Method and system are provided for storage handling guidance for host input/output (I/O) operations. The method includes: providing a guidance array of indications of storage operations handling instructions, the guidance array having multiple dimensions of performance characteristics with each dimension having multiple levels; and associating a reference vector with one or more I/O operations, wherein the reference vector points to a level for each dimension of the array to obtain an indication of a storage operations handling instruction at an intercept of the dimension levels for application by a storage system controller for the one or more I/O operations.