'A place for everything and everything in its place' - it's an old saying and it makes a lot of sense.
Storage
Making storage space can be as simple as putting a hook on a wall, or as complex as a total loft conversion. Most jobs are a matter of a little imagination and some basic DIY skills.
Safety first
Keep your fingers clear when nailing and screwing and especially when working with saws and chisels. Sharp tools are safer to use than blunt ones, so keep them in good working trim. Wear eye protection when necessary and be sure ladders are stable and safe. Dust is dangerous to the lungs so wear a mask when sanding.
Planning
Always plan for the major items to be stored first and decide how much space to allocate to them. Also, decide if you want freestanding units or built-in shelves and cupboards.
When planning a complete room or floor of a house, make up your plan to scale on graph paper. This will give you an accurate idea of what's possible to achieve maximum storage capacity and ease of access.
Items such as books in bulk which might cover a whole wall can act as soundproofing on an interior wall or as additional insulation on an outside one.
Items can either be stored out of sight behind solid doors or displayed on open shelves or in glass-fronted cabinets.
Plan your storage to allow for additional items to be added in the future. It seems you can never have enough space.
The height and positions of cupboards and shelves will depend a lot on how often you use them. In the kitchen this is particularly important since most articles are in regular use. There are also regulations relating to shelving and other aspects of kitchen design, so it helps to be familiar with them. This information is available, free of charge, from your local council.
Having enough or extra storage is essential for keeping your house looking tidy, but finding the room around your home where your belongings can fit can be challenging, especially if you live in an apartment. In this situation, you may find storage units near your home wherein all of your seasonal items can be transferred there while remaining close at hand for easy access. You might have bicycles lined up in the hallway, guest bedding filling up your linen closet, or seasonal decorations taking over your second car in your garage. If you are experiencing this, investing in self-storage will give you the flexibility to take full advantage of the space in your home for living, not storing.
Using space
Probably the easiest way to gain storage space in the home is to use the unused areas of the building itself. One of the most common of these is the area below a staircase. This is easily turned into storage for household items such as brushes and brooms. It can be simply shelved out and left open- fronted or covered in as a complete cupboard.
Fireplaces are redundant in many homes and they can be removed quite easily. You may need to employ a builder to ensure that no structural damage is done to the house and to see that an air flow is maintained. The space gained makes a useful storage area and can often remain a focal point in the room.
The alcoves on either side of a chimney breast can also be simply shelved out to create some very useful areas for storage. These are particularly useful as wardrobe spaces in the bedroom, either for freestanding units or built-in ones. Built-in wardrobes can be made to utilise all the available space to its fullest. Really deep alcoves can also be walk-in wardrobes or can even be used to house shower units.
Check to see if space can be gained by removing a door or by re-hanging it to open the opposite way. Floor space may also be gained by using a sliding door in certain situations. Sometimes either of these solutions can free up a lot of space along a wall.
Most redundant space is on the walls. The more this can be used the more efficient use you make of your home.