“There probably isn’t a room in the house where we don’t store something,” writes Mervyn Kaufman in his new book, Store It!, from Filipacchi Publishing. “Lack of space is certainly a challenge, but it is superseded in every instance by how best to use that space.”

But before adding or rearranging storage in any room, Kaufman suggests you examine and evaluate. Keep what’s needed. Then, begin your space-saving journey. Consider the following creative tips for practical yet beautiful ways to increase storage potential throughout your home.

First impressions are lasting ones so if totes and umbrellas, shoes and boots are cluttering the entrance of your home, make them disappear without becoming inaccessible. Consider a bench with added storage space under a lift-up seat as a convenient clutter catcher, complete with niches for stashing caps, gloves and scarves yet a handy spot for shoe-boot exchanges. Splurge on a wall mounted hardwood cabinet or a handsome hardwood storage piece to hide keys, garage door openers, newspapers and mail, keeping them out of sight yet close at hand as needed.

Don’t let the idea of a formal living room dissuade you from making it a storage workhorse. A coffee table with an open shelf or shallow drawers can be more than an elegant surface for coffee service or a floral arrangement. Corners and wall space between and around windows cry out for hardwood chests and unique built-ins to display collectibles or stash coasters, cocktail napkins and other entertaining essentials. And the warm colors and unique grain patterns of hardwoods are guaranteed to enhance your room décor.

Add greater functionality to your kitchen by incorporating hardwood cabinets with accessories that remove clutter and make neatness second nature – wooden dividers to organize drawers, carousel shelving so nothing gets buried in corner cabinets, deep cabinet drawers to store cookware or stacked dinnerware. And be creative. Fill unused space between base cabinets with retractable kitchen-towel bars or narrow pull-out spice drawers. Even install a shallow tilt-out drawer in front of your sink for sponges or small-scale cleaning tools.

Today’s dining rooms double as libraries, music rooms or places to do homework or crafts. If cramped for storage, look for a dining table – new or heirloom – with drawers beneath its top surface. Beautiful hardwood storage – a hutch, sideboard or breakfront-lends practicality; warmth and style as long as it complements the look of your dining table and chairs. A wall of books, whether in fine hardwood furniture or built-in shelving, exploits wall space and adds character.