How To Make More Space In Self-Storage
When renting a storage unit, it’s important to keep a few things in mind, but the most important one is how to use a self-storage facility correctly, optimising the space inside it, as this will help you keep your storage unit costs down.
Once you find out what you can and can’t store inside the unit, you should then make sure that you are renting the right size storage unit for your needs. Once this is done, it’s time to pack everything using quality packing supplies and to organise the storage unit appropriately.
Space & Self-Storage: How To Maximise Your Storage Space
Create a list of all inventory
When placing a lot of items in storage, sometimes it’s difficult to remember all of them. While large furniture pieces, such as a bed or sofa, are easy to keep track of, smaller items are oftentimes forgotten when placed in storage. To keep everything straight, it’s important to create and maintain a list of all items stored inside the storage unit. As you begin the packing process, we recommend reporting each item in a spreadsheet. Taking photos of stored items is also a great way to keep up with what’s in your storage unit. Be sure to save all photos and inventory descriptions in one place. It’s also a good idea to create some sort of map indicating where your belongings are located inside the unit.
Disassemble furniture and store items upright
To maximise space and organize more efficiently, disassemble large furniture items prior to placing them in storage. This includes taking apart headboards, bed frames, and mattresses, as well as disassembling table legs. We recommend storing individual items in a vertical position towards the back of a storage unit (except for mattresses, which should be stored lying flat). By storing furniture, such as headboards, upright and on the side, you’ll open up more floor space for other items.
Store large & heavy items towards the back
As you begin packing items inside the storage unit, start with large, heavy belongings such as furniture and heavy boxes. Place them towards the back of the storage unit, on the bottom, in order to avoid crushing smaller items and lighter boxes.
Consider storing items inside clear bins instead of cardboard boxes
Don’t get us wrong: cardboard boxes are completely okay to use in a storage unit. They also tend to be less expensive than plastic bins. However, plastic bins make it much easier to keep track of what’s inside your storage unit. In our opinion, they are often worth the extra few bucks. Unlike opaque cardboard boxes, clear plastic bins make it possible to see what’s inside a container without having to dig through it. This will make it easier and faster to locate what you need when you need it.
Place items you need more frequently towards the front
Chances are, there are some items you plan on using more frequently than others. For instance, that extra bed you no longer have room for likely won’t see the light of day for a while – whereas your baby’s pack ‘n play will. Other items that you’re sure to need more often include seasonal clothing such as heavy coats, boots, hats, flip flops, and swimsuits. While you won’t need these items every day, you will be making trips to the storage unit to retrieve them at least once a year. These types of belongings should be placed towards the front of your storage unit in well-labeled boxes or bins. Placing them in an easy-to-reach spot near the door will save you the trouble of having to dig through mountains of boxes every time you go to the storage unit.
Use Labels
We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to label every box and bin inside a storage unit. You may think you’ll remember where you put those family photo albums – but trust us – you won’t. Especially if they’ve been sitting in storage for a long period of time. Label every box clearly with either a permanent marker or printed labels. Make sure the labeled part of the box is facing the front of the storage unit, so you’ll see it upon entering.
