If you're like many people, you moved into your current home because it had the amenities and space that you needed at the time. However, for a lot of people, their space needs often change as their life goes on. Whether you've gotten married, had kids, are now living with roommates, are taking care of a loved one, or something else, you may now have more people living in your home, which means more space to share. In other cases, you may just have more possessions now than you did a few years ago. So to keep you from having to move into a new home, here are three tips for adding more storage space within your current place of residence.
Before All Else, Declutter
Before you even attempt to bring in storage pieces or rearrange what you have into more efficient areas, Elizabeth Larkin, a contributor to The Spruce, shares that you should first declutter your home. Finding new homes for items that you don't use or no longer need is just a waste of your time. Getting rid of them is your best bid.
By spending a few hours brushing through your belongings and getting rid of the things you don't want to keep, you could cut back on storage expenses. In this regard, you can start by estimating how much junk is lying around and hire an appropriate sized garbage dumpster from Temporary Dumpster or a similar company that can fit in most of the trash. Surprisingly, you might also find that you've now got ample room even without adding any physical storage space. If you live with other people, encourage them to do this as well.
Fill Every Empty Space
For many people, there are likely at least a few areas where you could be storing things but you're not using that space. Whether you've forgotten about these areas or haven't yet made the most of the space you've been given, it's important that you try to fill up every empty space that you presently have. According to This Old House, this can include doing things like storing things under your bed; using chest, benches, or ottomans; and using all available racks, hangers, or shelving units. By using every empty space that you have, you'll be able to maximize your storage.
Think Vertically
Especially for people who are struggling to have enough living space in their homes, you might not be too keen to bring in additional storage units that are going to have a large footprint within your house. Luckily, Marla Christiansen, a contributor to Real Simple, shares that it's easy to think vertically when creating more storage space. By going up instead of going out, you can increase your storage without encroaching too much on the limited living space you might have.
If you think you're beginning to run out of storage space in your home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you rethink that space you already have available or brainstorm new ways to get the space you require.