Home Organizing Challenge Week 6: The Living Room

February 8, 2015

 

14 Week Organizing Challenge

 

Welcome back to A Bowl Full of Lemons 14 Week Organizing Challenge. This week we are organizing the living room.  Before you begin, do a quick 5-10 minute clean up of the space.  Toss the trash and put things where they belong.

If this is your first time participating in the challenge, welcome! Each week, you will receive a new challenge & you will have 7 days to complete it. If you are not subscribed to my blog & want reminders for the weekly challenges, you can sign up here. The first thing you need to do is print out your 14 Week Schedule. You can hang it on your fridge and check it off as you go. Print it out here.

 

Living Room Organization with A Bowl Full of Lemons

 

WEEK #6 TASK – The Living Room:

This week we are cleaning and organizing the living room. The living room is probably the most used room in the house so it can get cluttered fast!  One of the way’s I’ve been able to keep our living room clean and organized is by purging as much as possible and only keeping the necessities in there.  I don’t allow toys in my living room (we have a toy room).  That has helped keep clutter away.  I understand that some of you don’t have the space to put toys in other areas of the house. If that’s the case, use foot stools, baskets, large bins, etc. to keep them picked up & hidden when not in use.  Once you purge everything down to a manageable amount, the clutter won’t seem so bad.

 

Home Organization 101 14 Week Challenge Checklist
 

WEEK #6 CHECKLIST: (Print out the free Living Room checklist HERE)

 

THE PROCESS
PREPARE:
Gather 4 bins or boxes, one for each of the following.
  • Keep
  • Donate
  • Trash/Recycle
  • Other Room
SORT:
  • Sort through everything on all shelves, the floor, drawers, tables, etc.  Divide it all into the 4 baskets listed above (or more if needed).  If you are able to, place the 4 boxes in another room (close to the living room), so you have an empty space to clean and organize.  Get rid of as much clutter as you can.
CLEAN:
  • Clean the windows, blinds, frames & mirrors
  • Wipe down doors, baseboards, doorknobs and switch plates
  • Wipe down furniture (dust)
  • Remove couch cushions and vacuum
  • Pull the couch away from the wall and vacuum under/behind.
  • Vacuum/mop floors
  • Clean ceiling fan & lighting
  • Fluff throw pillows & wash if needed
ORGANIZE:   It’s time to go through everything in the “keep” box. Put the other boxes where they belong. When organizing things in the keep box, remove one item at a time, categorizing it.  Below are some examples of what to organize together in the living room.  You can use a different shelf, basket, or drawer for each category.  Keep similar items together.
  • DVD’s & CD’s
  • Aromatherapy: Candles, wax melts, essential oils, etc.
  • Throw Blankets
  • Remote controls
  • Magazines
  • Toys (I don’t keep toys in the living room)
  • Books

 

 Organizing Tips:

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 1

 

Tip 1:  Declutter as much as possible.   You don’t need to fill every square inch of your living room with stuff.  Empty spaces are fine.

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 11

 

Tip 2:  Keep magazines & controllers in an easy to reach basket – it looks more neat.

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 9

 

Tip 3:  Keep things in baskets & bins (aromatherapy, dvd’s, toys, etc).  

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 4

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 5

 

Tip 4:  Use slipcovers.  This isn’t necessarily an organizing tip but cleaning & organizing go hand in hand.  When its time to clean upholstery, slipcovers are the easiest to deal with. I wash mine twice a year.  (My sofa is from Ikea)

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 8

 

Tip 5:  Buy furniture that can be used as storage.  This inexpensive foot stool is from Target.  We keep our throw blankets in here.  You can also use it for toys, magazines, books, etc.  Remember, out of sight = less clutter.

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 3

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 2

 

Here are two more pieces of furniture that can be used as storage.  We keep books in baskets underneath the coffee table & the side table has a bottom shelf that can hold a lot of stuff (in baskets).  They work great!  Both pieces are from World Market.

