5 items a small living room really doesn’t need, according to professional organisers – declutter them now to maximise space and minimise mess

After a long day, there’s nothing quite like watching TV on the sofa or just hanging out with your loved ones. But if you’re anything like me, you probably can’t relax if your living room is a mess. And because living rooms are used so often, they seem to become magnets for clutter.

Of course, most of us want to be like people with consistently tidy living rooms, but the reality is that smaller lounges are constantly losing the battle against clutter. That’s because these cosier living rooms often don’t have enough space to maintain the levels of tidiness and organisation they require. And once they get messy, it’s easy to simply let them get messier.

As Shannon Murphy, Professional Organiser and Founder of Simpl Living Co, explains, ‘Small living rooms work best when every item has a purpose. When a space is limited, even a small amount of excess can quickly make the room feel crowded, visually busy, and harder to relax in.’ So, these are the items you should declutter now to create a calm, clutter-free living space.

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1. Unnecessary furniture

There are certain design rules that you should consider when you have a small living room, but every living room needs furniture - whether that’s a sofa to sit on, a unit for your TV, or a side table for your evening cuppa. However, many people with small living rooms quickly build up too much clutter.

This is echoed by Shannon, who says, ‘One of the most common things I see in clients’ homes is additional furniture that simply isn’t needed, particularly extra chairs that end up becoming landing spots for bags, clothes, or “things to deal with later.” Instead of adding value, they often become accidental storage and contribute to a sense of clutter.’

Simple swaps here can help immensely, and it’s well worth ditching this old, unwanted furniture (which you can sell to make money) for multi-purpose furniture that doubles up as hidden storage - like this Yaheetech Lift Up Coffee Table (£64.99 at Amazon). This way, you can limit visual bulk without compromising on practicality.

2. Children’s toys

For many families, the living room also doubles as a playroom. And while this is a great way to keep an eye on your kids and spend quality time with them, these children’s toys can quickly clutter up a lounge - especially if it’s on the smaller side and doesn’t have proper toy storage ideas in place.

Thankfully, Kate Dufton, Professional Organiser and Declutter at Ace Your Space, says you don’t need to break your kids’ hearts by throwing everything away to create a calm, relaxed living space. Sure, regular decluttering of unwanted, old, or broken toys is a must, but the key is to find a storage solution that works for what you have.

She says, ‘While toys absolutely belong in a home, they don’t need to dominate the living room floor. Without clear boundaries or storage systems, toys can quickly spread across the space, making it feel chaotic and harder for adults to switch off at the end of the day.’ And in small spaces, vertical toy storage or pretty-but-practical storage baskets can work wonders.

3. Decorative clutter

There’s a fine line between decorative clutter and actual clutter, especially if you’re someone who loves to fill window sills and shelves with family photos, vases, candles, and more. And while professional organisers don’t expect you to ditch everything and live in a sparse, clinical box, it is worth editing your knick-knacks if you have a small living room.

This is echoed by Shannon, who says, ‘Decorative clutter is a subtle but powerful factor. Too many ornaments, or even unused candles, can make a room feel visually heavy and smaller than it actually is. When every surface is filled, the eye has nowhere to rest, which can create a constant sense of overwhelm. In small spaces especially, less really does create more impact.’

Of course, it can be hard to get rid of emotional clutter - but once you experience the rewards and turn your small, cluttered living room into a relaxing space you can enjoy, I have no doubts that it’ll be worth it. And if you can’t bear to part with it completely, using clutter buckets to keep it out of sight can work as a compromise.

4. Paperwork

Every living room needs to serve multiple purposes, and for some people, it is also their home office, homework space, and admin area. Because of this, paperwork can quickly pile up and clutter up a small living room. So this can be organised and decluttered.

Kate explains, ‘Piles of paperwork lying around won't provide the relaxing space you need to unwind. Be ruthless with what you keep and create a designated storage area for your essential paperwork. Bookshelves with cupboards at the bottom work well, as you can organise your paperwork into magazine files or hanging file boxes. Making sure it's easy to access is key to avoiding future piles.’

You could also take inspiration from our Senior Digital Editor, Jenny, who created a family command centre in her home for all of her important paperwork, doctor's appointment reminders, and essential information that she needs to keep organised in one place.

5. Spare cushions and blankets

In my eyes, a living room isn’t complete without a few blankets and cushions - whether you’ve added them for comfort or decorative reasons. But there are rules to how many sofa cushions you should have, and it’s fair to say that too many blankets can make a space feel (and look) messier. This is especially true if you don’t use them.

These spare cushions and blankets are items your small living room doesn’t need, and removing them can reduce clutter and maximise the space you can relax in after a long day. You don’t have to get rid of them completely, though.

Shannon advises, ‘Items like spare blankets or cushions can be vacuum-packed and stored under sofas or in concealed storage, freeing up valuable space elsewhere.’ In fact, that’s why I always recommend that people have a pack of these Argos Home Pack of 6 Mixed Vacuum Storage Bags (£10 at Argos) at home at all times.

If you declutter these items from a small living room, it'll instantly feel calmer (and bigger!)