Willow and Hearth

Your living room should feel calm, functional, and easy to maintain, yet clutter and outdated items quietly chip away at that comfort. By ruthlessly editing what stays and what goes, you create space for pieces that actually serve you and support a cohesive design. Use this list as a room-by-room audit so you can confidently throw away, recycle, or replace the things that are holding your living room back today.

1) Cracked Or Cloudy Plastic Storage Bins

Cracked or cloudy plastic storage bins in your living room are a clear sign that clutter has taken over and your organizing system is no longer working. When containers are damaged, you cannot see what is inside, lids stop fitting properly, and the whole stack becomes unstable. That visual chaos fights against the calm, intentional look you want in a main gathering space, especially if the bins are shoved under consoles or stacked in corners.

Instead of clinging to worn-out plastic, remove these bins and reassess what you are storing in the living room at all. Items that truly belong there can be moved into closed cabinetry, baskets, or built-ins that support a more curated layout, a principle echoed in many living room decorating guides. When you toss the broken containers, you also force yourself to confront excess belongings, which is often the real source of visual noise and daily stress.

2) Expired Candles And Half-Burned Jars

Expired candles and half-burned jars scattered across your coffee table or media console quickly turn from cozy accents into dusty clutter. Wax that has lost its scent, wicks that tunnel, and jars coated in soot no longer contribute to ambiance, they just collect dust and compete with more intentional decor. When you keep every old candle “just in case,” you also crowd out opportunities to introduce a single, well-chosen scent that defines the room.

Clearing these out gives you a chance to reset your sensory environment and your surfaces at the same time. Recycle glass jars where possible, discard wax that no longer performs, and keep only one or two candles that actually burn cleanly and smell the way you want your living room to feel. That small edit instantly makes shelves and tables look more deliberate and easier to clean.

3) Oversized Furniture That Blocks Walkways

Oversized furniture that blocks walkways is one of the fastest ways to make your living room feel cramped and uncomfortable. When a sofa arm juts into a doorway or a bulky recliner forces people to sidestep around it, the room stops functioning as a relaxed gathering space. You may also find that large pieces swallow natural light, hide architectural details, and make it harder to arrange other items in a balanced way.

Removing or replacing these pieces opens up circulation paths and lets you rethink the scale of everything else in the room. Design guidance often emphasizes choosing furniture that fits the proportions of the space, not just what looks good in a showroom, so editing out the worst offenders is a powerful first step. Once the big blockages are gone, you can experiment with slimmer silhouettes, floating layouts, and more breathing room between seats.

4) Worn-Out Throw Pillows And Inserts

Worn-out throw pillows and flattened inserts drag down even the nicest sofa or sectional. When covers are pilled, stained, or faded, and the inserts have lost their loft, the whole seating area looks tired and neglected. Instead of providing support, these pillows slump, forcing you to constantly fluff them and making it harder for guests to sit comfortably without rearranging everything.

By tossing the worst offenders, you immediately sharpen the look of your seating and reduce visual clutter. Fresh inserts and a smaller number of well-chosen covers can echo your color palette and textures more effectively than a pile of mismatched, sagging cushions. This simple purge also makes cleaning easier, since you are not constantly moving a mountain of pillows just to vacuum or straighten the sofa.

5) Frayed Or Slippery Area Rugs

Frayed or slippery area rugs are more than an eyesore, they are a safety hazard in a high-traffic living room. When edges curl, backing deteriorates, or the rug slides on hard flooring, you increase the risk of trips and falls for everyone moving through the space. Visually, worn rugs also undermine any effort to create a cohesive design, since they sit at the center of the room and frame your main furniture.

Removing a damaged rug gives you a chance to reassess size, placement, and material so the next one actually supports the way you use the room. A properly scaled rug that stays in place can anchor your seating area, define zones, and absorb sound, while a frayed piece only highlights neglect. If a rug is beyond repair or cannot be safely secured with a pad, it is time to throw it out and start fresh.

6) Old Electronics And Dead Cables

Old electronics and dead cables lurking behind your TV stand or in baskets are classic living room clutter that no longer serve any purpose. Outdated streaming boxes, broken remotes, and tangles of unidentified cords create visual noise and make it harder to access the devices you actually use. They also collect dust and can complicate troubleshooting when you are trying to figure out which cable belongs to your current setup.

Clearing these items out simplifies your media area and reduces the risk of overloading outlets with forgotten power bricks. As you sort, keep only the cords that match devices you still own and label them so they are easy to identify later. Everything else should be recycled or disposed of according to local rules, freeing up drawers and shelves for items that genuinely support your daily routines.

7) Decorative Items You No Longer Like

Decorative items you no longer like, from vases to figurines to random souvenirs, quietly dilute the personality of your living room. When every surface is crowded with pieces that no longer reflect your taste, the room starts to feel more like a storage unit than a curated space. You may find yourself dusting objects you actively dislike or trying to style around them instead of letting a few meaningful accents shine.

