Add interior storage to your home

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Storage space isn't just about a place to store things you don't use often. It's also about clutter-free living and organizing your belongings so they are protected and easy to find. The addition of interior storage gives you the opportunity to reorganize your space and your belongings in a way that works best for you and your family.

Finding more storage space in your home can take a bit of detective work. Walk around your house with an eye for empty or poorly utilized space. Can you envision extra shelving with bins, or even complete storage systems in your garage, your attic or your basement?

Since none of these areas are in the main living area of your house, adding storage here will require an evaluation of heating, cooling, ventilation and moisture-control systems so that your stored items are not subject to environmental damage. Also, these parts of the house are not as easily accessible as the areas on the main living level and aren't suitable for things you need to use every day.

To find more easily accessible interior storage space in the main area of your house for everyday items, consider these options:

• Open up space beneath the staircase
• Line the walls of a wide hallway with shelves or cabinets
• Add shelves to the empty spaces over toilets, the washer and dryer and above windows
• Add dual-purpose furniture, for example, an ottoman with storage or a bed with drawers in the bottom

None of these ideas really address the need for one storage place for all similar items, such as a pantry, a linen closet or a cupboard for cleaning supplies. Finding this type of space might require reworking your floor plan, like moving walls to enlarge a walk-in closet or squeezing a pantry in beside the kitchen. This most often happens when some other more extensive residential remodeling projects are undertaken. However, if you have an area in your house that is underutilized right beside a room that needs more storage, this renovation by itself might make a lot of sense.

If you are considering moving walls, consult with an interior designer and a contractor first. An interior designer can help you find hidden space, and someone who specializes in storage systems can offer advice on what space-saving tools are available to give you maximum results.

A contractor can tell you if you can safely move walls and if any other systems will also have to be moved, such as electrical or ventilation. He can also give you an estimate of cost and completion time. Reply! can provide you with a list of qualified professionals in your area.

Besides increasing the resale value of your home, the addition of interior storage will create a less-cluttered space where there is a place for everything. Tapping into your home's hidden storage will make it a more pleasant and comfortable place to live.