The constant struggle when furnishing a living space is finding the right balance between looks and functionality. In other words, the furniture needs to offer sufficient storage while also looking well-proportioned, interesting and in sync with the rest of the decor. Yet finding suitable living room storage options is not that difficult if you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for.

Diversity is important and the cases when a single type of storage is needed in a space are pretty rare. In living rooms, the units need to offer a combination of open and closed compartments as well as shelves and drawers. The Dixon unit is crafted from solid American black walnut or white oak and has a modular construction which allows it to either be placed against a wall or to be used as a space divider.

Another important thing to consider when searching for the best living room storage option is modularity. That’s what the YU series from Konstantin Slawinski focuses on. It includes a variety of shelves and shelf systems which can mixed and matched as desired and which can be adapted to a variety of different decors, settings, layouts and styles.

Offering a mixture of open shelves and closed boxes, the Mixage storage unit is perfect for those cases when you have a lot of things that you want to put on display but there are still some items that you’d rather keep out of sight and private. It has four box-like units set asymmetrically and five shelves. The combination and, most importantly, the placement of these elements, allow the unit to be original and to stand out.

Filou is a complete working station, with a pinboard, a laptop table, storage and all. However, it doesn’t look like your traditional desk or work station and that’s actually the point. It’s something you can consider if you’re only occasionally working from home or you just need a space where you can check your emailsor to keep your laptop or tablet while charging.

The design of the Frisco living room storage unit is a modern take on a traditional style. The unit has a geometric design which is meant to be both functional and outstanding from an aesthetic point of view. In other words, simplicity can be original too. What we particularly enjoy about this design is the fact that the modules don’t share the same height, shape or size and that each one is special in its own way.

Even if you might not think so, industrial-looking furniture pieces are not only suitable for old warehouse conversions, stores and other such environments. A unit as stylish as the Muscari can fit nicely in a living room without its decor being all industrial or infused with worn finishes and rough accents. Sometimes it’s just about being practical and knowing how to make the most of a space.

Simplicity is also a characteristic of the Cascais shelving unit featured here in a rather bohemian setting. The unit is available in a variety of finishes so you can adapt it as best as you can to your living room decor. Its structure is simple and can be made of iron, stainless steel, black nickel or brass while the shelves can have a lacquer or veneer finish.

The symmetry of the Bilbao sideboard is quite intriguing and that’s because of the placement of the door handles. The cabinet is simple and elegant, with elegant trims and stylish grain lines. The wood structure is complemented by accent details which are available in iron, stainless steel, black nickel or brass and either be copper- or gold-plated.

This bookcase is one of the two components of the Mr. Knock collection by Samuel Chan. It’s a modular system made of stackable pieces which can be configured as desired to create custom units that suit specific spaces, layouts and needs as well as various different storage requirements.

This is the Luna cabinet, a quirky piece of furniture with a strong presence. It stands on pedestal, supported by four wooden panel arranged symmetrically to form a sculptural base. The actual storage section is circular (moon-shaped), with the bottom half being closed off with two colored panels while the top half is open.

Eric Jourdan designed a unit that’s an homage to architectMies Van der Rohe. The unit is made from a combination of wood and glass, the two materials being individually emphasized in a way that highlights the contrast between them but also allows them to complement each other beautifully and harmoniously. The Hampton unit features a lower section made of aquamarine and smoked glass and an upper section made of cherry wood.

Freedom is wonderful, especially when you have a creative mind. It’s what the Frame modules offer. They resemble square boxes and can either be open or closed and they can be combined in a variety of ways to create complex storage units or to complement existing units. The possibilities are endless, especially taking into consideration that the modules come in a variety of sizes, finishes and colors. They may very well offer the perfect solution for spaces that are difficult to furnish or that need some spark and character.

Sometimes simplicity is better than anything too extravagant or complicated. The Shine unit is a pretty good example, with its basic geometric shape and straight-forward structure. It has four doors highlighted by a contrasting trim in black stained oak. The doors can either have a matt or a glossy finish and the insert can have a black or a bronzed brass finish.