Free Printable Living Room Decluttering Guide

The living room, for all its good intentions, often becomes the home’s unofficial dumping ground, doesn’t it? After all, we spend so much time in this room! If your comfy spots are overflowing with “just for now” items, it’s time for a refresh. And here’s the good news: my free printable living room decluttering guide can help you reclaim your cozy space and achieve longer-lasting organization.

When I was younger, unexpected guests arriving, prompting a frantic “shove everything in a basket” maneuver, became a recurring theme. This was honestly anxiety-inducing, and I eventually decided a calmer approach was needed.

How do you declutter and reorganize a living room in a way that actually lasts? This is probably the number 1 demotivator for me: tidying up everything only to wake up in the same chaos, weeks or even days later.

This free printable living room decluttering guide was the fix I came up with for this problem. It doesn’t just help you figure out what stays and what goes. It also provides clear sorting categories for the keepers so you can create an organization system that simply works!

🛋️ Living Room Decluttering Guide

I believe the living room is the heart of the home, a place for quiet evenings and gatherings with friends and family. It certainly can’t be any of these things when there’s a mess everywhere.

This guide is designed to help you bring that sense of calm and order back to your main living space. It’s also perfect for redecorating – a major purge is always needed in this scenario!

🤔 Decision-Making Questions

Facing a collection of remotes, decorative pieces, stuffed cabinets, and maybe even a stray game from last night? This guide starts with a few honest questions that will help you sort through everything that’s accumulated.

Take items one by one and ask yourself the questions below for each.

• Have I used this item in the past 3-6 months, or do I plan to use it regularly?
• Is this item functional, unbroken, and complete?
• Do I have more than one of this item, and do I need this specific duplicate?
• Does this item fit comfortably in its designated storage space?
• Does this item enhance the look of my dining room or hold special sentimental value?

Items that get at least one “Yes” are eligible for the Keep pile. I say eligible because there is no one-size-fits-all rule here, and usually, there will be more than one “Yes”.

Trust me, these questions will truly make sense once you put them into action!

💸 The Sell Pile

All the items that don’t get sent to the Keep pile will be split into three different categories.

The first one is the Sell pile – those valuable pieces that are just too good to simply give away and have a high potential to be sold and recoup some of their original cost.

• Living room furniture – This includes larger pieces like sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, or entertainment centers that are still in great shape and ready for a new living space.
• Electronics & media equipment – Think working flat-screen TVs, sound systems, or gaming consoles you no longer use but still have considerable value.
• High-quality area rugs – Rugs that are clean, free of major stains, and made from good materials can be quite sellable to someone looking for a floor refresh.
• Decorative lamps & lighting – Stylish floor or table lamps that are fully functional and in excellent condition are always sought after.
• Large art & premium decor pieces – Significant paintings, sculptures, or high-end decorative objects that are no longer your style but would be a treasured find for someone else.
• Collectible media – This could be rare vinyl records, complete TV series box sets, or other media items sought by collectors.
• Specialty storage pieces – Unique shelving units, decorative cabinets, or storage ottomans that are sturdy and in excellent condition.
• Decorative accent chairs & pillows – High-end accent chairs or pristine decorative pillows that are too valuable to simply donate.

🎁 The Donate Pile

Those items that are still perfectly usable but not valuable enough to sell can go to the Donate pile. You’ll be preventing waste and helping other households at the same time. A true win-win!

• Small furniture – This includes sturdy side tables, small ottomans, or basic shelving units that are still functional for everyday use.
• Functional lamps – Everyday table or floor lamps that work perfectly but you no longer need.
• Decorative items & picture frames – Vases, candle holders, small figurines, or picture frames that are unbroken and clean.
• Books – Good condition novels, non-fiction, or coffee table books you’ve finished enjoying.
• Complete board games & puzzles – Games with all their pieces and puzzles that are complete are always appreciated by families or community centers.
• Gently used throws & blankets – Cozy blankets that are clean and free of major rips or stains.
• DVDs, CDs & video games – Non-collectible media items you no longer watch or play.
• Vases & candle holders – Extra decorative containers that are still lovely but not needed.
• Small functional electronics – Items like old DVD players, basic speakers, or small fans that still work perfectly.

You can always donate some of these items to people you already know (who need them, of course). For the rest, check local charities, thrift stores, and community centers .

