<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Living Room Decorating: Stylish Ways to Clear the Clutter</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">As the names suggests, a living room is for living, and if it is a space that is regularly used for relaxing, watching television, and spending time with family and friends, it will inevitably become cluttered and require attention. In homes with children, toys end up on the floor, remote controls end up scattered, and books and magazines end up here, there and everywhere. Instead of banishing loved ones from the living room in an effort to keep it neat, tidy, and ready for guests who might pop in at a moment’s notice, consider the following stylish ways to clear the clutter. It is possible to have a stylish living room that is truly for living and ready for guests without having to worry about where to put items that are regularly used. Clearing away the clutter is easier than most people realize, and it can be accomplished with a few clever tips and crafty decorating tips.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Fabric-Covered Boxes for Odds and Ends</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Instead of leaving remote controls and other odds and ends on side tables, store them in stylish fabric-covered boxes on shelves. Buy plain wooden boxes from a craft supply store, and choose fabric that coordinates well with the colors and style of the living room. Wrap the boxes as you would wrap a present, and secure the material with fabric glue. The boxes will look exceptionally stylish, and they will provide a quick and easy way to stash living room clutter and other small items that are not in use.<span>  </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Unique Ways to Use Stylish Storage Baskets</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Many side tables and coffee tables provide a single shelf beneath, and this provides a fantastic opportunity for adding storage space to a living room. Clear away the clutter by investing in stylish wicker baskets that will fit beneath side tables and end tables. They are great for holding magazines, remote controls, compact discs, and even games. Select baskets with lids for even great clutter control. They will add a great deal of style to the living room, and even living room side tables that do not offer shelving can be outfitted with stylish storage baskets that can be easily slid beneath and out of the way. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Invest in a Stylish Ottoman with Secret Storage Space</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Ottomans have been a part of living room decorating for decades, and they are making a comeback, but the ottomans available these days offer something that ottomans of decades past usually did not offer. These days they are available with hinged tops and removable lids. In a living room where clutter is a continual problem, an ottoman with secret storage space is the perfect solution. When placed next to an entryway door in a living room, it is a great place to store hats, scarves, and gloves. It will also provide a place to sit when putting on footwear. Most of all a storage ottoman will enable you to clear the clutter and free up storage space in a living room coat closet that can be used for storing other belongings. </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><img src="../images/living-room-ottoman.jpg" border="0" alt="Living room Ottoman with storage" title="Living room ottoman with storage" width="445" height="270" /></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Repurpose a Cedar Chest for Clutter Control</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">When thinking of a classic cedar chest, most people immediately think of a quilt-covered cedar chest at the end of a bed, but a cedar chest does not have to remain stashed away in a bedroom. When looking for ways to clear clutter in a living room, consider moving the cedar chest out of the bedroom and into the most popular room in the home. Cover it with a stylish protective runner, and use it as a coffee table and a clutter catcher. The interior space can be used to store everything from off-season throws to extra pillows, coats, or board games.<span>   </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Consider Stylish Low-Profile Consoles</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Kids enjoy playing with games and toys in the living room, but they can create a huge mess and a tremendous amount of clutter. Instead of having the kids continuously put their toys away in their bedrooms, consider investing in stylish low-profile consoles. Built-in consoles are available in a wide range of styles and finishes, and toys, games, and books can be neatly stored on shelves behind closed doors. Toys will be within easy reach, and they will be even easier to put away.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">These are just a few of the ways clutter can be nearly eliminated in a living room. There are many ways to give a living room character and style while stashing away commonly used items as well as items that are not used every day. Look around your living room, and think of the many ways you can add style while clearing away the clutter once and for all.<span>  </span></p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><strong>About the author</strong> </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Alyssa Davis, is a design specialist and popular writer at Metal-Wall-Art.com, and she offers many suggestions and unique ideas for designing with <a href="http://www.metal-wall-art.com/" target="_blank">wall hanging art</a> and <a href="http://www.metal-wall-art.com/grapes-wine-wall-art.html" target="_blank">wine wall art</a>.</span></p></span>