Collected, Not Cluttered — 10 Lessons From Living Rooms That Get the Balance Just Right
From display ideas to styling rules, interior designers share tricks to make your belongings look curated rather than messily chaotic
I love walking into a living room and having plenty of ‘stuff’ to look at — as a maximalist, I feel you can really capture a snapshot of a person by looking at their bookshelves and observing the way they’ve arranged their coffee table. That said, the best spaces always have a sense of curation rather than unbridled chaos — and there’s a very fine line indeed between a space that looks collected and one that feels cluttered.
Happily, most modern living room ideas tend to show a little personality. As interior designers leave out-and-out minimalism behind and create homes with more character, though, the risk of overstuffing a space has increased. “Books, artworks, and objects are just as important to the atmosphere of a room as furniture,” says Murude Katipoglu. “These really tell you something about the person who lives there, but there needs to be an editing process.”
So, what are the lessons to learn from living rooms that feel collected, not cluttered? Interior designers have found the balance — let’s step inside…
1. Create Order With Symmetry
“Open shelving is where you tell a story, while concealed storage allows everyday necessities to disappear,” says Heather Hilliard.
Built-in storage is an effective choice, especially around either side of an architectural feature like a fireplace. Rather than adding freestanding pieces to a floor plan, symmetry brings a sense of continuity that allows your storage furniture to recede somewhat. “It gives a space breathing room,” explains interior designer Heather Hilliard.
To allow built-in cabinetry to work best, keep attractive items on display and functional ones hidden away. “This is part styling and part restraint, and restraint is usually the hardest part,” says Heather. “A good rule of thumb is that if you wouldn’t want a photo taken of it, it belongs in the cupboard.”
2. Use One Piece As an Anchor
"A sideboard gives the eye somewhere to rest, rather than allowing individual possessions to compete for attention," says furniture buyer Hannah Armstrong.
Making a sideboard or console table a hero piece in your living room checks multiple boxes. By using mixed living room shelving, essentials can be stowed away underneath while the surface on top provides the opportunity for creativity. “There is also something grounding about using a strong, well-proportioned piece of furniture as an anchor within your room,” says Hannah Armstrong from Heal’s.
“The surface can bring character and meaning to a space, and there’s a distinction between what is seen and what is deliberately hidden away,” she explains. “This is key to achieving the balance of collected rather than cluttered. Just be selective with what earns a place on top.”
Made from ash, smoked oat, and walnut, this piece makes a true statement. Give this contemporary design pride of place in your living room, storing essentials underneath and displaying collections on top.
3. Curate Your Coffee Table
“Think about texture, height, and negative space,” advises Riley Uggla.
Every surface in a living room provides the opportunity for display, but there’s something about styling a coffee table that feels different. As it’s positioned low and so close to seating, it becomes an immediate focal point — so why not dress it up? “Group objects with intention rather than just placing pieces side by side,” says the London-based creative Riley Uggla.
“I like to stack a few books for height, then let a sculptural piece like a vase or seashell sit slightly taller,” explains Riley. “You also want to be able to actually use the items on your coffee table, so as a rule I always leave a third of the surface completely bare.”
4. Let Books Be Books
“Embrace your books rather than try to make them disappear or blend into the background,” instructs Saskia Blyth.
If there’s one thing that many of us have a lot of, it’s books, and you can be really creative with your book storage ideas. Rather than trying to cut the number of paperbacks you own or imposing a book-buying ban, hold on to your tomes and organize them with pride. “A well-loved collection brings personality to a room, and I’d never tell a client to trim theirs down,” says Saskia Blyth.
“The trick is to give books enough breathing space, and to think about how they sit alongside furniture and other objects within your space,” the designer explains. “Varying height and scale and mixing horizontal and vertical stacks allows books to feel layered, becoming part of the architecture of a room rather than visual noise.”
From country houses to private jets, Saskia has worked on high-end projects for over twenty years. Based in London, she leads a team to create spaces that blend a deep sense of practicality with plenty of design flair.
5. Utilize Height
“Floating shelves draw the eye upwards,” says Laura Stephens.
I’ve argued before that minimalism is not the answer to small space living, and floating shelves are one of the best ways to store things without taking up floor space. They’re a clever way to take advantage of a room’s height, regardless of its square footage, too. “Floating shelves allow you to keep the floor space and furniture surfaces relatively uncluttered,” agrees designer Laura Stephens.
