How to get more storage
Build a small base hub, add lockers near the entrance, carry portable storage only for planned farming, and sort materials by recipe family. More storage helps only if it reduces decision time; random lockers full of mixed items slow every route.
Recommended locker layout
Use separate lockers for common materials, rare ores, electronics, plant materials, food/water, medical supplies, vehicle parts, and patch-sensitive items. In co-op, label one shared dump locker and one sorted crafting wall.
When to expand
Add storage when you are returning from routes with useful materials, not when you are avoiding the next unlock. If a resource has no current recipe, keep only a small buffer.