A home is the place where you want to be able to unwind and relax, but if it’s cluttered up and chaotic, it might do the exact opposite – a messy home can actually make you even more tired and even affect the way you feel. So it is absolutely crucial that your home is set up exactly the way you want it – and that includes not only the design of the interior, but also the way your things are stored, or more specifically, where they are stored.

And while it can sometimes feel as if fitting all of your belongings in a home without them taking up a lot of room is impossible, there are actually pretty simple techniques that can be utilized to significantly reduce clutter and make your home seem bigger, more open, while at the same time making it look a lot better.

So here are five tips on how you can find and plan out the right home storage solution for your individual needs:

Consider Your Space

The obvious truth is that not all homes are the same – they differ firstly in size, among many other things. But size, while an important aspect when considering storage needs, is not the ultimate deciding factor. In fact, if thoroughly planned, a smaller home can comfortably store more belongings than a poorly laid out bigger home.

Still, the first thing you must do is think about your storage opportunities in the space that you can work with – figuring out what purpose each area of the home might serve can help you determine what would be the logical storage solutions for each of them.

You don’t want to store your kitchen utensils in the living room, or your sheets and towels in the kitchen, right?

Of course, these are silly examples, but the point is that before anything else, you should sort out the areas of your home so that you can start allotting what will go where.

Conceal What You Can

One of the most important rules to a good looking and cozy home is that anything that shouldn’t be seen, isn’t seen. Any wiring, cables and even your PC are the prime targets of the operation – you want them neatly hidden away in a console so that your home is does not become a web of electronics spread out across the floor.

In fact, storing all of your electronic devices in a console might be a great idea – having your cable box, any players or streaming devices conveniently in one place is not only neat, but also comfortable.

Think of Your Working Environment

Many people make the assumption that if they do not work from home, they do not need a working station where they could get stuff done. This kind of thinking inevitably leads to clusters of documents and papers lying around on random tables and other surfaces, which can make your home look more like a storage unit real quick.

While when you have a clearly defined workspace, you can set up drawers, shelves and other storage solutions so that you not only have a place to do any at home work, but also know exactly where to keep and, later on, find all documents you might need.

Hide Away the Inessentials

Perhaps the most difficult group of things to find a storage solution for is those that fall between the “things you don’t need” and “things you need often categories”. Seasonal clothes or shoes, holiday decorations, any other seasonal stuff are those that you most definitely need at some point of the year, but don’t use otherwise, can become a real burden to deal with and properly store.

But the worst thing you could do is keep them lying around in visible areas, where they serve no other purpose besides taking up space and cluttering up your home. The simple solution is to figure out a specific spot for these kinds of seldom used items and stash them – a place where they wouldn’t get in your way and would not be visible.

Perhaps they could be stored in a storage closet, a garage or a basement – there are a lot of options, but it’s important to clearly define these kinds of belongings and figure out where to put them when they’re not in use.

Get Creative

When you’re working with a smaller space, it’s key to be creative and look for innovative storage solutions to expand your home’s storage potential. Always remember to use vertical space with hanging shelves and containers can not only create a lot more storage space, but will also enhance your home and create a more functional design.

Also, use hidden storage, like corner drawers, under-the-stairs closets or even stair drawers to cleverly enhance your storage potential without reducing space. You can even use multi-purpose furniture like a sofa with a built-in closet or a coffee table with drawers – each of these will work to provide you with more storage opportunities that will not need any additional space.

When taking a creative approach, you can not only satisfy all of your storage needs, but can also create a much better home environment, in which you can find peace and relaxation, which was the main goal to begin with.

Author Bio: This article was written and provided by Jeremy – who works with All Storage Systems, a family owned business involved in the storage and materials handling industry for over 20 years.