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The living room tends to collect things almost without you noticing. A few old magazines land on the coffee table, a candle gets left on a shelf, and suddenly there are piles of things you haven’t used in months.
Since this is usually one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, keeping the clutter under control can make the whole space feel better. You don’t have to clear everything out at once. Start with the things that are broken, outdated, unused, or simply taking up space.
Here are 18 items worth sorting through the next time you tidy up your living room.
Old Books
Books are worth keeping when you enjoy reading them, but there’s no reason to let books you never plan to open again take over your shelves.
Keep your favorites, books you still want to read, and titles that have sentimental value. The rest can be donated or sold. Clearing out a few shelves can give you room for books you’ll actually read.
Old Furniture
That wobbly side table or worn-out chair you’ve been meaning to repair may have been sitting in the living room for years.
If a piece is damaged beyond repair or simply isn’t being used, it’s probably time to let it go. Furniture in decent condition can often be donated or sold online.
Outdated Magazines and Newspapers
Stacks of old magazines and newspapers can grow surprisingly fast. If you haven’t looked through them in months or years, they’re probably taking up more space than they’re worth.
Recycle the old issues and save any articles, recipes, or photos you really want to keep by scanning them or taking pictures.
Broken or Unused Electronics
Old remotes, dead speakers, outdated devices, and electronics that haven’t been used in years can easily end up in a drawer or entertainment center.
Go through your collection and separate anything that still works from items that don’t. Working electronics may be worth selling or donating, while broken devices should be recycled through an appropriate electronics recycling program.
Random Knick-Knacks
A few small decorative pieces can make a room feel personal. A shelf packed with dozens of little objects can make it harder to keep clean and may leave the room feeling crowded.
Keep the pieces you genuinely like or have a story behind. The rest can be donated, sold, or moved elsewhere.
Worn Rugs
A rug that has seen better days can make the entire room look tired. Heavy stains, frayed edges, flattened areas, or a rug that no longer fits the room are good reasons to reconsider keeping it.
If it’s still usable, donate or sell it. If it’s badly damaged, look into local textile recycling options rather than letting it sit in storage.
For another home decorating idea, check out these 10 Most Stylish Kitchen Runner Rugs.
Unused or Broken Toys
Families with children know how quickly toys can spread throughout the living room. Broken toys and games with missing pieces are easy candidates for the donation box or trash.
Sort through the collection and keep the toys your children still play with. Giving each remaining toy a designated storage spot can also make cleanup much easier.
Half-Used Candles
A half-used candle isn’t automatically clutter, especially if you still enjoy it. But if you’ve had the same candle sitting around for years and never light it, there’s little reason to keep it.
Finish the candles you like, pass along ones in good condition, and discard candles that are damaged or no longer usable.
Damaged Lighting
Broken lamps, lights with damaged cords, and fixtures that no longer work can sit around far longer than they should.
Check your lamps and decorative lighting. Repair pieces that are worth fixing and remove anything that isn’t functional or no longer fits your space.
Board Games
Board games can be great for family nights, but they’re easy to forget about once they’ve been pushed into a cabinet or corner.
Check the boxes for missing pieces and ask yourself whether anyone still plays them. Games that are complete but no longer used can be donated to a thrift store, school, community center, or another family.
DVDs and CDs
Physical media can still be worth keeping if you have a collection you enjoy, but there’s no reason to hold onto every disc you’ve accumulated.
Sort through your DVDs and CDs and keep the ones you actually watch or listen to. The rest can be sold, donated, or recycled where appropriate.
Excessive Wall Art
A room doesn’t need every available wall covered with artwork. Too many frames can make a living room feel busy, especially when several pieces compete for attention.
Take down anything you no longer like and keep the artwork that means something to you or works well with the room. You can also rotate pieces throughout the year rather than displaying everything at once.
Decorative Vases
Vases are useful, but it’s easy to collect far more than you’ll ever need. Check your stash for cracked pieces, duplicates, and vases that have been sitting empty for years.
Usable vases can be donated or repurposed. If you’re feeling creative, try painting a vase with acrylic paint to give it an expensive look.
Broken Clocks
A clock that no longer works has little reason to stay on the wall unless you keep it for sentimental reasons.
Remove broken or outdated clocks and keep the ones you actually use. If you like having a clock in the room, replace it with one that fits your current decor and works properly.
Old Wall Calendars
There’s no reason to keep calendars from previous years hanging around. Once the year is over, take them down and recycle them.
If a particular calendar contains artwork, photos, recipes, or other pages you want to save, remove those pages and store them separately.
Used-Up Diffusers
Empty reed diffusers and fragrance bottles can linger on shelves long after the scent has disappeared.
Once a diffuser is finished, clean the container if you plan to reuse it or recycle it according to the material. There’s little reason to keep an empty fragrance container taking up space.
Fake Plants
Artificial plants can be an easy way to add greenery to a room, but they also collect plenty of dust.
If you have fake plants you no longer like, rarely clean, or simply don’t have room for, consider donating them. Keep the ones that still work with your decor and give them a regular dusting.
Excessive Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are an easy way to change the look of a sofa, but too many can turn into a storage problem. If you constantly have to move pillows just to sit down, you probably have more than you need.
Keep the pillows you use and store seasonal ones somewhere else. Anything you no longer like or need can be donated.
A living room doesn’t need to be completely empty to feel tidy. The goal is to make room for the things you actually use and enjoy while getting rid of items that have become little more than background clutter. A few trips to the donation box or recycling bin can make the room easier to clean and much more comfortable to use.
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