Letting go of these items creates visual breathing room and helps your favorite pieces stand out. Many decorating guides encourage editing accessories so each one has a clear purpose, whether that is adding height, texture, or a personal story. By throwing away or donating decor that no longer resonates, you make it easier to maintain a cohesive style and to update the room over time without constant rearranging.

8) Broken Picture Frames And Warped Art

Broken picture frames and warped art instantly cheapen the look of your living room, no matter how meaningful the images inside might be. Cracked glass, chipped corners, and bowed mats signal neglect and draw attention away from the photos or prints you wanted to highlight. When frames lean at odd angles or refuse to hang straight, they also disrupt the clean lines of your walls and shelving.

Removing damaged frames gives you a chance to re-evaluate which images truly deserve a place in your main gathering space. You can then reprint or reframe favorites in a more cohesive style, rather than clinging to mismatched, broken pieces out of habit. Tossing what cannot be repaired also simplifies dusting and reduces the risk of loose glass or splinters falling where kids and pets spend time.

9) Excess Magazines, Catalogs, And Junk Mail

Excess magazines, catalogs, and junk mail tend to pile up on coffee tables, side tables, and consoles until they become a permanent layer of clutter. Even if you intend to read or reference them later, stacks of paper quickly yellow, curl, and slide around, making the room look messy. They also attract dust and can hide important items like remotes or keys under shifting piles.

By recycling these paper stacks, you immediately clear surfaces and make room for more intentional styling or simply open space. You can keep a single tray or basket for current reading material and set a firm limit on how many issues stay in the room at once. This habit not only improves the look of your living room but also reduces the mental load of constantly sorting through outdated mail and catalogs.

10) Damaged Or Unused Window Treatments

Damaged or unused window treatments, such as bent blinds, stained curtains, or broken rods, undermine both the function and appearance of your living room. When slats will not open properly or fabric hangs unevenly, you lose control over light and privacy, and the windows become a focal point for all the wrong reasons. Heavy, outdated drapes can also block natural light, making the room feel smaller and gloomier.

Taking down treatments that no longer work gives you a clean slate to rethink how you frame your windows. Even simple, well-fitted options can dramatically improve the room’s overall feel by letting in more daylight and creating a tidy outline around the glass. Throwing away what is broken or permanently stained also makes cleaning easier and reduces the number of fabric surfaces that can trap dust and odors.

11) Stained Or Sagging Bookcases

Stained or sagging bookcases send a strong visual message that your living room storage is past its prime. Shelves that bow under the weight of books, water rings from old plants, and chipped veneer all contribute to a sense of wear that no amount of styling can fully hide. When a bookcase is structurally compromised, it can even pose a safety risk if it leans or wobbles near seating areas.

Removing or replacing these pieces allows you to rebuild your storage in a way that actually supports your collection and your design goals. A sturdy, well-proportioned bookcase can act as an anchor for the room, while a damaged one just highlights clutter and neglect. As you toss or donate failing units, you can also edit your books and objects so the shelves that remain feel intentional rather than overstuffed.

12) Old Remote Controls And Instruction Manuals

Old remote controls and instruction manuals often linger in living room drawers long after the devices they belonged to are gone. These leftovers create confusion when you are searching for the remotes you actually use and add to the general sense of disorganization around your media setup. Paper manuals, in particular, can swell into bulky stacks that you rarely consult, especially when most information is now available online.

By throwing away remotes that no longer pair with any device and recycling outdated manuals, you streamline your storage and reduce frustration. Keep only the controls that operate current equipment and consider labeling or corraling them in a single tray. This small purge makes it easier for everyone in the household to operate the TV and sound system without digging through cluttered drawers.

13) Uncomfortable Accent Chairs No One Uses

Uncomfortable accent chairs that no one ever chooses to sit in are prime candidates for removal from your living room. Whether the seat is too low, the back too rigid, or the upholstery scratchy, these pieces occupy valuable floor space without contributing to actual comfort. They also complicate furniture arrangements, forcing you to work around something that is essentially decorative dead weight.

Letting go of these chairs opens up possibilities for better seating or simply more open space, which can make the room feel larger and more inviting. You can then invest in pieces that people genuinely gravitate toward, rather than maintaining a chair that exists only for show. As you edit, pay attention to how guests naturally use the room, and prioritize furniture that supports those patterns instead of fighting them.

14) Outdated Or Damaged Coffee Tables

Outdated or damaged coffee tables sit at the center of your living room, so their condition has an outsized impact on how the space feels. Scratched finishes, wobbly legs, and chipped corners make the entire seating area look neglected, even if the surrounding furniture is in good shape. If the table is too large, too small, or the wrong height, it can also interfere with comfortable conversation and access to drinks or books.

Throwing out a table that no longer works gives you a chance to rethink both function and style. You might choose a piece with built-in storage to reduce clutter or a lighter silhouette to open up the room visually. Removing a damaged table also improves safety, especially for children who might bump into sharp edges or unstable surfaces during everyday play.

