How to maximise space in your storage unit is often not top of your list when you’re renting a unit at My Storage. But with a little organisation, you can save a significant amount of money. And… make your storage experience a much better one.
If your possessions are organised, they are easier to find. Also, you will be able to fit much more into your unit, rather than renting additional space. This can be easily achieved with just a little thought and organisation.
How to Maximise Space in Your Storage Unit
There are many approaches on how to maximise space in your storage unit. These will include:
- How you stack your boxes
- The type of boxes you use
- The use of plastic crates
- What about vacuum bags
There are many things which can help reduce the amount of space you need. With a bit of sorting you will save that space.
Plan Ahead
Make the most of your self-storage unit by planning the space carefully. Create a list of the items you will be storing and map out your storage space for efficient use.
- Place moving blankets or sheets over concrete floors to protect mattresses, furniture or furnishings while in storage.
- Keep heavy or bulky items at the back of your unit and use them as a base for stacking. Light and fragile items should be packed last to avoid damage.
- Long items such as mattresses, beds, couches and tabletops should be stored along the walls of your storage unit to free up space.
- Turn items on their ends when necessary in order to make the most of your space by using the full height of the unit.
- Allow yourself access to all of your items by leaving enough room to move around the unit.
- Place your most frequently accessed items near the door for convenient access.
Heavy or Light
Always store your heavier items at the bottom. One of the biggest problems when coming back to a storage unit after it has been filled is finding items, if they were not organised correctly. You will be lifting very heavy boxes from the top in order to access boxes at the bottom.
This can be back-breaking and inconvenient. Therefore, store your heavier boxes, such as books at the bottom on the floor. The other benefit is that it will not crush other boxes which are below them.
Store Your Larger Items First
At My Storage we recommend having a think about the larger items, as well as things that you will not use on a regular basis. It is best to store these first at the back of the unit, to avoid having to move them every time you want to find something.
But remember that if you do use these larger items on a regular basis and they are at the back, then it will be inconvenient to get them out. Just a little bit of thought about where they should go in the unit, based on their size and how regularly you use them will pay dividends later.
Frequently Used Items
The same goes for things that you use on a regular basis. Obviously, it is much more convenient to have these stored at the front of your storage room near the door, so they are accessible at any time. You do not want to have to move numbers of boxes in order to retrieve that one item which happens to be stored at the back of your unit.
Don’t Use Bags, Use Boxes
In order to get the efficiency out of your storage unit do not use bags, but instead, use boxes and ideally plastic boxes.
Bags are flimsy and can easily break and it is difficult to see what is in them. They are also difficult to organise. Boxes can be stacked and labelled, and it is much easier to find what you need.
Use Shelving Racks
If you have the space and you access your unit on a regular basis, another great way to keep organised is to shelve out your unit.
One of the benefits is that it will stop the possibility of one box crushing another, due to their weight. It also becomes much easier to find items, particularly storing boxes on lower shelves. Shelving also enables you to take advantage of the height of the unit.
Catalogue and Keep Your Unit Organised
The type of storage shelving that you will require will depend on what you are storing. There are different types of systems from budget options to more expensive solutions. The decision should be based on the load-bearing capacity of the shelving.
Also, the flexibility in terms of shelving heights. Do some homework on the best type of shelving and racking units for the type of storage you are looking to do.
Vacuum bags are a great way of saving space. All your bedding and any other clothing can be stored and packed in a vacuum bag. All you need to do is plug the bag into your hoover in order to suck any excess air out of the bag. They become very compact very quickly and take up far less space.
Make an Inventory
One of the best tips when using a storage unit is to put together an inventory of everything that is stored in your units. Labelling boxes is essential. If you can put an inventory together in, for example, a Word document, this become searchable.
Then you can easily find whether your item is stored in the unit and whereabouts. In many cases, people who use storage units, may not return for months or even years. This is a valuable resource in order to find those items when you do come back.
It is also worth printing out this list and taping it to the wall of the storage unit or to the back of the door. If you are at the storage facility and do not have access to the list on your computer, then this will act as a guide for anyone visiting the unit and looking for a particular item.
Artwork and Mirrors
- Keep mirrors in an upright position and keep them protected by securing them between soft items such as mattresses.
Appliances
Appliances- Ensure kitchen appliances and whitegoods are clean, dry and defrosted before placing them in storage to prevent mould or mildew. Store with doors slightly ajar and an air deodoriser inside for freshness. For more information on how to move a fridge / freezer, click here Keep hoses, nuts, bolts and other extra parts in plastic bags attached to their appliance for convenience.
Machinery, Equipment and Metal Items
- Drain oil to avoid leakage, spillage and damage to other goods. All items should be dry, clean and wiped down with oil to prevent rust. Metal items should be kept away from other items that may be damaged by rust.
These are just a few tips on how to maximise your space in your storage unit for any length of time. Firstly, it will save you money because you will not need as much space. Also, it will save you time because you will know exactly where everything is within your storage unit. It will be in the appropriate order to avoid having to move heavy items out of the way in order to retrieve that one item which happens to be at the back of your unit!
Hope this will help you when you’re packing your unit. If you are interested in renting a unit from My Storage, please fill out your details below and we will contact you.
For more information on how to maximise your space in your storage unit visit Storquest
Bye for now.. 
