Pet toy bin

If your pet constantly drags toys into the living room, give them a bin for them, just like kids for toys. The dog may not be able to put it away themselves, but the important thing is to have a place for the toys to be put away when company is coming over!
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Designated spot

If you have pets, chances are they are often in the living room with the family. Make sure they have a designated spot to sit (on the sofa or not is your choice). Many companies now offer pet beds with interchangeable covers that you can match to your decor. If you allow your pets to sit on the furniture, keep a lint brush and/or hand vacuum close by for quick touch ups.
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Slip cover

If your sofa is worn, ripped, or stained purchase a slip cover for it instead of replacing it. This is a low cost option to purchasing a new sofa. You can also purchase new throw pillows to change the theme of a room and freshen up your furniture.
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Sneak out of place

Every day items sneak out of place and find their way onto our floors, tables, and other flat surfaces. Give each of your family members a basket or other small container. Every day, have a "ten minute tidy" where all family members are responsible for obtaining their items and putting them away in their rooms.
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Seeper sofa

If you lack a guest bedroom and never have a place to put guests, try a sleeper sofa. Having guests sleep in your living room will also motivate you to keep it clean and organized!
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Clearly defined spaces

If your living room does double duty as a gym, dining room or office, make sure to have clearly defined spaces. Area rugs, shelves and mirrors can assist you with creating a definitive space for your separate tasks. Make sure that family members treat each space as a separate entity.
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Tame the cord mess

In order to tame the cord mess there are lots of cord management options out there. Visit your local super store's hardware section or your local organization store to discover tons of options. However, you can always use low cost Velcro strips to gather cords.
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Color code your wires

Cords are unsightly, and there is nothing more frustrating than trying to untangle a mess of wires to hook up a new item. Color code your wires with electrical tape and make yourself a key. For example, the DVD unit wire is wrapped with blue tape, TV is wrapped with yellow tape, etc.
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Entertainment unit

When reorganizing your living room its a great time to determine if your entertainment unit is meeting your needs. Are all of the components on shelves that are certified for their weight? Are all the cords hidden? If you want to, can you hide the TV? If the answer to any of these is no, think about purchasing a new entertainment unit. A unit that completely encloses all of your components will also help control dust.
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Look down!

Look down! Just like you'd use the area under your bed for storage, considering using the area under your couch. If you have enough clearance to do so, make sure everything can be pulled out easily and you clean under the couch regularly to avoid pulling out dust bunnies with your items.
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Adding shelving

If you have a small wall that currently houses a framed picture, consider adding shelving to the wall to replace the picture. These shelves can house DVD books, video game equipment, photo boxes or games. Even a wall as small as 24 inches across can be beneficial to your organizing pursuits.
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Video games

Just about every family has video games. The key is to contain all the games and wires. Consider purchasing a charging station for the controllers. This will ensure that they are put away when the system is not in use. Some charging stations can even be mounted to the wall. Visit your local super store to find options for your game system.
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Living room filled with toys?

Is the living room filled with toys? Kids want to be where you are, and their toys follow them. Allow your kids to have a specific subset or amount of toys in the living room. Then, purchase a container, such as a basket with a lid, that houses these toys and keeps them out of sight when they are not in use.
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Dust

Dust accumulates on electronics faster than anywhere else in your home. Keep some dust cloths and spray air cleaner tucked inside your entertainment unit for quick cleanups.
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The present of organization

This Valentine's Day give your sweetheart the present of organization! Hire a professional organizer to tackle the spot in your home that bothers them the most.
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Books

Many people store all their books in their living room. Consider just housing the books that you want to read and/or reference in the living room. Move the others to another location in your home, or donate them.
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Work from the couch

Do you work from the couch? Many people pay bills and work on their computer from their couch. If this is the case, make sure you have all of the tools you need to do work nearby. You can create yourself a small kit that holds mailing supplies, chargers, etc.
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Look around your living room

Look around your living room. Is it filled with trinkets and other useless items? Consider moving these to another room in your home and saving the space in your living room for items you need daily. If you can, get rid of these items. They will end up cluttering another room in the house.
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Out of seating?

Out of seating? Utilize small rolling cubes that can be tucked away under a side table and rolled out when needed. (Many cubes like these can also be filled with stuff!)
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Out of storage space?

Out of storage space? Many companies sell living room furniture that has storage space inside of it. Coffee tables and ottomans that double as storage can keep things like board games out of sight until you need them.
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Magazines and newspapers within reach

For the magazines and newspapers that are waiting to be read, keep them within reach of your favorite sitting place. This will assure that you can grab them at a moment's notice and have a greater chance of reading them.
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Digital medium

Consider utilizing a digital medium to house your movie and music libraries. Then you can remove the cases from your living space.
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DVDs and CDs

Now that the DVD has been around a long time, many of us have quite a collection. They take up a lot of space! Remove DVDs and CDs from their cases and store them in binders that take up less space, are clean in appearance, and can be placed on a shelf.
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Blankets

Most of us have blankets in our living room. The problem is that they don't have a place to be put away when we aren't using them. Purchase a large basket and store it between pieces of furniture. Tuck blankets into the basket when you aren't using them. It's a super fast way to give the room a cleaner appearance.
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Magazines you do not read

If you receive magazines you do not read, call up and cancel the rest of the subscription. Often companies will give you a refund. If the company won't cancel the subscription, consider donating it to a local school, senior center, or library.
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They just keep arriving

Magazines and catalogs are a big problem for most people. They just keep arriving, and we barely have time to catch up. Keep a pile of magazines and catalogs you no longer want to receive, and record their names and phone numbers in your planner. Once a month (for as many months as it takes) call or email these companies and have yourself removed from their mailing list.
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What is out of place?

Look around your living room/family room. What is out of place? Do these items have a place to be put away? If an item stays in that room, it needs to be given a "home," or a place that it lives when it is put away. If the item does not belong in that room, it needs to be moved to its rightful place.
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Where you should LIVE

Your living space is just what it sounds like...where you should LIVE. However, living often creates a mess. This month, we are going to focus on quick and easy ways to keep your living space clean and clutter free.
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