Maximizing Your Storage Unit: Space-Saving Tips and Tricks
Here’s how to do it.
1. Plan Before You Pack
Planning is key to maximizing your storage unit space.
Many people start piling their belongings blindly only to find the unit may not be large enough. Or, even worse, someone will store items in their unit and forget where they put it and have to endlessly rifle through everything until they find what they need.
Before moving items into your unit, take inventory of what you’re storing. Group similar items together and decide which ones you’ll need easy access to. This will help you create an efficient layout and prevent the need to constantly rearrange your unit.
Sketch a Layout
It might seem excessive, but if you intend on maximizing your storage unit, it’s best to have a plan.
A sketch will save you time when you’re both loading the storage unit and when you revisit your unit, looking for something in particular. Plan where larger items (furniture, appliances) will go first, leaving space for aisles if needed, and work around from there for your smaller items.
Sort by Frequency of Use
If you intend on accessing your unit multiple times throughout your tenancy, then it’s even more important to plan ahead. For the items you know you’ll need, be sure to put them in the front or in an area where you can easily access them.
Label Everything
Labeling and relabeling the same boxes is a common trait many of us have when reusing boxes, but this can lead to mislabeling and confusion.
A work around can include, using clear bins and a dry-erase marker that can be erased and updated as needed. For those who want to reuse their current bins or boxes, a label machine can produce stickers that can be placed over previous labels, to ensure the current items are the only markings on the box.
2. Use Vertical Space
Most people focus on floor space but forget about going up! Take advantage of the full height of your unit by stacking strategically.
Use Sturdy Shelving
Investing in freestanding metal or plastic shelves prevents unstable box towers and makes it easier to retrieve items. Boxes, especially those being reused for years, start to degrade, limiting their structural stability. The last thing you want is to open your storage unit to find all of your belongings crashed across the ground because a tower of boxes gave out.
For the casual renter, this risks ruining precious items that have sentimental or financial value. For businesses, this is how you avoid ruining stored business inventory, ensuring the items stay safe and don’t burn a hole in your wallet replacing the damages.
Stack Smartly
If you don’t want to use shelving in your storage units, then it’s best to start with the heaviest items on bottom and work your way up. The most fragile and lighter items should be on top, ensuring the base of the stack is stable. However, if the stack is starting to sway as each box piles on top, then it might be too tall.
A work around can include, using clear bins and a dry-erase marker that can be erased and updated as needed. For those who want to reuse their current bins or boxes, a label machine can produce stickers that can be placed over previous labels, to ensure the current items are the only markings on the box.
Store Tall Items Upright
Bulky items don’t have to take up a lot of room if you place them in your storage unit properly. Mattresses, mirrors, and large flat pieces should be stored vertically to save floor space, ideally against one of the storage unit walls, to provide extra upright stability.
3. Optimize Box Sizes and Packing Methods
Packing your boxes is the first step to moving which will affect how you load and utilize your storage space.
Stick to Uniform Box Sizes
It might be tempting to use different sized boxes for various types of items, but when it comes to your storage unit organization, uniformity is key. Stacking and organizing the boxes in your storage unit is much easier when you’re not working around different sized boxes, and instead only working with one size.
The same size boxes also offer better stability for stacking, instead of hoping a larger box on the bottom has enough bulky items in it to provide a stable foundation to the stack.
Vacuum-Seal Soft Items
Not only does vacuum-sealing help save space by compacting soft items to their smallest, storable form, but it protects them too!
Vacuum-sealing can drastically increase a single box’s capacity, now instead of jamming one or two comforters into a medium-sized box, you can fit multiple and save on needing more boxes than necessary.
The more you can neatly fit into one box, the less you have to move overall!
Fill Every Gap
Making the most of your storage unit space requires you to get creative with where you place things. Boxes are a must for storing, but not the only solution for your belongings. Using what you already have is a great way to reduce the need for so many boxes. Placing your smaller items inside of larger items like hollow furniture and appliances is key to ‘filling every gap.’
Are there any items you can store inside of dresser drawers or appliances, like refrigerators, that are going into storage as well? Be sure you diligently label everything so nothing goes forgotten, especially if it’s not in an already marked box.