15) Excess Throw Blankets And Worn Afghans

Excess throw blankets and worn afghans draped over every surface can make your living room feel messy and overstuffed. When textiles are frayed, pilled, or permanently stained, they stop reading as cozy accents and start to resemble laundry that never got put away. Multiple layers of mismatched colors and patterns also compete with your furniture and decor, creating visual clutter that is hard to style around.

Editing down to a few high-quality throws that you actually use and enjoy instantly sharpens the room’s look. You can store them in a single basket or folded neatly on the sofa, rather than scattering them across chairs and ottomans. Tossing or donating the rest reduces the number of items you have to straighten every day and makes it easier to keep the room looking pulled together.

16) Bulky Entertainment Centers From Old TV Eras

Bulky entertainment centers designed for deep, boxy televisions often overwhelm modern living rooms that now use slim flat screens. These oversized units eat up wall space, darken the room, and encourage you to stash random items in every available cubby. Their dated proportions can also clash with newer furniture, making the entire seating area feel stuck in a different era.

Removing an outdated entertainment center frees up a significant amount of visual and physical space, allowing you to mount the TV or place it on a smaller console. This shift can open up new layout options, improve sightlines, and reduce the temptation to fill every shelf with clutter. As you throw out the old unit, you can also reassess what truly needs to live near the television and relocate everything else.

17) Items That Are Illegal To Toss In Regular Trash

Items that are illegal to toss in regular trash, such as certain electronics or hazardous materials, often end up stashed in living room corners or cabinets while you decide what to do with them. Keeping them indefinitely not only clutters your space but also delays proper disposal that local regulations require. Some regions explicitly list products that must be handled through special collection programs rather than curbside garbage, so they should not linger in your home.

Instead of letting these items gather dust, check which household materials are restricted in your area and schedule a drop-off or pickup. Once you move them out, you reclaim storage and reduce the risk of leaks, breakage, or accidental misuse in a family space. Clearing out regulated waste also makes it easier to see what everyday clutter is left to tackle, so your living room can function as a true living area rather than a holding zone.

18) Cheap Plastic Decor And Faux Plants

Cheap plastic decor and faux plants that have faded or gathered dust can make your living room feel more like a waiting room than a lived-in home. Over time, plastic leaves discolor, seams become more obvious, and surfaces trap grime that is difficult to clean thoroughly. Instead of adding life and texture, these pieces start to broadcast that they are low-quality stand-ins for real greenery or thoughtful accessories.

Throwing out the worst offenders allows you to either introduce a few easy-care real plants or simply embrace cleaner surfaces. A single well-chosen vase or a live plant like a snake plant or pothos can do more for the room’s atmosphere than a cluster of tired plastic arrangements. As you edit, focus on quality over quantity so the decor that remains actually elevates the space rather than filling it for the sake of filling it.

19) Old Board Games With Missing Pieces

Old board games with missing pieces often end up shoved into living room cabinets, taking up valuable storage without offering real entertainment. When key cards, tokens, or dice are gone, the game is effectively unplayable, yet the box still occupies the same amount of space. These forgotten sets can crowd out games your family actually enjoys and make it harder to quickly grab something for a spontaneous game night.

By tossing incomplete games, you streamline your collection and make room for titles that are ready to play. You can also use the opportunity to organize remaining games vertically or in labeled bins so they are easier to access. Clearing out unusable boxes reduces visual clutter every time you open a cabinet and encourages more frequent, stress-free use of the games that remain.

20) Duplicate Or Chipped Mugs And Glasses

Duplicate or chipped mugs and glasses that migrate from the kitchen into living room cabinets or shelves quietly add to clutter and safety concerns. When you have far more drinkware than you ever use in this space, it becomes harder to keep track of favorites and easier for damaged pieces to stay in rotation. Chips on rims or cracks in glassware can pose a real risk when you are serving guests or relaxing with a drink on the sofa.

Throwing away damaged pieces and donating excess duplicates helps you maintain a smaller, more functional set that is easy to store and style. A few intact mugs or glasses on a tray can look intentional, while a jumble of mismatched, worn items just reads as leftover storage. This simple edit also makes it easier to clean shelves and reduces the chance of accidents during everyday use.

21) Random “Just In Case” Items With No Clear Purpose

Random “just in case” items with no clear purpose, from spare hardware to mystery keys to old chargers, often end up living in living room drawers and baskets. These objects rarely see actual use, yet they occupy mental and physical space every time you rummage through storage. The more of these undefined items you keep, the harder it becomes to find what you truly need, and the more your living room functions as a catchall instead of a relaxing retreat.

By throwing away or relocating anything that does not have a specific, current role in this room, you reclaim control over your environment. You can designate each drawer or basket for a clear category, such as remotes, coasters, or current reading, and let go of the rest. This final round of editing reinforces the idea that your living room should support how you live today, not serve as a long-term holding area for things you might never use.