Adequate storage is one of the prime requirements for enjoying an organized and aptly livable home. But like many people, you may argue that you simply do not have enough room to store all of your belongings out of sight when not in use yet have them accessible for when you need them. Whether your problem is a shortage of closets or a lack of cabinet space, with some creativity these tips can guide you in creating additional storage for your home in places you may have overlooked.

If your storage shortfall stems from few closets, you must optimize the space you do have inside each closet. If each closet is not organized such that you know where every item is stored and can return it to its designated place after use, a preliminary step to boosting your storage space is to analyze, minimize and organize the items already in your closets. Analyze whether you should keep each item, minimize to only having items worth keeping and organize them in a logical, accessible manner within the closets. By organizing thoroughly, you may find that you have additional storage space hidden within the very closets you blame for your disorganization.

Many older homes were originally built with no closets, posing a major storage challenge to their modern day inhabitants. If you have no closets whatsoever, you can solve the problem by creating small bits of ingenious storage space throughout your home. Clothes and shoes can be stored in under bed bins, dresser drawers and portable closets, which are free standing rods for hanging clothes that typically include a fabric cover for aesthetic blending and wheels for maneuverability. A lack of closets also calls for incorporating additional storage into your arrangement, such as shelves, chests and cabinets throughout your home to store linens, out of season clothing and equipment that is traditionally stored in closets. You may want to consider furniture that doubles as storage, such as a coffee table chest and ottomans that accommodate storage within.

Regardless of the amount of closet space you have to work with, do not underestimate the utility of wall space. Shelves can be installed on any wall, use no floor space, and provide a versatile solution for storing books, keepsakes and baskets that can hold many smaller items. Hooks of various sizes lined along a hidden wall, such as in your laundry area, provide an excellent solution for items that can be hung out of sight. Folding chairs, backpacks, brooms, umbrellas, and sports equipment are excellent candidates for being hung and this arrangement will in turn free other storage space.

If your home has a garage, basement or accessible attic, you probably have a plethora of underutilized storage space right in front of you. Creating efficient storage throughout a home requires ingenuity and perseverance, but pays off in convenience and the comfort of an organized living environment.