Storage, storage, storage! This is the eternal catch cry of the family home! It seems to be a constant battle to house the things we accumulate as we wander through life. Moving is always one solution – you can get a bigger place, and in the process, get rid of all those forgotten items you no longer need or use. But if you're staying put, what do you do?

Well, firstly, look at any spare space you have within the home and garden, and I don’t mean in the obvious places. It could be in the roof space as we discussed last month with attics, or wall cavities that storage units could be built into, or it could be under your floor.

Many old homes are built slightly above the ground, or if the ground slopes, there may be quite a lot of space underneath that you don’t even realize exists. Adding a trapdoor in the floor, or possibly finding an external solution for access could be just what you need.

If you have an old house with original floors – you may already find a trapdoor. They were common ways to hide money and precious items (like a safe), as the boards were covered with a floor rug. If you are building a new home, you may want to consider the foundations of the home, and if you could accommodate storage into it before you build.

Be aware though if utilizing space beneath your floor – there are height restrictions in certain cases, but it’s generally OK if for storage only. Check with your council first.

To see how one clever Melbourne couple made the most of possible storage space at their place, check out page 88 of the November issue of real living.