The Living Room Storage Spot You’re Probably Overlooking—And How to Use It

That’s it—you’ve filled every last corner with cabinets and rearranged your shelves a million times, but there’s just no storage space left in your home. Guess it’s time to throw out half of your books and get rid of those extra blankets? Just kidding. Instead, walk into your living room and take a peek under your couch. See that gap of nothingness? You can fill it with something! But I’m not suggesting you just jam whatever under there—there are orderly ways to actually use your under-sofa space. These smart ideas will get you started. 

If you’ve got a book “problem” (is it really a problem?), turn the space under your sofa into a spot for your bookshelf overflow. This works especially well if your couch already has a minimal, boxy look to it. No need for special storage bins. Just stack the books right up, but be sure to keep the spines facing outward for easy browsing—and an effortless pop of color. Obviously, the taller your sofa legs are, the more of a graphic impact your stacks will make. Or you can push small piles of books you don’t read all that often back against the wall under the sofa. That way, they’re there when you need them, but they won’t add visual clutter, if minimalism is more your vibe.

If your sofa is a bit lower to the ground, as in this Los Angeles apartment, think slim. CDs, records, and DVDs will slide right under in stacks of three or four, giving you easy access to all your music and movies. Buy a couple of shallow baskets to keep things tidy.

We’re all guilty of having a few too many throw blankets lying around, especially during the colder winter months. Keep them out of the way—but never too far away—by stowing them under your sofa, either folded or in woven baskets. If you’re worried about dust bunnies, consider vacuum-packing them in a bag. While you’re at it, consider stashing a full set of vacuum-packed towels and extra bedding here for guests. If you don’t have a linen closet, this spot can double as one (albeit a very small one).

If your couch has lots of space underneath it, think big! You can stash boxy luggage right under the seats. Bonus points if you have old leather or wooden suitcases that will add vintage vibes to the space. Even better, you can store other items in the luggage for even more storage space! 

If you have a few thick sweaters or puffy coats that won’t fit under your bed or in your closet, stick ‘em under the sofa. Any sort of canvas zipper bag will work for holding them, especially if your couch sits against a wall, as in this plant-filled home. Just slide the bags all the way to the back, and they’ll be out of sight until you need them again.

Never step on a Lego again! Stow small toys in Tupperware containers, storage baskets, or any kind of shallow bin you like under the sofa. Board games would be great here, too. What’s nice is this spot is definitely at kid-level, so your littles (if you have them) can be responsible for picking up after themselves. Just make sure the toys are easy to access and move around. Odds are you’ll be pulling them out several times a day.

Instead of crowding your coffee table with remotes and all of your other accessories, place them under the sofa. You could use a tray to corral items. Or try a DIY rolling drawer, which is perfect for holding various knickknacks.