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 6

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 10

 

Tip 7:  Hang baskets on walls to keep things in.  These baskets could be used to store dvd’s, etc. They are from Farmhouse Wares.

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 12

 

Your living room is a reflection of your personal style.  Keep it bright, clean, and decluttered & your family will enjoy hanging out in there.

 

Living Room Organization via A Bowl Full of Lemons 7

 

 

Organizing Inspiration

 
 

Here are several blog posts that will inspire you to get your Living Room organized.

1. Living Room Organization

2. Organizing Heirlooms & Collectibles 

3. Organizing the Bookshelf

4. Organizing DVD’s

5. Organizing Magazines

 

HOW TO SHARE:

Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolorganizechallenge, blog about the weekly challenges – sharing your before and after pictures and/or share over at my Home Organization 101 group here. Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges!

 

NEW TO THE CHALLENGE?

If you are just joining us, visit the challenge details page here, to learn what it’s all about.

 

CHALLENGES:

Week 1: The Kitchen

Week 2: The Laundry Room

Week 3: The Pantry

Week 4: Master Bedroom

Week 5:  The Office

 

HAPPY ORGANIZING!

I’ll see you back next week for another organizing challenge.

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14 Week Challenge, 2015 Home Organization 101, Blog, February 2015, Living Room, Organize Posted in 14 comments

14 comments on “Home Organizing Challenge Week 6: The Living Room”

  1. CLISSON DE MACEDO Amélie says:
    February 9, 2015 at 4:45 am

    I love your new decor ! The neutral colors are bright and warm, I prefer this version rather than the last one, which was white.
    Yhan you for the inspiration !!
    Amélie

  2. Neena says:
    February 9, 2015 at 8:03 am

    Hi Toni,
    This room is gorgeous! I love the simplicity, the light and brightness, the neutral colors, and the rustic feel. Using decorative containers to store in plain sight is a good technique for making the room look tidy, yet having everything you need within reach.

  3. B. Gregory says:
    February 17, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Great post and I’m totally in love with that room! Here is a tip from me :No matter which type of dust mop you choose, start the floor cleaning process by taking all runners and area rugs outside to shake or into the laundry room to wash. Place the dust mop on the floor against one wall. Push the mop around the perimeter of the room, keeping it on the floor and working your way to the center.

    Best regards! Neasden Carpet Cleaners Ltd.

  4. Andrea says:
    February 27, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    Thanks for the tips Toni. Cleaning and organizing may seem so simple but for busy moms like me, reading tips just like this greatly helps. I don’t have to think. I just have to follow 😀 Thanks a bunch.

  5. Heather Barbour says:
    March 5, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    I love your “home” pillow! Where did you get it?

  6. Molly says:
    March 7, 2015 at 12:35 am

    Absolutely enjoy the simplicity and functionality of the design that make it so beautiful! Is the sectional Ikea I presume? Where is the chair by the train bulletin sign from? Your home continues to inspire me and keep me refreshed!

  7. Jackie Flynn says:
    March 9, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    I love your website. Your taste is exquisite. A couple of questions if you don’t mind. What color is the sofa is in your living room and is it pretty comfortable? It looks like it is the IKEA Ektorp line but it doesn’t look like it is white. Also, how do you handle the cat hair? I have two cats that look like yours plus a black one. I can brush off enough cat hair off my sofas pretty much daily to make another cat. Any tips?

    • Rachel says:
      March 9, 2015 at 9:37 pm

      It is the Ektorp sectional with the tygelsjo slipcover. As for the cat hair, Toni stays on top of the fur by vacuuming regularly and also bathes her cats.

  8. Darlene says:
    July 1, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    Toni
    I love the clean yet stylish look of your rooms. Can I ask where I can find the wire basket and the plants on the picture of the coffee table? I love that look.

  9. Anna says:
    July 11, 2015 at 7:56 pm

    I love the color of your floors! What kind/color are they?

  10. Intan says:
    July 25, 2015 at 11:32 am

    Omg i love your design, very modern. Do white and gray tone make it? or something else?











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