Storage units can be a perfect solution for excessive belongings inside your home. When you feel you need to declutter or find additional space when moving, this can sort out the lack of space. Even if you have some delicate belongings, you can find a climate-controlled option. However, it’s far more than simply placing your items inside. It would be best if you learned how to organize a storage unit like a pro to save yourself from searching troubles later on.
Organize a Storage Unit properly
There are many occasions where you might need storage space. You might spring cleaning and have put aside plenty of stuff you don’t want to throw away, but you don’t use either. Or, you find that there are too many items occupying your home and just need to declutter a bit. Also, if you are in the process of buying a new home, maybe a smaller place, you will need additional room for your extra belongings. If you are selling your home, it may be needed to remove personal belongings during showings. Nevertheless, knowing how to organize a storage unit properly will definitely come in handy. To help you create convenient and accessible placement inside your storage unit, here are several tips about organizing:
- Create a list of all inventory
- Choose the right storage unit
- Clear and clean your storage space
- Pick proper supplies
- Be ready to label everything
- Make sure you properly place your items
1. Create a list of all inventory
One of the essential moves for proper storage unit organization is to list everything first. In most cases, it’s hard to remember what you have stored inside, especially if it has been there for a more extended period. Organize items by season, group them by type, or make your own rule. This also allows you to sort out and see what you don’t need. It is particularly true when you are moving houses. For example, it’s necessary to throw away all the unnecessary items instead of paying for their relocation. Finally, you can create a map and mark the sections where your grouped items will be.
2. Choose the right storage unit
Now that you know what and how many items you will store, it’s time to find proper storage space. Imagine you are selling your property. You will want to show your place to potential buyers, but without all the artwork you will be taking with you. That’s why you will need to store them at least for a while. But, not every type of storage unit will do. In particular, you need storage with temperature and humidity control. And choosing climate-controlled storage remains your only option in extreme hot or cold climates. Also, you should always pick ample storage space if you suspect you have too many items. Even if not, the large option is always better because you will need to leave passageways between the items inside.
3. Clear and clean your storage space
If you already have a storage unit, it’s advisable to declutter and clean it before bringing additional items in. Sorting out your things will help you organize space more efficiently. Also, just like when you are organizing your garage for storage, you want to ensure a clean environment for your items. Not only will it be easier for you to find items inside, but it will also prevent pests and dirt from damaging your valuable possessions.
4. Pick proper supplies
Once you have the space ready, it’s time to pack. For this, you will need proper packing supplies. Out of habit, people mostly use ordinary cardboard boxes for packing. But if you want your items to be safe longer, you will need quality packing supplies. This is where wooden and plastic bins and containers are of great use. Wooden crates are more appropriate for specific fragile items. And plastic bins allow you to see what’s inside. They can also be sealed and provide easy stacking because of their uniform size.
5. Be ready to label everything
Another part of supplies are markers, sticky notes, printed labels, and everything similar. Since you will want to know what you are storing, you will need to label each box. Just remember to face your label outside, so you don’t have to dig through your boxes to read what it says. Additionally, another viable solution is to create a map of sections, as we have mentioned.
6. Make sure you properly place your items
You should place large and heavy items you will rarely take out first. But before you do, try to disassemble your bulky furniture for easy packing. After that, get them all the way inside toward the back of a storage unit, and place them on the bottom. This will generally leave you more room for other items and make it easier to access them. Also, this way, you won’t risk crashing your lighter items under the weight. If possible, it would be ideal to position some of the furniture in a vertical position. As for the rest of your items, the more frequently you use them, the closer to the entrance they should be. However, make sure you leave a passage between your items in either case, so you can have no trouble finding and taking something should you need it later.
Renting a storage unit and placing your belongings can be very useful. Before you start piling items inside, consider the fact that you will need to access them in the future. To prevent taking out half of your storage, just for one thing, you need to know how to organize a storage unit like a pro. With a bit of planning and preparation, you can ensure your storage stays organized and accessible.
