If your home-storage method is throwing anything you don't immediately need into a closet, it's time for a change. Organized storage enables you to fit everything in and find things later. Plus, you'll have more peace of mind when your belongings are packed away in their own specified place. From second homes to studios, here's an expert look at how to create your own organized storage system at home.

Look with new eyes

Find hidden storage where you never thought it existed. Utilize space over doors and underneath beds. "Most people overlook this valuable space saving real estate," says Olescia Hanson, spokesperson for The Container Store. Take a walk though your house, look above the doors and sneak a peak under each bed to see where you can maximize making extra room. Christina MacDonald of DRS & Associates recommends mounting when possible. "Opt for a plasma screen television that you can hang on the wall as opposed to a regular television to free up key storage space," she says.

Aim high

Don't settle for one shelf in your standard closet. "You want more than one layer in the closet to store seasonal items or extra linens that you don't use on a regular basis," says Hanson. Think of purchasing a tiered organizer to lie atop the existing shelf. MacDonald agrees, "Invest in closet organizers, shoe racks or anything else that will keep your belongings organized."

Divide and conquer

Once you have identified the shelves to build on, think cubby mode. Hanson notes, "You don't want to go too high, not more than two or three stacks in a closet otherwise you will create an avalanche and items will topple over." Go tall and then wide with your sorting strategy. This allows for easy accessibility to items later.

Keep it moving

Get creative. Turn a closet into a mini home office or a home for your hobby. Hanson once saw a scrapbook enthusiast create a craft cart to store all her accessories, wheeled in and out only as needed. Others store desks in a closet, rolling the work cart into the respective room when they get down to business.

Playing keep or toss

Even with maximum organization, you probably won't be able to store everything. If you don't use it, lose it. Hanson advises, "Anything you haven't used in two years, it shouldn't be there." Host a garage sale or donate to charity - just make sure to purge from your premises.