Storage units have proven to be the most efficient way to make space in your home in many different situations. They are pretty helpful when moving house, renovating, or simply keeping items you don’t need every day. However, if you’re not organized and careful enough, you may quickly need a bigger unit. Luckily, there’s no need to spend more on larger storage space. Simply use the power of organization and smart ways to maximize space in your storage unit. Let’s see the best methods to ensure you use up the space efficiently and reach your items with ease.
Revise the items you store
Before you start organizing the unit, be sure to revise the items you’re about to store there. Decluttering is an essential step of every organization process. Do this before storing items in your storage unit, but also before packing and moving into a new home. Get rid of the items you will never use again, as they take up needless space. Recycle or sell the things you no longer need. This will free up some room and give you an idea of how much space you actually have. Decluttering should also be part of your regular cleaning routine, so storage unit organization is the right moment to start.
Make sure you have the right unit
If you haven’t decided on the unit yet, it’s a great moment to determine what size you need. After decluttering your belongings, try to make a list of things you are about to place in the unit. There are online tools that can help you estimate the unit size you’ll need. To save money, people sometimes go for a smaller unit. This ends in overpacking the unit, increasing the risk of damage and making it impossible to reach most of the items inside. Try to measure the size of your items and see how big your unit needs to be. Always rent storage that’s a bit bigger than all your things, so you can have some free space left to be able to move around and reach everything.
Bonus tip: if your inventory list contains temperature-sensitive items, make sure you take a climate controlled-unit. If there are not so many of these pieces, maybe it’s cost-efficient to take two smaller units. One can be a place for delicate items that need special conditions, while the other one can be used to store some simple, everyday items.
Disassemble big pieces
It’s not unusual for people to store extra furniture in their units. However, bulky pieces can take up a lot of space if not stored properly. It’s best to disassemble such pieces as much as you can to be able to pack them so you can maximize space in your storage unit. Removing the furniture legs or any of the parts that stick out is quite important, as it helps pack the items tightly and minimizes damages.
Remember: Certain furniture pieces come with additional storage space within them. Don’t forget to use this space to store some smaller items and make more space in your unit.
Storing items vertically
To maximize space in your storage unit, be sure to use vertical space apart from the horizontal. Install additional shelves wherever possible so you can use up the walls and store more items there. Also, certain pieces can be hung on the walls, too, so don’t forget to add some hooks, too. Using both vertical and horizontal space will surely help you increase the number of items stored in the unit.
Use stackable boxes
The containers you place your items in play a significant role in maximizing space in your storage unit. Stackable boxes make it easy to pack everything and lower the risk of such piles falling. If possible, choose containers that are made of see-through materials. It will be easier for you to find items after some time. Finally, labeling the boxes can make the organization much more manageable. Write what’s inside each box on the side that you can see after stacking them. This will ensure easy management of the boxes and keep the unit tidy even after a long time. This is a tip Fit 2 Move experts suggest when moving house, too. Labeling will ensure a much simpler move and make unpacking a lot faster.
Place items wisely
Having a system when placing items in the unit is essential in maximizing the space but also efficient organization. There are several tips on storing the items depending on their size and frequency of usage:
- Frequently used items should be easily accessible, so be sure to put them in the front of the unit. Put rarely used items in the back, along with the big, bulky items.
- Store items in such a way you create an aisle that will let you go to the back of the unit and reach the items on the walls and in the back;
- Heavier items should go down, while lighter boxes or items can go on top of them;
- Make an inventory list with names and locations of the items, and place it somewhere close to the entrance. This will be very useful after some time when you decide to find something.
Keep the unit tidy
If you plan on using the storage unit for a while, don’t forget that maintenance is the key to efficiency and space-saving. The tips we mentioned in the article will surely help you maximize space in your storage unit, but if you need to keep it tidy and organized for long-term results.
