how do I utilize my icloud storage?

You cannot add storage to your phone, it is always fixed at the amount of storage when you purchased the device. iCloud storage may help in that you can reduce the size of pictures on device by optimizing. Full images remain in iCloud with optimized version on device. (Settings > Photos). But, that's about all that you can gain in space.

It depends. It _may_ help.

If your phone is full of pictures and videos, then yes, it will help. You can activate Photos on iCloud through your phone settings, and then mark the option to optimize storage which will automatically manage old and IIRC rarely accessed pictures and videos, keeping them in iCloud thus freeing space on your phone.

The same applies to many other applications, but then it depends on how exactly the applications are programmed and configured.

In general, a good, always applicable advice on how you can free space is looking at your phone Storage in Settings->General->iPhone Storage. The look at recommendations.

Bonl48 wrote:

Are you saying that buying the iCloud storage won't help?

See here for information on the difference between iCloud storage and storage on your phone:

What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? - Apple Support

Bonl48 wrote:

If i have my photos in the iCloud will I loose them if I delete them off my phone?

Yes.

Nothing wrong. iCloud storage is not device storage. To free space on your device you’ll need to delete photos, videos, apps, data, etc.. you can optimize your photos on device (settings - photos) to free some space on device.