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You are here: Home / Living Room Organization Ideas / How to Organize A Living Room on A Budget

By Carrie Ypma on September 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

How to Organize A Living Room on A Budget

Living Room Organization Ideas

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10 Genius Ideas to Organize Your Living Room on a Budget, a metal side chair next to a basket containing a pillow and blanket
10 Easy Ways to Organize Your Living Room on a Budget, a wooden console table with two small planters, a notebook and a throw pillow

You really can have a super organized living room without spending a ton. Read on and learn some dollar store hacks and cheap ideas so you can organize a living room on a budget.

No matter what kind of home you live in – apartment, condo, trailer, or a large house – chances are you probably don’t want to spend a ton on organizing your living room.

Even though, you know it’s worth it. It’s so nice to know exactly where everything goes! It makes tidying up a breeze. And it sure makes you feel so much less overwhelmed and stressed out.

How to Organize Your Living Room on a Budget, a tan leather couch with two pillows and a throw blanket

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through links in this post, we may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Organize Your Living Room on a Budget

There are some really easy ways to create an organized and impressive living room without spending a bunch of money.

This post will show you 10 super easy ways to organize your entire living room on the cheap. You’ll barely spend any money at all.

Whether you have a small living room or a really large one, every single idea will help you revamp your space and give you more storage than you knew you had.

The perfect companion to this guide is our Take Back Control book. Download this book and go through each room of your home and create a calm and organized area that brings you peace and joy!

How to Organize Your Living Room Cheap

These tips are for you. You’ll discover some organizing hacks that will save you a ton of money at the store. Plus, your living room will look as stunning as if it came right out of a magazine.

10 Cheap Ways to Organize Your Living Room, a wooden console table with two small planters, a notebook and a throw pillow

Read on and learn how to find a place for everything you own and keep your living room picked up and ready for company.

1. Use Dollar Store Containers

The first place you want to look when you are trying to organize your living room on a budget is the dollar store. They have so many baskets, fabric bins, and organizer trays.

If you already have a bookshelf, invest in their inexpensive fabric bins. One tip: If you buy large baskets or bins, create smaller spaces inside of it. You can do this either with cardboard or smaller trays/boxes.

You want to avoid just throwing a bunch of things into a basket and creating a junk drawer situation.

If you don’t have a bookshelf, you can create one for less than $10. This video shows you how to make a vertical shelf out of plastic baskets. It’s so easy even beginners can do it.

2. Repurpose And Upcycle Items

Next, find ways to repurpose and reuse items around your house. Anything can be used for storage if you think creatively.

Cheap Tip: Buy scrapbook paper and washi tape when it goes on sale at the craft store. Then, you can decorate plain boxes to match.

When you have shelves and boxes that all match and complement each other, you can’t even tell what they were before.

This photo below is a perfect example. The blue and yellow colors are so striking when placed around the shelves.

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Love this stylish cubbie!! #storageideas #organization #organized #tidy

A post shared by Emily Selecky (@emilyselecky) on Mar 12, 2019 at 1:15pm PDT

3. Minimize

It’s no secret – when you keep less stuff in your living room it’s easier to keep clean and it looks spotless too.

Make sure every single item you keep in your living room has a purpose and a place in which it belongs.

If you are having trouble putting everything away, then consider the fact that you might own too much.

View this post on Instagram

It’s week 5 of The Home Organization Challenge. This week, we are decluttering and organizing the Living room. Are you participating? #abfolchallenge #abowlfulloflemons #livingroom #livingroomorganization #frenchfarmhouse #Ikea #restorationhardware #potterybarn

A post shared by Toni Hammersley (@abowlfulloflemons) on Feb 3, 2019 at 5:20pm PST

4. label everything

Another habit of professional organizers is to label all the baskets and bins. Labels keep everything looking uniform and tidy.

It’s easy to label things and stay within your budget. Here are some cheap ways to label things:

  • Handwrite the labels – Use tags and handwrite the name of the contents in the basket or bin.
  • Print them – Use your printer and tape them to the basket.
  • Chalk labels – These are fun and you handwrite them so they can be reused.
  • Use Stickers – You can usually find stickers at any craft store pretty inexpensively when they go on sale. Set up a system so you know what each sticker means.

The Homes I Have Made has a really thorough list that you can reference with even more label ideas.

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After! Enjoy your new space, Shapiro family! It was a joy working with you! @papay21 #playroomorganization #livingroomorganization #bins #labels

A post shared by Katie Donohue (@placed.katie.donohue) on Dec 18, 2015 at 9:14pm PST

5. Shop the sales

This next tip goes without saying, but shop those sales. Keep an eye on craft stores and discount stores like Home Goods.

There are so many things you can repurpose and use as storage that will look decorative at the same time.

That’s another secret. Make your living room decor work double-time as storage too.

This photo is a perfect example. On the coffee table, you can see a decorative box. It is so beautiful it works as decor. But inside it could be storing room fragrance, chargers, extra batteries, or even mail-writing supplies.

Decorative storage boxes are also very easy to make and customize to your own home decor. This easy tutorial on how to make a decorative storage box shows how you can have one finished in just minutes.

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Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make, makes you. Love me a clean house! ✨ Shop your screenshot of this pic with the LIKEtoKNOW.it app http://liketk.it/2Dzqi @liketoknow.it #liketkit #LTKhome

A post shared by L u d a L i t v i n o v (@ludaasolnishko) on Jul 21, 2019 at 2:49pm PDT

6. Have a swap with friends

Get together with your friends and family and everyone bring a home organizing tool and have a swap.

