11 Living Room Hacks That Are Making Your Space Look Too Cluttered

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A living room should be your sanctuary, a place of comfort and style – even small choices can mess it up into a cluttered, overwhelming mess. Sometimes we over pack our living rooms with items and decor that unintentionally make our living rooms less beautiful and less spacious.

The key to a stylish living room is striking the right balance between function and flair so you don’t end up with a living room full of clutter. The good news is that here are some of the common mistakes you may be making and how to avoid them.

Too Many Decorative Pillows

Clutter Culprits Hiding in Your Living Room
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Pillows make it cozy, but too many can ruin the couch, making it seem uncomfortable and messy. Often they end up on the floor, adding to a feeling of chaos. To make this look streamlined, try limiting yourself to two or three pillows. Keep the style intentional by opting for color or pattern ones.

Bulky Furniture

Gray Sectional Couch With Throw Pillows
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If oversized furniture can make your room feel cluttered, it’s easy to get carried away. While large sofas and armchairs are nice, especially in small rooms, oversized furniture makes rooms look cramped and closed. To maximize space, consider furniture with a slimmer profile. That way, you’ll still have comfort but without sacrificing flow.

Excessive Knick-Knacks

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Small decorative items give a space personality, and while they are nice to have, too many can make a space appear busy. If your room’s design is cluttered with coffee tables, shelves, end tables, etc., this can distract from the overall design. Keep decorations to a few pieces you love, and change them out now and again to keep things fresh.

Oversized Rugs

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According to Architectural Digest, rugs can add ground to a space, but if they’re too big or too small, they can throw off the visual balance of a room. An oversized rug can make the space too busy, and a rug that is too small, leaves the room chopped up awkwardly. Aim for a rug that fits under the main furniture pieces but doesn’t eat up the floor.

Overfilled Shelves

Books on Shelves
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Bookshelves and display units are great ways to store things and decorate, but overstuffing them can make the room feel cluttered. All items on a shelf should have a purpose, whether functional or ornamental. Try to arrange shelves with a mix of books and art to keep the room open and inviting.

Dark, Heavy Curtains

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If the curtains are heavy and dark or made of thick material, they can really make a room feel closed off. They can cut the natural light and give the feeling of a heavy room. If you want to blur up the boundaries of your room, choose lighter, airier curtains and let in more light to give it more of an open feel.

Too Many Family Photos

Photo on wall, picture on wall, picture, frame
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Family photos are great, but having too many around the place can make the room feel cluttered. A few framed photos look nice, but when there are too many, they can detract from the overall decor. In one area, it might make sense to create a photo wall or to have only one or two photos as focal points.

Unnecessary Throw Blankets

Things to Dump When Decluttering Your Bedroom
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Throw blankets add texture and warmth, but too many can accumulate and create clutter, especially on the couch. Just one or two folded adds coziness without overfilling the space. If you have any extra blankets, you can store them in a basket or storage ottoman for a more tidy look.

Cluttered Coffee Tables

Modern Workspace with Books and Coffee in Türkiye
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Books, remotes, candles, and all the other things that tend to end up on coffee tables often result in a cluttered centerpiece. Make it simple by keeping the table with a candle and a book. This will give us a clean and intentional look that’s still useful.

Busy Wall Art Arrangements

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According to Style by Emily Henderson, gallery walls are timeless and trendy, but too many frames can overwhelm a small room. Wall art grouped messily can make a room feel messy and closed in, so try to do it minimally with one or two statement pieces to open the space.

Visible Cables and Cords

Things to Dump When Decluttering Your Bedroom
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Usually exposed cords and cables make your living room look messy and unclean. Keep things ordered and out of site with cord covers or cable boxes.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.

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