It's Week 3 of the Home Reset Challenge, here we go! This week, we’re turning our attention to one of the most lived-in spaces in your home—the living room (aptly named). In my open concept home, the living room takes a beating. It is not onyl the lived in relaxation station, but also a transfer station. Want to go to the kitchen? Pass by the living room. Laundry? Take a quick tour past the couch. Bedrooms? You're bypassing the swivel chairs. No matter where you are upstairs, you can see the living room front and center. So when it looks like a tornado went through, the whole house feels like a wreck.
If you’re following along with my book, The Home Reset, the Living Room chapter is filled with practical advice, systems, and habits to help transform this space and make it a spot you can enjoy instead of a hub of chaos:
This Week’s Habit: Random Roundup
This Week’s System Focus: Smart Storage
This Week’s Declutter Challenge: Surfaces
The Random Roundup
The random roundup has been revolutionary for my family. I put on a silly fake cowboy accent, played loud music, and told everyone we're having a rootin' tootin' good time (again with my dorky love of a theme, but I promise it works!) cleaning as fast as we possibly could for 15 minutes. Over the years it has evolved into a habit, usually after dinner. We rotate who gets to pick the music and divvy up tasks based on zones or categories (toddler tosses his toys into his wagon to drive to his room, oldest tidies the pillows, blankets, and picks up the floor, husband usually tackles the kitchen and I wipe down surfaces, vacuum, etc.). We use a visual timer and ususally end up going for a few songs extra.
This has been the only way i've consistently stuck with a habit that results in going to bed with a clean home, which we all LOVE. By the time all the kids are in bed i'm just too tired to close down the house, and don't want to eat up any precious "me" time or sleep cleaning up. BUT I feel so much better waking up to a clean house. Random Roundup is the only thing that has stuck, and I do feel that i'm sneakily instilling good habits for my kids to take into adulthood.
Here’s the official Random Roundup Breakdown:
Set a timer for 15 minutes.
Play some loud, energizing music.
Break tasks into categories (e.g., trash, toys, books) or zones (e.g., sofa area, coffee table).
Assign tasks or zones to family members and clean as quickly as possible until the timer goes off.
Smart Storage
I've learned that the key to a tidy living room is a combo of smart storage and less stuff (by the way, the book Cozy Minimalist Home is such a game changer and i'd highly recommend). Whatever tends to clutter your space—whether it’s toys, books, remotes, or knitting supplies—find a storage solution that works for you. Here are a few ideas:
Toys: I use zip-up bags from Amazon to store puzzles and keep only minimal toys in an easy-access basket. This makes cleanup quick and simple.
Books and Magazines: A stylish basket or small bookshelf can keep these organized and within reach. I realized I really like things like this behind closed doors, so I opt for cabinets or storage with doors.
Remotes: A decorative box or small tray on the coffee table keeps them corralled and easy to find. If something has a designated spot that everyone knows about, people tend to habitualize putting it back.
Living Room Hobbies: Things like knitting supplies, nail files or polish, flossers, etc. can hide away in a basket or drawer. Not everything needs to be "beautified", but it is helpful to have a designated spot for everything. This creates less visual clutter and makes it so much harder to lose the things you constantly reach for.
PS- If you are opting for natural woven baskets, feel them first and see if they crumble/shed. For example, I love the look of hyacinth but it falls apart and leaves little shards of stuff everywhere and can be a bit slivery.
Take a look at your living room and identify what’s causing clutter, then find a smart storage solution to make cleanup a breeze. You can shop some of my favorite living room storage solutions here.
Declutter Challenge: Surfaces
This week’s declutter challenge is all about surfaces. If your living room feels overwhelming, start by clearing off coffee tables, side tables, shelves, or mantels. I'm starting with the cabinet next to my fireplace. I went a little overboard trying to hid our ugly internet modem that sits there and now it is just overwhelming to look at.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Remove Everything: Take everything off the surface you’re decluttering.
Evaluate Each Item: Ask yourself:
Does this add to the functionality or beauty of the space?
Do I love this item, or is it just taking up space?
Would this be better stored elsewhere (like the donate pile)?
Declutter: Donate or toss items that no longer serve a purpose.
Curate: Put back only what you truly love and use, leaving some breathing room to keep the space feeling open and calm.
Bonus Bonus: If throw pillows or blankets are taking over your seating, consider scaling back to just a few favorites that complement your decor. I think this is another thing I will tackle. My throw pillows are constantly thrown. Or used for pillow fights. Or a ninja obstacle courses. It drives me crazy. I think I will utilize a big basket I have to store some cute pillows I can put out quickly when people come over, but not keep out "on the couch" (i.e. on the floor).
Need more ideas for resetting your living room? The Living Room chapter in The Home Reset has you covered with additional tips, systems, and advice to make maintaining this space a breeze.
Let’s make this week about creating a living room you love spending time in. I’ll be sharing more tips and ideas on social media all week long—be sure to follow me @karissaathome on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest!