Storage in Plain Site

Unless you've had the folks from the TV show "Clean House" over for a visit, chances are you've got clutter piling up somewhere in your house. I know I do. From the day's mail I haven't gotten to yet to the magazines I want to read to the throws in the living room for chilly nights, I've got potential clutter landmines all over my house. That's why I love this notion of design elements and objects that can help you create storage in plain site. Here are some of the ways that you can do that.

• Baskets, baskets and more baskets. In my house we have baskets everywhere to hold things. There's a small wooden basket in the living room for remotes, a wicker basket in the mud room where people can store shoes, and a wire basket in my home office for papers I need to deal with. If you like you can splurge on baskets that are designed to go with pieces of furniture you may alreday own or plan to buy, such as the baskets we got to go with our Pottery Barn entryway cubby system. Another option: double-decker coffee tables that have narrow baskets to slip underneath the top level.
• Flip-top ottomans. In some living rooms ottomans can be more than just a foot rest—they can be bona fide storage systems, and your guests would never know. Look for ottomans with a flip top where you can store extra couch pillows or even magazines that you plan to read on the next rainy Sunday. I've even seen ottomans that double as mini file cabinets or are discreet hampers in a bedroom.
• Cloth-covered side tables. If you like to stash stuff under a side table, but don't like the look of that kind of clutter, here's an easy solution: throw a fashion-forward tablecloth over the top (maybe one in paisley or animal print, two of this season's hot looks) and, voila, instant hidden storage and an unexpected decor upgrade for that room.
• Benches that open. In my grandmother's house, I remember that a wooden bench in her family room was my favorite piece of furniture—not because it was so comfortable to sit on (it was not) but because it was where she stored all of the board games I liked to play when I went to visit. She handed down that bench to me, where I stored my daughters' stuffed animals when they were little, and years later in my house, that bench holds all of our winter junk—mittens, hats, boots, and more. Maybe a bench like my grandmother's is exactly what you need for hiding your clutter in plain sight.

How do you balance your decor with your clutter?

Other design and decor stories:

Punch Up Your Decor with Paisley

10 Wood Flooring Designs with the "Wow" Factor

4 Quick Tips to Update Your Bedroom