If you don’t want a cluttered space and feel more like minimalism, you should conceal your storage units as much as possible. There are many ways to do that, and today we’ll take a look at the most effective and functional ones.
Storage Benches
Placing a bench at the window or making a windowsill bench or daybed is one of the most practical and cool ideas. If you have enough space for this solution, don’t even hesitate: it’s brilliant! You will get a lovely daybed, seamless lounge zone and a lot of storage space in one. The daybed can be styled with cushions, pillows, mattresses or with plants, depends on how you are going to use it. Even if you have some space for a storage bench not at the window, it’s totally ok and this idea will work perfect.
This corner bench is used both for storage and for sitting on top.
This corner sofa is placed on a platform with storage, which is a cool solution for a small space.
This built-in curved storage bench with upholstery is cool both for sitting and storing, and the curved design is very trendy.
A windowsill storage bench is a very smart idea, drawers will hide a lot of stuff away.
This light-stained bench with drawers and pillows is a lovely space to sit there and to hide some stuff inside.
This stylish extra long bench with drawers and cushions is a very chic and functional furniture piece.
The niche features a window with shutters, a built-in stained bench that features storage space inside.
This low stained windowsill bench doubles as a storage unit.
This extra long storage bench doubles as an effective storage unit.
This sleek and comfy bench isn't only a radiator cover but also a storage piece.
This long storage daybed with upholstery is a super cool idea for a modern or minimal living room.
This windowsill daybed is done with open and hidden storage spaces, with comfy upholstery and pillows.
This large windowsill daybed with storage is a whole lounge for spending time in the sun.
This white bench hides some storage space inside, and the top of it is very comfy to sit on.
This window bench is done with storage space and opening the window you can escape to the garden.
This corner window storage bench is a very functional fit for a corner bench.
This elegant mid-century modern bench with drawers is covered with a leather mattress for comfortable sitting. (via thedesignfiles).
This corner plywood unit is used both for storage and for sitting and lounging here. (via homestolove).
I love the idea of adding a large storage bench or daybed to a window, it creates a very seamless lounging zone.
A corner storage bench will be a nice fit not only a living room but also for any other space in the house. (via modelplatform).
This corner bench has several storage drawers used for storing kids' toys. (via organisedprettyhome).
This window bench hides storage space, and a large wardrobe next to it is sleek and small.
Hidden Shelves And Desks
Hide shelves, desks and other things right inside your furniture with sliding panels, folding or usual doors. This idea used to be popular to cover a TV but now it’s widely used to hide open shelves, too. Besides, if you need a home office nook in the living room, you can always hide it behind such doors or panels, which will make your room more seamless and sleek.
This is a small working space hidden with a folding door, it's a cool way to hide a mini home office in the living room.
All the shelves around the TV are covered with panels that can be opened or closed.
This storage unit and a TV is hidden with a sliding panel. (via estliving).
Hide a workspace in the living room using walls or storage units and adding doors to imitate walls.
Home offices in living rooms really save the space and allow you not to make a separate room.
These hidden shelves and the TV are hidden with sliding panels.
Hidden Wall Storage
I love hiding storage space right in the walls! It creates a feeling of a vault of trophies! If you have a nice or some space in the wall, you can cover it with paneling, an artwork or a mirror and place inside whatever you want: documents, dishes, pillows and blankets or even make a home bar. Nobody will guess, and you will show your hidden gem only if you want to. More than that, you can make a small hidden space in the wall right over the floor to hide your vacuum bot, so it will be much more comfortable to use and hide.
A mirror is perfect to cover any wall niche, and this one is large enough to hide really a lot.
Hide shelves right in the wall and add a gallery wall on top, so that nobody could guess that this is a storage space.
These panels hide shelves inside, and I would never guess that there's something behind them.
This paneled stained wall features several storage compartments for different stuff, a great way to declutter the room.
This wall contains a cabinet inside, where dishes are storage, this is a zone between the dining and living room.
Hide a home bar niche with artworks to make sure that kids won't get access to it.
There's a niche in the wall used for storing a vacuum cleaner, this is a super cool solution.
If you have a niche in the wall that you want to hide, add paneling on top, one part of it can become a door.
These storage compartments inside the wall are covered with doors, and this practical solution may be integrated not only in living rooms.
Other Ideas
Where else can we hide a storage space? In the staircase: if you have one, make sure you are using it as much as possible, its inner space can be rocked for storage. You can make some shelves behind artworks, we used to apply this idea to TV only, and not you can attach ledges for stuff there, too. Your windowsill if any can be done with a built-in drawer, small and shallow but still enough for remote controls. If you are ready to spend some time and money, build in a whole sliding storage unti right into the doorway! Get inspired to organize your living room!