Generally speaking, there are two key schools of thought when it comes to adding storage space to your home. The first says that you should go through each room and throw out everything that doesn't "spark joy" (aka the KonMarie Method). We're told that we need to be cutthroat about getting rid of anything that doesn't have a function or some type of emotional attachment. Sure, this is a great way to clear out the clutter...but it doesn't work for everyone. 

That brings us to the second ideology - the one that tells us that the solution rests not in eliminating things from our lives, but in making better use of our space and implementing better organizational skills. 

The fact of the matter is, adding storage space to your home is a lot more straightforward and can be a value-adding asset when you sell your home. You don't have to stress out about picking and choosing which items to send to the local trash dump. You just need to be smart about how you approach things and keep a few key tips in mind. 

The best way to add additional storage to your home is also, thankfully, the easiest: Storage containers. You can find these on the Internet or at any home supply/container store in your area, giving you the freedom to mix and match styles and colors to work within your space. 

By using containers, you’re forced to organize and label each one so that your items are easy to retrieve. The process of organizing and storing may also help you identify items that are truly taking up space without adding any value to your home. Some items work better than others for storage containers; tools, clothes, shoes, paperwork, photo albums, craft and hobby supplies, etc. 

Likewise, you should look around your home and experiment with new ways to add storage containers without anyone realizing they're there in the first place. Does your living room have a large ottoman, for example? You can get a new ottoman that also doubles as a storage container for some of those old DVDs, remote controls and other items like that. Everything is still there when you need it - but they're also no longer forced to become a part of your decor whether you'd like it or not.

Do you need an entire room to dedicate to storage, but lack the space inside your home? Take a second look at your patio, you might be able to convert it into the perfect storage room. Don’t rule it out until you’ve had an opportunity to speak with a few licensed contractors; you’d be amazed at what they can do with some drywall, electrical work, and a door frame. 

All you have to do is find the right construction partner and convert and enclose that patio. Many people do this to add some interior living space to their home, but using it exclusively for storage is just as beneficial. You can even add windows to give the room a bit of additional lighting - the choice is yours.

Not only have you increased the amount of storage space available to you exponentially without actually getting rid of anything, but you've also given the design of your home's exterior a breath of fresh air. Nobody will know that you're using the room for storage and suddenly the rest of your home will look a lot more open as well. Once the patio is enclosed, you can follow traditional storage advice or treat it as a garage space and organize accordingly. 

Even if you're living in a home that doesn't have a basement, the chances are high that you still have an attic. However, it may not be in a state where it's able to be used as storage... at least right now.

All you have to do is reinforce the attic floor and suddenly you've got a massive new storage space to utilize in any way you see fit. There are two major techniques you have available to you: sistering and engineered floor joists. Sistering involves installing newer, larger floor joists side by side with your existing ones. Engineered floor joists offer an increased level of structural reliability and as a bonus, you won't have to worry about crowning, bowing or other problems of that nature.

If you're going to be converting your attic into storage, it's probably best to use it to house items you're not going to need on a regular basis. It's the perfect option for Christmas decorations, boxes that you don't need to access very often, etc. Even though attic storage is convenient, it's still cumbersome to take things up and down on a regular basis - meaning that if you can avoid doing that, you probably should.

This tip is a bit different from the others in that you're not repurposing any structure or space you already have - instead, you're building an entirely new one. It’s an ideal solution when speed is an essential factor. If you absolutely need additional storage space in your home but lack the time to organize a patio enclosure or plan for attic storage and you need it now, pre-engineered prefab buildings are definitely the way to go.

Prefabricated buildings, especially metal buildings, can be installed quickly and with maximum efficiency. Even if the inside isn’t completely finished, you can still use the building for storage as you complete the interior touches. 

Add storage space to your home is never “one size fits all.” Don’t worry about getting it right the first time; you may have to choose more than one method and that’s OK. You can even experiment with implementing multiple options from this list, all of which will generate the most important benefit of all: sufficient storage space.