Are pets taking over your house? Discover how to organize your living room for pets so you can tame the toys and clutter.
If you have a furry best friend, then you know the struggle. You adore them and want to keep all their toys and beds close by. So, naturally, their stuff starts to fill up your living room. And soon you’re stuck between unconditional love and omnipresent pet clutter.
I get it – and I have some ideas that you’ll be able to use right away. This post will provide practical and stylish solutions for organizing pet toys, beds, and supplies in your living room, creating a harmonious space for both humans and animals.
You’ll learn how to declutter, utilize smart storage, integrate pet items seamlessly, and maintain an organized pet-friendly living room.
The Great Pet Declutter: Less is More
The very first step to any organizing challenge is to make sure that you are only storing what you need. That’s why you’ll find decluttering mentioned in every single home organizing article I write. I shared about it in my post about simple storage ideas for living room blankets and 19 Home Organization Tips.
So, when you’re looking at organizing your living room for pets, take a good, hard look at all of your pet’s toys and supplies. Remember, this is important to do no matter what kind of pet you have.
Evaluate and Purge Pet Toys
Go through all of your pet’s toys. Discard broken, unsafe, or no-longer-loved items. After you have only the toys you’re going to keep, set aside some of them to be put in short-term storage in other places. Then, rotate toys to keep pets engaged and reduce the number out at one time. And don’t just throw away the unloved toys. Donate them to pet shelters.
Assess Pet Beds
Next, look at how many beds your pets have. Do you have too many? Are they in the right locations? Once you’re sure you have the minimum number of beds for your pets, take care of them. Clean or replace old, worn-out beds.
Streamline Supplies
Toys and beds aren’t the only things to declutter. Take a closer look at the food, treats, grooming tools, and medications. Check expiration dates. Get rid of expired supplies, things you don’t use, or anything that isn’t useful anymore.
After going through all of the pet stuff you own, you’re ready to find some clever ways to store them so that they aren’t overtaking your space anymore.
Smart Storage Solutions for Pet Toys
Now that you have only the toys and supplies that you need, it’s time to find creative ways to store them. Thankfully, it’s easy to integrate pet storage naturally into your living room. Just follow these tips and ideas.
Dedicated Toy Bins and Baskets
Let’s start with the most obvious solution first. Yes, baskets and bins will hold the toys and supplies. But don’t grab just any canvas tote or plastic tote. Instead, choose attractive, durable materials (wicker, canvas, metal). And try to match the materials and design to your living room’s decor.
The best kinds will have an open top for easy pet access, or lidded for human tidiness. Keep them near your pet’s favorite play areas so they can find their toys easierr.
Multi-Functional Furniture
I love furniture that doubles as storage! It’s one of my most popular tips because it’s so easy to find and integrate into your decor. The most popular kinds are ottomans with storage (doubles as extra seating).
Other ideas include coffee tables with hidden compartments and built-in shelving with dedicated pet sections.
Wall-Mounted Solutions
If you don’t have any extra space for bookshelves or furniture as storage, look at your walls. Install floating shelves for less-frequently used items or treats. And hang up hooks for leashes, harnesses (near the door).
DIY Options
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to organize your pet’s stuff, either. Get some used items from a flea market or thrift shop and make your own storage solutions. Repurpose crates or baskets. You could even add your pet’s name to them. Or make (or reuse) fabric storage bags that can be easily tucked away.
Organizing Pet Supplies and Essentials
Now let’s look even closer at the specific types of things you’ll need to store when you have cats, dogs, or other pets. Remember to make sure the storage areas fit what you have. Don’t use anything that’s too small or too big. Here are some of my favorite tips.
Designated “Pet Station” or Cabinet For Food
The food and treats need to be stored in a pet station or cabinet. Keep them out of sight (and out of reach of your furry friend). This could be a small cupboard, pantry, or even a dedicated drawer. This is a place where you will store food, treats, medications, and grooming tools.
When you set this pet station up, use clear containers for easy visibility and portion control.
Leash and Harness Management
If you have a dog, then you probably use a leash and harness at least once a day (if not more). It’s important to keep them where you can find them and organized. I suggesting putting them on hooks by the door for grab-and-go convenience.
What about incorporating them into your decor? Install decorative wall-mounted organizers.
Cleaning Supplies for Pet Accidents
Even though you probably won’t use them very often (we hope!), it’s still really important to keep them somewhere close by. Place them in a small caddy under your kitchen or bathroom sink.
Maintenance & Habits for a Pet-Friendly Organized Living Room
Setting up your living room for pets is a lot of work! Once you have it completely under control, keep it that way for good. Follow these maintenance tips and you’ll never have to go back to redoing it ever again.
Establish a Routine
Incorporate cleaning up into your daily tidy-up routine. Before you go to bed, go through the living room and quickly put the pet toys in the bins. Then, establish weekly routines, too. Once a week, clean up the pet areas. Vacuum up the hair and throw away any discarded pet treats.
Involve the Whole Family
You don’t have to do this by yourself. Encourage and teach everyone where pet items belong. Encourage your kids to put away pet toys after playtime. This is a fantastic first-chore for really young kiddos as young as 2 years old.
Regular Review and Adjustment
Finally, put a review time on your calendar. It’s best to do this as the seasons change. When this happens, declutter and throw away anything your pet didn’t use recently. And evaluate how your systems are working. Don’t be afraid to adapt! If you notice that the pet toy box is too far away, for example, consider moving it.
Set Up Your Living Room For Pets
After you have successfully set up your living room for pets, you will be able to coexist peacefully. Your dog or cat (or both) will feel at home in your living room without messing up your aesthetic. Remember, a tidy space means more quality time and less stress, enhancing the bond with your beloved pets.
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