In this introductory section, the book devotes a chapter to each room and features several projects to improve storage. The kitchen, for example, can benefit from a set of small upper cabinets or modular shelf boxes that sit atop the wall cabinets, in the often-idle space just under the ceiling. Shallow drawers can be retrofitted into cabinet toe-kick spaces or other pockets, and a simple metal or wood rack hung on the inside face of a pantry door can house small items.

Bathrooms can benefit from in-shower wall niches, an extra-deep medicine cabinet, or a sliding pocket door to replace a conventional hinged door that needs room to pivot. If bedroom storage is your target, you can try a closet makeover with adjustable and multilevel shelves, re purposed dresser drawers that slide under the bed, or “floating” nightstands that mount to the bedside wall.

Champley also provides project ideas for entryways, hallways, stairwells, attics, basements, garages and even outdoor areas. A few are obvious solutions (a cubby-and-shelf unit for a mudroom), and others may be a stretch (converting a garden shed into a backyard guesthouse), but most homeowners will find some workable ideas they can explore.

There’s plenty of strategy and inspiration here, but for detailed instructions, most readers will have to look elsewhere. Each project does feature a tool list and a page or two of how-to information, but graphics are limited to a single color concept illustration of the completed project and perhaps one or two line drawings showing some assembly information. It’s all useful, but not terribly comprehensive, so less-experienced do-it-yourselfers should plan on getting technical assistance from other sources. Also, there’s little discussion of the potential behind-the-wall surprises or other obstacles encountered involved in renovation work, so bringing in a professional contractor or a local building inspector may be required for some projects.