Waking up one day and realizing your house is cluttered with items isn't a rare occurrence. Every year, more people decide to rent a storage unit. At the same time, a lot of people significantly overpay for storage yearly simply because they fail to use the rented space to the max. Even though it's not that hard to use your storage space effectively, many people still haven't learned the small tips and tricks that will make storage organization an easier process.
It often happens that the problem of ineffective storage isn't due to the lack of owners' organizational skills - it's usually because you have too much stuff. But don't worry - you don't have to decide what to keep and what to throw away. You just have to create the best layout, which you will be able to do with the five following tips.
Use clear bins as opposed to cardboard boxes
When you think about moving and storage and the mandatory packing process, the first image that you see are cardboard boxes. While we are fans of these boxes and find them useful for a wide range of intents and purposes, we think you have a better option at your disposal - clear bins. Clear plastic bins are a more expensive option, but they make it easier to track what's inside your storage unit.
After all, you can see what's inside the container, which will save you from spending hours digging through your boxes just to find one item. This is especially helpful when you are relocating and using the unit until you can move into your new home.
Use your storage space by storing items upright
Think about all the different types of items you will be storing in your unit. Unless you have rented a unit for storing food, clothes, and decorations only, chances are you will have some bulkier furniture pieces. The problem with these pieces is that they take up a lot of space, and that space is ruining your chances of having a spacious and organized storage unit. The good news is that there is a solution to this problem - the bad news is that it might require some work.
To open up more floor space for your items, you should store furniture upright and on the side. But to do that, you will have to disassemble all of the pieces and take apart headboards, bed frames, and table legs. And when loading up the items in storage, we suggest you load these parts at the back of the unit. The reason for that is simple and closely connected to the following entry on our list.
You will have to pack smart if you want to best use your storage space
A frequent mistake people make happens precisely during the moment when they start loading their items in a unit. You might not see the connection between wisely used storage space and a well-packed unit but trust us - it's there. The rule of thumb is to place all heavy items on the bottom and towards the back of your unit. Not only will the lighter items have a stable base this way, but you will also avoid crushing them. Place heavy furniture and boxes on the bottom, and you should have no problems utilizing the space you have at your disposal.
Stack your boxes and save up some space
Once again, we are faced with the problem of placing your packed belongings inside a storage unit. The general opinion on this is very simple - if you want to achieve any kind of success, go vertical. That means you should stack boxes on top of each other, as long as you remember not to stack them too high. Also, when storing furniture and furniture parts, remember to place them upright. This will be a massive space-saver as it will free up a lot of floor space.
Extra tip: If you are storing any items with shelves, such as a bookcase, don't let that space go to waste. Making good use of your storage space isn't rocket science, but it does take some creativity and resourcefulness. The next time you decide to rent a unit, you will want to keep these tips in mind.
Pack strategically and label your boxes
Are you packing a unit with the intention of retrieving items while they are in storage? Then you will have to be extra careful and note some important dos of packing a storage unit. For starters, place the items you know you are going to need first at the front of the unit and vice versa. Those items you know are not going to be needed for some time should be placed at the back.
Another considerable timesaver is labeling your boxes. Any time you are packing a box, the general advice is to label it. But that seems to be of special importance when trying to get your storage unit packed and functional. Just think of all the time you could save by having an idea of where to look for an item that you need.
A bit of effort will go a long way
We know that at the moment, it seems like you will have to put in a lot of work if you want to best use your storage space. And we have no intention of saying that this is the easiest thing ever. But as long as you disassemble your items before storage, store them upright, and stack boxes on top of each other, you should eliminate many storage-related problems. And by keeping the heavy items on the bottom and lighter ones on top, you will remove any chance of breakage. If this is your first time using storage, we have a feeling that you will avoid a disaster just by following these tips. Especially if you plan to rummage through your unit and retrieve items, our way of packing, coupled with the use of clear boxes, will prove to be the recipe for success.