There’s nothing like the feeling of moving into a bigger apartment or new home and all the space that seems to come with it. But in time, all that extra space just seems to disappear, and you are back to stacking boxes in room corners, shoving new clothes onto the racks of your closet, and hiding your clutter in random cupboards and drawers. Don’t let your clutter weigh you down any longer. Take advantage of these great storage tips to help create the extra space you desire in your home:

1) Evaluate what you really need.

The best way to create new storage space in your home is to eliminate the clutter you already have. We are all guilty of holding onto items we no longer need: stacks of paper, boxes of clothes, outdated electronics, broken appliances—and the list goes on and on! In each room, organised your clutter into following categories: items that can be sold, items that can be donated, and items for the bin. Separating your clutter in this manner will help you make sure each item ends up in the appropriate place.

2) Go up and under.

One common mistake we often make in our homes is to underutilized space that is above or below eye level. Shelving units can be added virtually anywhere you have an open wall, whether it be above your bathroom doorway, your stove top, or the clothing rack in your closet. Empty spaces beneath your bed or work desk are great for storage, too; just make sure to use clear storage containers so you can find what’s inside later on. Consider your attic and your basement as additional places of storage as well; they are places that guests don’t tend to visit, so you don’t have to worry about making room for foot traffic or furniture if you don’t want to.

3) Let it all hang out.

Not all your clutter has to be kept from view. In the kitchen, consider adding open shelving units and racks above the sink or kitchen island to store utensils, pots, and pans. In the bathroom, hang a caddy from the shower head or place one around a pedestal sink. In your entryway or bedroom, hang a coat and shoes rack from the back of the door. The possibilities for open shelving and storage are seemingly endless, and they provide a more practical means of storing your everyday essentials so that they are within easy reach when you need them.

4) Make your pieces multi-purposeful.

Before you buy new shelving and storage units, take a closer look at the furniture you already own. Instead of buying a new entertainment center, for example, can you place your TV, DVD player, Blu-ray player, or gaming console atop a preexisting chest of drawers instead? Can your nightstand do double duty as a desk or coffee table? Leave no flat surface uncovered—with a little creativity, you’ll be surprised at just how much extra storage space you will find for your personal belongings.