4. Disassemble Furniture
Your furniture will naturally take up the most space compared to stacks of boxes. Breaking down and disassembling furniture will help you make good use of your storage unit space.
Remove Table Legs
Many tables have legs that can be easily removed before storing. Additionally, wrapping the separated legs in bubble wrap and then taping together is another storage space saving move. Place the table on its side, so the top is facing a wall and put the wrapped legs next to the table and now you’ve saved loads of space.
Take Apart Bed Frames
Bed frames can take up a lot of space, which is why you want to take them apart. Lay pieces along the sides of the unit to free up central space.
It’s not necessary to completely disassemble them, but breaking them into smaller, independent pieces will save loads of space in your storage unit. Some people will even tape the pieces together to keep them near and stack neatly inside the unit next to the mattress.
Stack Chairs
Dining table chairs are another secret space stealer due to their abnormal shapes. To save room, stack the chairs so they’re seat-to-seat in the storage unit, creating more squared off shapes which can be more easily organized.
5. Utilize Hanging Storage
Though, you can’t install hanging racks in your storage unit, you can bring your own free-standing racks. Much like shelves, hanging racks allow you to use the space in your storage unit better by consolidating multiple items into one area.
Specifically, garment racks allow you to hang your favorite, and more delicate, clothing items without risking damage. Being able to hang more clothing items on one rack can help save space from needing multiple wardrobe boxes which are bulky and have a much more limited capacity.
Unlike wardrobe boxes though, hanging racks don’t offer much protection, so it’s still advisable to use some sort of cover on your clothing. When used properly, vertical hanging space is an untapped space-saving goldmine.
6. Keep a Clear Pathway
It might seem counterintuitive to not use every inch of your storage unit for space, but clearing pathways around your stored items is planning ahead.
Additionally, anticipating pathways will force you to better plan your item placement and make you utilize every inch properly.
No space goes to waste!
For the businesses using a storage unit, you will need to ensure your unit is neatly organized and completely accessible. All of the employees accessing the unit should know where everything is and be able to easily grab what they need.
7. Protect Your Belongings
It’s important to use the storage space in its entirety, but not at the risk of damaging your items. Careful planning and organization considerations will gain the benefits of using the space properly and protecting your items against damage from being crushed or topping over.
Use Plastic Bins for Protection
Cardboard boxes are more affordable and readily accessible in bulk, however, they come with the risk of offering little protection. Plastic bins offer a more structurally sound exterior protection and can withstand being stacked. Additionally, plastic bins keep moisture, dust, and pests out of your belongings as they sit in storage, all of which are detrimental to stored items.
Cover Furniture & Mattresses
Protective mattress and furniture covers are a must before being put away in a storage unit.
By the time the items are moved and stored, they can collect dust, dirt, and even suffer damage from factors like weather when moved. Then as they sit in storage, dust and moisture can continue to pile on, causing the integrity of the items to degrade.
Protective covers ensure these items remain in pristine condition throughout their time in storage and even help avoid picking up any unwanted odors.
8. Reassess and Adjust as Needed
Overtime, your storage needs might change or some of the items you’re storing may not need to be there anymore. To maximize your storing efficiency, it’s important to periodically reevaluate your needs and ensure everything in your unit still needs to be stored.
Declutter Unneeded Items
Whether you’re storing long or short-term, it can never hurt to declutter your items, because decluttering is good for your mental health. There’s a natural decluttering process as you box each item during your initial storage unit move-in.
However, with some time in storage, what we deem necessary may change and going through your stored items may result in you throwing away or donating more items than you initially thought you needed.
Make the Most of Your Storage Investment
By using these space-saving strategies, you’ll maximize every inch of your storage unit, making it easier to find your belongings and get the best value for your money. A well-organized unit not only saves you time but also ensures you’re using your storage investment wisely.
Need a storage unit that fits your needs? Nova Storage has you covered! We offer a variety of storage unit sizes that will fit the needs of all your storing requirements. Additionally, we have all the moving and packing supplies you will need under one roof!
