How to organize your living space

By Dorcas Muga-Odumbe

Many homes have beautiful furniture and accessories. But one challenge that every homeowner faces is how to organise. No matter how spacious your home is, it always seems small. By taking a few simple steps, you can make it more comfortable.

• Wastebasket sounds weird for a living room since many people feel that they are not attractive, and they can smell. So what do you do if trash tends to accumulate in the room? Ensure your wastebasket fits the room décor. Get one with a lid and if you are afraid that food will be thrown into it. Cut down on clutter.

• Play zone: Create a play zone if toys are taking over your living room. Unused corners in the living room can be transformed into great play areas since the walls will block any encroaching clutter. Corners are also good areas to put a small bookshelf or children's table. Ensure you also place some bins for toy storage, and encourage your children to pick up once they are done playing.

• All flat surfaces should be clutter-free: Piles of papers, books, and magazines tend to accumulate on flat surfaces all over the house. The reality is that the living room is often more cluttered because it is the central gathering place in the house. A cabinet with drawers would be ideal for all your paper work. A basket would also be an ideal and beautiful way to store your magazines.

• Designate a game area: A game cabinet for board games and cards would be ideal if your family likes to play games — the cabinet is both fun and functional. While most games like play station are usually placed in a TV cabinet, designating a separate space for them, whether in another cabinet or a bookshelf. Creating a single game space will free up other areas of the room for storage.

• Your coffee table could function better if you reassess its organisational capacity. Coffee tables that are beautiful but lack storage for magazines or remote control are a bit difficult to work with. If you own such, add low storage containers, baskets or bins to keep under the table.

• The space behind the sofa also matters. Here you can keep your extra throw blankets, pillows and candles, among other objects. It is actually a great place to put a trunk, cabinet or low bookshelf to help with your organisational needs. It can also give you another surface to put a lamp or show off some treasured items.

• Display your photos in a creative way. If you have many small photo frames cluttered all over the living room, how about taking control by displaying them differently? Photo albums and collage frames are great options for storing many photos at once. You do not always have to display your photos on mantel or side tables; you can also use the vertical space on the wall.