“Don’t fill every inch of them, but don’t aim for perfection either,” the London-based interior designer suggests. “You want the eye to move around the shelves rather than taking in a solid block of just ‘stuff’. Plants are brilliant on shelving as they bring movement and softness, particularly in spaces with lots of straight lines and hard surfaces.”
If you don’t have the alcoves for a fitted shelf, this wall-mounted design by iconic Scandi brand String is just the ticket. If you’re a fan of the look, good news — this is just one element of a modular system that can be used across a whole wall.
6. Integrate the Television
“A media unit solves a lot of practical elements without letting them dominate,” suggests Sophie Pringle — it's also a great place to position a TV in a small living room
Televisions are a fact of life and a key part of most living rooms, so consider an all-in-one solution that combines practical storage with decorative opportunity. “A television can easily become a focal point, but integrating it helps to soften that effect,” explains Sophie Pringle, founder of Pringle & Pringle. This allows a wall to feel like more of a curated set-up rather than cluttered.
“Painting built-in cabinetry in a strong color instantly helps, as the television becomes one element within a more purposeful composition rather than something that immediately draws your eye,” says Sophie. “The surrounding shelving gives other points of interest, so your eye doesn’t go straight to the screen. A television can be accommodated beautifully, but it doesn’t have to dictate the room.”
7. Consider Color
“A restrained palette allows disparate pieces to read as a collection rather than a random assortment,” explains Annie Harrison.
To bring a sense of cohesion to a collection of different objects, arrange them by color. Sticking to a similar scheme allows, for example, a display of ceramic, metal, and glass decorations. “When everything speaks the same tonal language, the eye sees one considered display rather than competing objects,” agrees Annie Harrison from London-based interior design studio Fare Inc.
“Allow variation to come through material and form, rather than color,” says Annie. “In this project, a speckled vase, a fluted lamp base, a hammered brass box, and a smooth stone bowl all sit within the same tonal family but feel distinct through texture and surface. This richness adds depth without ever tipping into clutter.”
And ensure you don't overfill your open shelves, either.
This sculptural vase is well worth a spot on your shelving. Crafted from Spanish glass, it looks just as beautiful without anything inside as it does holding freshly-cut floral stems.
8. Treat Belongings Like Artworks
“Prioritize the pieces you really want to see in your space, and then consider what complements those main elements,” says Murude Katipoglu.
To truly elevate your possessions, give them the gallery treatment. “Clutter tends to happen when everything is given the same importance, leaving no room for individual pieces to breathe,” explains Murude Katipoglu.
For this to work successfully, spotlight just two or three pieces. “It’s about creating moments of focus without making the whole room feel like an exhibition,” the interior designer says. “When an important artwork or object sits alongside books, textiles, and things you use every day, it becomes part of the life of the room and makes your space feel collected.”
British-Cypriot interior designer Murude works on residential, commercial and hospitality projects in the UK and globally. Her studio is known for combining raw textures with precious materials, giving spaces a richly layered feel.
9. Group Similar Objects Together
“Birds of a feather should flock together,” advises Liz Caan.
To give a collection focus, center it around a single point rather than spreading it across a whole living room. By concentrating pieces in one spot, you’re allowing them to become greater than the sum of their individual parts.
“This is more effective than scattering objects throughout your space, and it works even when dissimilar items share the same common thread,” agrees the interior designer Liz Caan. “We call this idea a ‘curiosity table’, and in this project we grouped items with an ocean and seaside living theme.”
10. Leave ‘Breathing Space’
“Negative space allows pieces to be properly appreciated,” says Eloise Pfeiffer.
Don’t succumb to the temptation of filling every surface, as this is a surefire way to make a living room feel cluttered. Leaving some negative space allows objects to enjoy their own ‘moment’, rather than ending up crammed in beside lots of other things. “You need to give things space to be appreciated,” explains Eloise Pfeiffer.
“Depending on the scale of your furniture or shelving, leaving about a third of it unoccupied works well,” suggests the interior designer. “By editing your belongings carefully, your displays become natural focal points in a space that feels layered rather than overwhelming.”
Whether you’re sorting through treasured pieces or struggling to find storage ideas for your paperbacks, it’s always possible to create a living room that feels collected rather than cluttered. Chances are, your belongings might be better grouped, filtered by color, or organized in another stylish way.
For more ideas, read up on this year’s home storage trends and sign up to the Livingetc newsletter to receive inspiration straight to your inbox.