You can take this time to discuss your current organizing frustrations and get some help from them too.

This is a fantastic way to trade something that isn’t working in your living room for something that does – without spending a dime.

View this post on Instagram

Give me all of the slow summer days please. Warm and sunny with a side of when can I start relaxing?

A post shared by Christina Fluegge (@greigedesign) on Jul 9, 2019 at 7:18am PDT

7. be choosy with furniture

Next, when you are buying furniture, always pick out the pieces that have the most storage capabilities.

The favorite of home designers and organizing experts is the storage ottoman. As you can see in the picture slideshow below, it can store so many toys, and you can’t even tell when it’s sitting in the middle of the floor.

Also, keep an eye out for coffee tables with multiple levels and end tables with drawers. These all give you the extra storage you’ll need.

By using furniture as storage, you will save money because you won’t be buying extra baskets or tubs.

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A family of 5 enjoy spending time together in this comfy and cozy family room. Deep seated sofas allow everyone to flop and enjoy watching TV. Storing blankets is made easy with the storage ottoman which doubles as a foot rest. The leather recliner supplies a separate spot to read of simply throw your feet up and enjoy some TV time. #newperspectivedesign #angiegardeck #pamguido #chicagounteriordesign #chicagointeriordesigners #familyroomdecor #familyroom #brickfireplace #storageottoman #scones #leatherrecliner #popsofteal

A post shared by New Perspective Design (@newperspectiveinteriordesign) on Aug 10, 2020 at 5:06am PDT

8. Hang up shelves

You will be surprised at how much extra storage you gain by adding shelves.

This can be done super cheap too. All you need is some wood and brackets and maybe some stain.

Look for used bookshelves. People like to buy them and then don’t want to take them along when they move, so they practically give them away. Check out these tips from a professional organizer on how to use vertical space.

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Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to store things we utilize often, but don’t necessarily want displayed. A common question I get asked is about electronics and electrical equipment- where can I store it where I don’t have to see it?? This is an example of some shelves in my living room that hide ALL THE THINGS! I’ve labeled the picture to give you an idea of what’s inside- organized, accessible, AND pretty ? Organizing doesn’t mean throwing out all of your possessions- it’s more important to find everyday solutions for the items you need to keep! #joyfulheartorganizing #livingroomshelves #storingelectricalitems #professional-organizing

A post shared by Joyful Heart Organizing (@joyfulheartorganizing) on Jan 9, 2019 at 12:47pm PST

9. Hang things from the ceiling

Here at Clutter Keeper®, we are huge fans of hanging things up. Blame our Deluxe Hanging Gift Wrap Organizer, but we know how much room it saves!

All you need to hang things from the ceiling is some twine and baskets. This tutorial from Kenarry shows you how to do macrame that will hold plants. You can take this tutorial and modify it to hold other things too, such as boxes of pens, remotes, or extra batteries.

Make sure that if you put office supplies in the macrame hanger, to use a decorative box so it blends in as home decor.

DIY hanging planter out of macrame

10. Use decorative trays for remotes

Finally, decorative trays are a super popular addition to coffee tables in the living room. You can use it to keep your remotes in one place, store drink coasters, and add a touch of flair with a succulent.

In fact, you can create your own tray on the cheap. This tutorial shows you some simple steps.

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Never loose the remote again! I like to use a tray to keep the remotes and coasters contained. I've also added a candle & succulent to jazz it up and a pop of color. The tray and succulent are from @amazonhome and the coasters are from @pier1 #remotecontrolstorage #coffeetable #remotes #tray #organized #organization #organizedlife #livingroomorganization #coasters #organizedhome #neat #tidy #homedecor

A post shared by Nicole Lemcke (@organized.by.nicole) on Jun 18, 2019 at 3:37pm PDT

Don’t Spend a lot on an Organized Living Room

All in all, an organized living room is possible and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on every organizational product you see. Look around your house and see what you already own and how it can be used in a more effective way. Chances are, you have everything you need already.

Struggling to get motivated? Sign up to get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!

More Living Room Organization Tips

While you are organizing your living room, here are some more tips, ideas, photos, and guides. You’ll have an orderly and tidy living room that is easy to maintain.

  • Living Room Organization – Your Complete Guide
  • 15 Small Living Room Ideas
  • A Room by Room Organization Guide for Your Home
Budget Friendly Ways to Organize Your Living Room, the back side of a leather couch with a blanket across the back of it.
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About Carrie Ypma

Carrie is the CEO and editor-in-chief of Clutter Keeper®, which she owns with her husband, Kent. Their two small boys give her plenty of opportunities to try out the latest organization methods and trends at their home in Michigan. She’s an optimist by nature who makes plans and to do lists in her sleep. She also loves helping guests plan vacations at Sunshine Villa at Glenbrook Resort, their short term vacation rental home in Orlando near Walt Disney World. When she’s not working on Clutter Keeper®, you’ll find her over at her blog, Ideas for the Home by Kenarry™ sharing recipes, trying new craft ideas, planning for parties and events as well as organizing, decorating and creating DIY projects for her home and family.

You can follow Carrie on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Or connect with her on any of our Clutter Keeper® social media channels: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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