🗑️ The Trash Pile

The Trash pile is the third and last category of items that don’t make it to the Keep pile. Trust me, all of us have held on to some items that are broken, unsafe, unsanitary, or beyond repair. Letting them go feels like a breath of fresh air!

• Broken or unsafe furniture – Wobbly chairs, splintered tables, or anything that poses a safety risk and cannot be fixed.
• Non-working electronics & appliances – Anything that doesn’t turn on, has frayed cords, or is too old to be useful.
• Heavily stained or torn rugs – Rugs with irreparable damage, large holes, or stubborn, unsanitary stains.
• Broken lamps, light fixtures & damaged decor
• Incomplete board games & puzzles
• Worn-out throws & pillows – Throws that are threadbare, ripped, or pillows that have lost all their fluff and shape.
• Expired candles & potpourri – Candles with no wick left, or potpourri that has lost its scent entirely.
• Old magazines & junk mail
• Anything moldy or pest-ridden – For obvious health and safety reasons, these items must be discarded immediately.

✨ The Keep Pile

Once you get all the other categories out of the way, it’s time to organize the Keep pile. That’s why I included the major categories of items to be kept for the living room.

The real magic happens once all of them are organized!

• Seating – Sofas, armchairs, and any accent chairs you cherish for comfort and style.
• Tables – Coffee tables, end tables, and console tables that serve a purpose and fit your space.
• Storage furniture – Bookcases, media consoles, and other pieces that hold organized items.
• Lamps & lighting – Your functional and decorative light sources that contribute to the room’s ambiance.
• Wall art – Paintings, prints, or wall hangings that you love and enhance your decor.
• Decorative objects – Vases, sculptures, trinkets, and other decorative pieces that bring you joy.
• Throws & pillows – Cozy blankets and decorative cushions that complete your seating areas.
• Area rugs – Your rugs that define areas, add warmth, and tie the room together.
• Electronics – Your TV, sound system, and other functional devices.
• Books & magazines – Your collection of reads you and your family still enjoy.
• Games & puzzles – Board games and puzzles that are complete and regularly played with.
• Photos & memorabilia – Cherished photos and special mementos that bring you joy and are displayed thoughtfully.

⬇️ Grab It Now

Now that you’re armed with all the knowledge you need to declutter your living room, it’s time to download and print your freebie.

✅Fill in your name and email (make sure it’s a valid email address) in the box below and hit the “Grab It Now” button.

✅You’ll get the download link to the PDF file containing the free printable living room decluttering guide in your inbox (which is why you needed a valid email address in the first place).

✅Click the link and save the file to your device.

✅Open it using the free Adobe Reader or any other PDF reader you prefer.

✅Go to File->Print. This printable was designed for regular U.S. Letter paper, so if that’s what you’re using you can hit the Print button.

✅You can also change the type of paper to be used from this menu (such as A4, A5, etc.). Once you adjust the settings, just print and enjoy!

💡 Living Room Decluttering Tips

I’ve always found the real challenge is keeping my living room open and inviting after the big purge. Well, okay….there are more, but this is a big one!

Here are some of the strategies I picked up over the years that truly make a difference while you’re decluttering and after.

👉Clean while you declutter – After you’ve cleared out the unneeded items, give your living room a good, thorough clean before putting your “keepers” back. There’s nothing like a fresh, sparkling space!

For a truly comprehensive clean, I highly recommend my free printable room-by-room cleaning checklist. It has both a prefilled version and a blank one for customizing, so you can make it your own.

👉Handle incoming items right away – The living room often becomes the landing strip for things that don’t quite belong. I learned to immediately put away items like mail, bags, or stray papers as soon as they enter the room, rather than letting them settle on a surface. It truly cuts down on surface clutter!

👉Rotate your decorative favorites – You don’t need every cherished knick-knack on display all the time! Consider storing some seasonal decor or sentimental pieces and rotating them throughout the year. It keeps your shelves from looking overstuffed and dusting less of a headache.

👉Label your hidden storage – Even in a living room, storage solutions often have drawers or baskets that benefit from clear labeling. Whether it’s for game night essentials, charging cables, or extra batteries, knowing exactly what’s inside a closed container brings instant peace. My favorite way to do this is with our free printable and editable storage bin labels.

Did you find yourself laughing at any particular item you decided to toss from your living room? I can’t wait to hear some funny stories!