How to add storage to a 500 ft apartment?

Go Vertical.

since you wrote “apartment”, I take it that you’re renting and can’t modify the ceiling joists. As in raise the ceiling height.

More shelves everywhere, up to 7’ high.

Move the deep shelves to where they can be used for bigger things. Put them in the pantry, for example.

Can you put any storage sheds outside? There’s very nice 100% plastic resin ones that never rust and never need painting.

Get a bed platform that’s got springs in it “2” thick, and lose the box springs. Then you’ll have 16” under the bed for storage boxes.

Buy extra shelves for inside the kitchen cabinets. Most DIY stores will cut them down for you for free.

Vacuum/Space bags for storing cloth/linen/clothing items;Risers on bed legs so it's lifted for underneath storage;Dbl duty for everything collapsible dishes that also freeze,microwave, oven;ottomans with storage for coffee & end tables;over the door hanging storage on backs of doors for shoes,pantry,bathroom; actually removing the shelves in cupboards gives you more space to stack items in cupboards;put less used items in the back of bathroom closet(boots & shoes) not in season;add free standing shelving everywhere you can;add additional tension rods inside shower bathtub along back wall to hold bottles and wire baskets for bathroom supplies;get over the toilet shelving unit; use one of these on bedroom wall for laundry https://www.amazon.com/Zone-Tech-Three-Pocket-Storage/dp/B00IIVUXLO/ref=pd_day0_hl_263_4/134-9468064-2008716?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00IIVUXLO&pd_rd_r=6f47add6-659d-11e9-9f47-dd789adca390&pd_rd_w=ZDMQZ&pd_rd_wg=qsg0z&pf_rd_p=ad07871c-e646-4161-82c7-5ed0d4c85b07&pf_rd_r=5GFY0FH0XYS3RXH8HZHX&psc=1&refRID=5GFY0FH0XYS3RXH8HZHX go onto RVing sites to see how people cleverly find all kinds of ways to live in small spaces. https://www.thewanderingrv.com/rv-storage-ideas/ Here are college Dorm living ideas https://www.pinterest.com/pin/370139663094652854

Utilize under the bed and behind furniture (couch, bookshelves, headboard) to store items.

Purchase furniture that can be used as storage. A lot of times you can find an armoire for cheap or free.

I would build more shelves, add baskets to the deep shelves so you can store things in the back that you don't use often. Get space saver bags to make linens and seasonal clothes smaller.

On an ordinary bed, you can get bed risers to raise the height of your bed by 6-8 inches. Then you can have under bed storage, like the flat bins on wheels with a lid to keep things clean. Instead of extra chairs around a table, have a window seat style box made with a hinged lid for extra storage.

Thanks Joyce for all your help. I really like the idea of a window seat box for seating and storage. I have a pretty helpful son-in-law who could probably make this. Such a great idea.

Thanks again,

Marsha