Weather you have a huge home or a very small space, you probably need more storage, who doesn’t?

Start with a particular space in mind, pick a room or closet and decide what you need to store. Is it winter clothes, holiday decorations, memorabilia or everyday items that you just don’t want to look at it as you pass through your rooms?

Think in terms of everything having more than one duty, storage should be one of them if possible. Benches, foot stools, cabinets in the foyer, are all places for additional storage. If you have to make a purchase for a particular room; think in terms of can it also be used as storage?

Ottomans, benches and TV cabinet space can all store those pretty, funky or patriotic throws that you’ve collected. You love them, you need them, but do they really add to your décor? So, when not in use, stow them away.

Naturally with some careful editing, you’ll increase your potential storage. Take a walk through your room (s) and look critically at what you have and decide what can do double duty as hide-away storage. Window seats that don’t open for storage is a huge waste of space, find a way to gain access to all that space. Under the stairs is another place for hidden storage. If the task is beyond your abilities call a licensed contractor to open the space and add some doors or shelves for display.

If you can store seasonal items in the garage and use your interior closets for more of your everyday items, so much the better. Remember tackle one space at a time and be ruthless about editing items you don’t need or use. Kitchen pantries and cabinets are usually filled with items you haven’t used in years, do yourself a favor and get rid of those things.

The space is there; sometimes you just have to look at it in a new way.