly built in.
Depending on the depth of a chimney breast and its flue, there may be space to build shelves in above the fireplace, but if you don’t want to lose this surface for displaying art or hanging a mirror, consider doing both! This home has a gorgeous painting over the fire. So far, so normal… Behind, though, shallow shelves for books are neatly built in.
Exploit underused space
This beautiful shelving is probably no more than 500 millimetres or so deep, so it barely eats into the room’s overall space. Nevertheless, it provides a wall of storage, interest and colour, turning what might otherwise be a completely plain, unremarkable surface into a thing of beauty.
Continuing the shelving above the door is a clever touch that makes use of every scrap of space. It also gives this wall a more sleek, designed feel, steering it away from looking simply like two bookcases either side of the door.
TELL US
Do you have any tips for creating clever storage in a living space? Share them in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more living room ideas
This beautiful shelving is probably no more than 500 millimetres or so deep, so it barely eats into the room’s overall space. Nevertheless, it provides a wall of storage, interest and colour, turning what might otherwise be a completely plain, unremarkable surface into a thing of beauty.
Continuing the shelving above the door is a clever touch that makes use of every scrap of space. It also gives this wall a more sleek, designed feel, steering it away from looking simply like two bookcases either side of the door.
TELL US
Do you have any tips for creating clever storage in a living space? Share them in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more living room ideas
Knocking two rooms into one can create a spacious living area, but it can be tricky to give a purpose to all this open space, and one side can become rather underused.
Solve this problem by building in bookcases and even adding a ladder to create a library feel at one end, successfully zoning an open-plan living room, as well as creating masses of useful shelf and cupboard space.
See 11 book lovers’ reading spaces