Have you just moved into a new place and are looking for room for all your belongings? Are you having trouble accommodating all the things you've accumulated in your home throughout the years? Or are you planning to sell and need to show off your square footage to potential buyers? Whatever your reasons for wanting more storage space are, there are plenty of ways to get it. Here are just a few.

        PARE DOWN: First things first, edit your stuff. The easiest and most inexpensive way to get the added storage space you need is to get rid of everything you don't. So gather together all those items you don't want or use - the rule of thumb is that if you haven't used it in the last year, it goes - sell or donate. If you've recently moved, you've probably already done this. If you're soon-to-be selling, paring down your belongings will not only vacate more storage space to impress buyers, it'll make your move easier as you'll have fewer things to pack up and transport to your new home. 

        DOUBLE DUTY: Multifunctional furniture is an ingenious solution to the problem of where to put your stuff, because it gives you added storage space without taking up any more room in your home. Examples of multifunctional furniture include: ottomans and coffee tables with lids that lift up to reveal storage space; chairs and sofas with seat cushions that hide space ideal for stowing away knitting equipment or spare blankets; and beds that have shelves built into the headboard or that feature under-bed drawers, perfect for storing clothing and accessories. 

        OVERHEAD, OVERLOOKED: Take a quick survey of your rooms. Chances are there's little to no functional use of the space above the approximate five-foot mark. So take advantage of that wasted overhead space for items you don't use very often. For instance, if you're redoing your kitchen, as many people do after moving into or before selling their home, opt for 36- or 42-inch cabinets instead of the standard 30-inch ones. Consider installing floating shelves above and on either side of windows, or even suspending them from ceilings. In kid's rooms, ceiling-suspended nets are a great place to store soft toys when they're not in use. 

        GO DEEPER: Did you know there's valuable storage space hiding in your walls that you may be able to take advantage of? It's right there behind your drywall and between your studs. If you're able to find remote sections of your walls, you can create (with the help of a professional, of course!) stylish, functional built-ins in any room of your home, whether they be open shelves meant for displaying items or whether you finish them off with doors for out-of-sight storage space. Very appealing to buyers, built-ins can lend your home a customized look and add to its value - after all, buyers crave extra storage space just as much as you do!