How to Declutter and Organize Your Den and Living Room

Both the den and living room are two rooms in our homes that see plenty of activity on a daily basis. Families get together to relax and pass their time together in these rooms, so it really doesn't take long for either to quickly become cluttered and messy. Fortunately it also doesn't take long to keep both of these areas neat and organized while still allowing the rooms to be livable.

The first step is deciding what actually belongs in the room, and what is just taking up precious space. Most dens, family rooms, and living rooms are where the entertainment items are kept, such as the video game systems, stereos, and of course the VCR or DVD players. An all-in-one unit or entertainment center that has room for the television and all the peripherals keeps everything in one location, but they also take up quite a bit of space, and can be rather expensive. If you don't have the room or resources to have one, large piece of storage furniture, try a few smaller, portable pieces instead.

For storing movies, tapes, video games, DVDs, and CDs, select from one of the numerous types of storage units that range from the simple rack, to the elaborate cabinet that will complement any type of décor. Some storage units are made from wood and are free-standing, while others can be mounted on the wall like a shelf to free up floor space. Closets usually have at least one shelf on top that can be divided to store items such as movies and music, keeping them orderly and in one place.

Designate a small corner of the room, or dole out small baskets in different colors for each child to store some of their commonly used toys. Inform them that the only toys they're allowed to keep in the living room are those that will fit neatly inside the box or container. Of course they can exchange toys as they wish, but they all must fit inside their own box in order to be kept in the room.

It's inevitable that newspapers, magazines, and catalogs will begin to accumulate on all of the tables. Invest in a small magazine rack that sits out of the way, either between pieces of furniture or up against a wall for a permanent home for all of these commonly used items that easily clutter up a room. On a monthly basis, go through the rack and discard everything that's outdated or no longer needed.

As the room's name implies, the living room is for living in, so while we don't want to create a place where we can't feel comfortable, we still want a neat and orderly environment that's conducive to relaxation.