If you find yourself constantly searching for places to put things or have many items that seem to have no home, a storage renovation just might be in order.

Don’t feel guilty about being overwhelmed with belongings. Some homes don’t include unfinished attics, basements, or garages you can devote to storage space. Open-plan living has eliminated hallways and walls that were once used for closets, shelves, or cabinets. We also seem to have more belongings than earlier generations and less time to organize and sort through them. It all adds up to more stuff and fewer places to stash it.

Never fear. Storage help is on the way. The solution could be as simple as putting up a few hooks and shelves. Or you might decide to add a more complex built-in unit or an entire mudroom.

Interior designers suggest planning for more storage than you think you’ll need. Heed their advice. New closets and bookcases may start off with room to spare, but that extra space disappears amazingly fast!

It’s also important to take a good, honest look at yourself as well as the other members of your household. Are you a shopaholic with an overflowing bedroom closet, a sports enthusiast with lots of equipment, or a bibliophile with piles of books and no place to put them? Are you good at paring down your stuff, or do you tend to hang onto mementos like your old term papers?

If you feel overwhelmed by your possessions and want to change your habits, there are plenty of books, as well as organizational consultants, with sound advice. Otherwise, realistically assess your style and plan on storage that will accommodate your needs.

STORAGE IN A NUTSHELL

Finding the right storage solution can be a daunting task. Start by familiarizing yourself with some basic guidelines.

First, keep like items together where you use them—this means CDs near your stereo, spices near the kitchen stove. Then consider:

Frequency of use Think of storage as consisting of active and inactive categories. Active items should be stored within easy reach; inactive objects can be kept in more out-of-the-way locations. Rotating seasonal articles, like winter coats and beach paraphernalia, from inactive to active spaces may also help.

Weight Heavy items should be stored waist-high so that you can lift them comfortably without having to bend down, reach over your head, or stand on a ladder or stepstool.

Open vs. closed Open storage—think of hooks on the wall, a display cabinet, or shelves—allows attractive items to be seen. Closed storage means a cabinet, cupboard, or closet. You’ll probably want to use both types in your home.