Before you buy another vase, shelf, or storage basket, try taking things away. Real Simple recently outlined seven living room items that minimalists avoid, and the core idea is simple: when you pare down what's visible, a room feels more intentional, spacious, and relaxing.
This guide takes that list and turns it into a one-afternoon reset. It costs nothing, works in a studio or a big family room, and gives you a clear picture of what your space needs (and doesn't) before you spend a dime.
Start With the Biggest Visual Offenders
If you only have an hour, begin here. These three tend to change a room the fastest.
1. Unused furniture
That extra chair nobody sits in, or the side table that exists only to hold other stuff, takes up floor space and blocks the way you move through the room.
Try this: for one week, notice what you actually use. Move the piece to another room or a corner of the garage. If you don't miss it after seven days, consider selling it. That's a little money back in your pocket.
2. Visible cords and electronics clutter
Tangled cables are one of the quickest ways to make a room feel busy, even if everything else is tidy.
- Unplug and remove any device you don't use.
- Bundle the cords that remain with inexpensive cable ties or velcro straps.
- Tuck the bundles behind the TV stand or furniture so they're out of sight.
3. Excess decorative objects
Minimalists tend to skip the crowd of knickknacks. A surface covered in small items reads as visual noise, and nothing gets noticed.
Try this: clear a shelf or console completely. Put back only the pieces you love, ideally a few, with space around them. Box the rest for a month. Anything you haven't thought about by then can go.
Edit the Soft and Stacked Stuff
4. Too many throw pillows
Pillows are comfortable, but a sofa buried under them means you move half of them every time you sit down. Aim for a smaller, deliberate set rather than a pile. Keep the ones that are actually comfortable and let the sofa show its shape.
5. Stacks of magazines or books
Piles on the coffee table, floor, or end table quickly look like clutter, not decor. Go through them and keep what you're still reading or truly love. Recycle old magazines, donate books you won't reread, and give the keepers a proper home on a shelf.
6. Oversized coffee table items
A coffee table is a working surface, and big objects crowding it leave no room for a mug or a remote. Swap oversized pieces for something smaller, or keep just one item and a coaster. A mostly clear table makes the whole room feel more open.
Be Careful With the Fix Itself
7. Miscellaneous storage baskets or bins
Here's the irony: storage is often the clutter. Baskets and bins that fill up with random odds and ends can become a place to hide a mess, and a collection of them can be busy in itself.
Before buying more, empty every basket in the room. Sort the contents into keep, relocate, and toss. Often you'll find you need fewer containers than you thought. Keep only the ones with a clear job, like a single basket for blankets.
A Simple One-Afternoon Reset
You don't need a full makeover. Follow this order:
- Take a "before" photo. A picture shows what your eye has stopped noticing.
- Remove first, rearrange second. Pull out unused furniture, extra pillows, stacks, and stray cords.
- Clear surfaces completely. Then return only what earns its spot.
- Empty the baskets. Sort, then decide how many you really need.
- Take an "after" photo. The comparison is usually the motivation to keep going.
Why Edit Before You Shop
It's tempting to fix a room that feels off by buying something new. Editing first is cheaper and more informative. Once the extras are gone, you can see what the room is missing, if anything. Many people find the answer is less than they expected.
Tips for Small Living Rooms
In a small space, every item carries more weight, so these edits matter even more.
- Prioritize floor space. Clear walkways make a room feel larger.
- Keep surfaces mostly bare, so a few items stand out.
- Choose multipurpose pieces over extra single-use ones.
Your Next Step
Pick just one item from this list tonight, whether it's the cord tangle or the pillow pile, and remove it. Look at the room tomorrow. Then decide whether you want to keep going.
