Hi Reader,
My living room is the first room people see when they walk in. It's also the room my family actually lives in + my little gentleman's playroom. We have one room with three functions: hosting, living, and playing. And for this season of my life, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Toys. Blankets. Stuffies. 2 remotes that my little gentleman thinks are his. The most comfortable sectional couch that's perfect for watching The Voice and a coffee table my husband made with his pal that I envision one day having a beautiful coffee table book and decor; but for now is full of puzzles and toddler books.
So, how do I stay calm in the midst of toddler chaos? Good storage that does the heavy lifting so we can reset the room in 15 minutes.
That's the whole secret. When the everyday stuff has a beautiful place to disappear into, the room looks calm even when life is loud and messy. You can go from "please don't look over there" to "come on in" in about 15 minutes. ...and you can do anything for 15 minutes!
The living room earns that effort more than almost any room. It's where everyone lands at the end of the day. Where guests sit. Where we laugh, cry and dance to our own beat. So, today I'm sharing the three pieces that carry the load in my own living room. One cabinet, and two baskets I reach for constantly.
The Cabinet That Hides It All
Our living room cabinet is the Casement from Crate & Barrel. Ours is the blue one. The black is just as pretty, and it would slip quietly into almost any room.
Here's what lives inside it: our games, photo albums, CDs, DVDs, and my handsome cowboy's records. Yes, I know. All of these things are now digital, but I'm old school and so there they are, an organization project for another day. (Although, my CDs are stored in these CD bins from Ikea.) All the things I want close by and absolutely do not want to look at every single day. One door closes and the whole media-and-game situation simply vanishes.
The Crate & Barrel Casement cabinet (black)
If you'd like something similar at a friendlier price, this storage cabinet on Amazon is close to ours in feel. Closed doors, clean lines, and a modern feel.
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WINWY 71" Tall Arched Display Cabinet with Glass Doors, 5-Tier Bookshelf
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Baskets!
...because not everything needs a door.
Baskets are the workhorses of a living room. They corral without hiding, so the pretty-but-messy things (blankets, toys, the magazines you actually read) look intentional instead of abandoned.
I use two kinds in my home: rectangle and round.
- Rectangle baskets for shelves, inside the cabinet or a nearby closet, to group the little stuff so it stays grouped.
- Round baskets for throw blankets, toys, or balls or whatever makes sense for you.
That's it! A cabinet that works in your home + baskets. Not a renovation. Nothing crazy. A few simple items that help create a room that holds your real life and still lets you breathe.
One more, hot off my own cart. I just ordered these bins for my son's toys, some for the living room and some for his bedroom. Toys are the one thing in this house that multiply overnight, so they get a home of their own. I'll report back once they're in and we've put them to work.
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StorageWorks Wicker Storage Basket, Water Hyacinth Basket for Or...
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★★★★★ 4.6
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$39.99
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Buy on Amazon
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Best Choice Products Round Storage Basket w/Handles, Handwoven W...
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$79.99
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Buy on Amazon
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BUBUSUN Storage Baskets for Shelves, 3 Pack Woven Cotton Rope Ba...
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$30.99
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Buy on Amazon
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Beauty is the icing, not the foundation
A beautiful living room is lovely, but it isn't the whole point. It's also a room that works for your real family, resets in minutes, and is ready when company comes. Beauty is the icing. A place to put things is the foundation. Get the function right and then you'll be able to see the beauty.
Happy Halloween
And since Halloween is this Saturday, consider this your permission slip to get the living room company-ready before the doorbell starts ringing. Candy bowl out, blankets in the basket, games behind the door. Happy Halloween from my home to yours. 🎃
What are you going to be for Halloween? Enjoy the magic.
Hit reply and let me know. Though I may not have time to reply, I read every response. ...and I'd also love to know if your enjoying the content of this newsletter. I'm starting to find a rhythm with it where the last week of the month I offer product recommendations. Do you like that? Is that valuable to you? What else would you like to read about on a weekly basis? THANK YOU!
Be Extraordinary,
P.S. A couple of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small amount at no cost to you. So tiny in fact, I still haven't received one check from Amazon. Lol. I only share things I actually use and recommend to clients.
ADD A LITTLE BEAUTY TO YOUR LIFE
My faith-based organizing book and 6-week guide to a calmer, more peaceful home. 380 copies sold of the book and audiobook combined! It will guide you in getting your home organized and creating that calm, peaceful sanctuary you've always dreamed of. The book also comes with LOTS of digital organizing FREEBIES. Get your copy today!
Boutique, luxury organizing services for busy moms. I do travel!
3. Listen to a Podcast!
🎧 This week: "How Clearing Your Physical Clutter Helps You Hear God's Voice" on #12minconvos with Engel Jones. A good listen while you reset the living room. Listen here.
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A few questions you might have...
How do I keep my living room clean when I have kids? Give the everyday stuff a home it can disappear into. A closed cabinet hides games, media and photo albums, and a basket or two catches blankets and toys. Then a quick 15-minute reset at night keeps it from building. Closed storage does the work so you don't have to stay on top of it every hour.
What do you store in a living room storage cabinet? The things you want close but not on display. In mine: board games, photo albums, CDs, DVDs and records. Chargers, remotes, kids' craft supplies and spare blankets all work too. The rule is simple. If you reach for it in the living room, it can live in the living room, just behind a door.
How do I organize a whole room without feeling overwhelmed? I use my G.R.A.C.E. Method: Gather like with like, Release what you don't use, Acquire only the storage the keepers actually need, Cultivate by giving every item a home, and Enjoy the calm. One room at a time, and every single thing ends up with a place to belong.
Can a professional organizer help with just one room? Yes, and the living room is a wonderful place to start, since it's the room you and your guests see most. I work with busy moms on a single space or a whole home, in person or virtually. We build it around how your family actually lives, so it holds long after I leave. You can book a quick call to talk it through.
