How to Organize a Storage Unit: an Ultimate Guide
Table of Contents
- 1. How to Organize a Storage Unit?
- Make a List of All Your Inventory.
- Prepare Clear Bins Instead of Cardboard Boxes.
- Disassemble Large Furniture Items.
- Store Items Upright.
- Place Large and Heavy Items Towards the Back of the Storage Unit on the Bottom.
- Place Items You May Soon Need Closer to the Front.
- Pack Small Electronics and Cords With Waterproof Plastic Bags.
- Label Every Box.
- 2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You are relocating to another place, and are considering renting a storage unit. These spaces can be a breath of fresh air to discover amidst the exhausting process of moving. After all, they are perfect for protecting your belongings, prized possessions, collections, electronics – you name it!
It’s thrilling, but it’s also a lot of work, and you probably have a lot of questions in mind, especially if you have never rented a storage space before. These questions can range from how do you use the provided space optimally, to how to keep it organized when everything is installed in place? Messy or disorderly storage units can result in difficulties searching for long-lost or forgotten items, gathering layers of dust, or even attracting unwanted pests.
Therefore, you will need to plan ahead a bit and come up with a reliable strategy. We are here to help you and have prepared a list of tips and tricks, which we recommended following. First thing first, it’s essential to do some research and get a grip of what exactly a storage is appropriate for, as well as what the limitations and conditions are. For example, there are some items that can’t be stored in a storage unit. Seka Moving would advise skimming through that list in examination before beginning to organize.
How to Organize a Storage Unit?
But supposedly, you already have all the necessary items gathered and have educated yourself on the no-nos. Let’s move on: what is the first step in getting your storage organized?
1. Make a List of All Your Inventory.
Storage units typically hold many items, so it is highly unlikely to remember all of them, let alone their placement, without an inventory list. Create a list in which you will name each box, previously labeled. Next, describe or list its contents – for example, kitchen utensils, your autumn wardrobe, photo albums, and so on. If the box is overfilled with too many things, it is not required to name each item piece by piece. Just ensure you classify the primary ones in a way that will later give you clarity.
What if you are not a big fan of lists, you may ask? Good news: an inventory list doesn’t have to follow any strict scheme, so you are free to think creatively! Consider how your memory usually stores important information and come up with a plan that works for you individually. For instance, it can be a good idea to draw a little sketch or map of where everything is located. You could even take photos of the items to keep track of identifying each of them later.
2. Prepare Clear Bins Instead of Cardboard Boxes.
Lists are indeed a useful tool in helping you search for each of your particular belongings, yet the one thing they do not provide is a glance inside the box. Contrary to cardboard boxes, clear bins are transparent, and you can see all their contents clearly without unpacking. Therefore, they can be incredibly time-efficient in helping you locate, find and withdraw the necessary item.
SEKA Moving suggests that you make a purchase of clear containers along with renting a storage unit. Although they cost more than cardboard boxes, they undeniably provide better quality and more comfort.
3. Disassemble Large Furniture Items.
Many large furniture items can be not only extremely uncomfortable to carry but also inefficient to store, due to how space-consuming they can be. Luckily for you, Seka Moving is here to provide an easy solution, which you can get started immediately in your home.
Disassemble pieces of furniture such as headboards, table legs, mattresses, and bed frames. You are then going to store the disassembled pieces separately. Just update your inventory list on the go, to later remember where every detail belongs!
4. Store Items Upright.
In apartments, a lot of large furniture is typically positioned vertically, due to being an efficient choice and leaving a lot of space in your room to move around. Apply the same strategy when positioning the disassembled pieces of your furniture: your space is limited, so you will need to optimize your use of it. The only exception should apply to mattresses, which are to be stored in a flat position, similarly to their positioning in your home.
5. Place Large and Heavy Items Towards the Back of the Storage Unit on the Bottom.
This is a general thumb rule within any packing and organizing process. Larger and heavier items should always go on the bottom, to avoid crushing or impairing smaller, more delicate items. Place the most sizable and heavyweight boxes on the bottom of the storage space first. By doing that, you will also provide a strong, firm base for the boxes with smaller items.
6. Place Items You May Soon Need Closer to the Front.
Have you ever heard the saying “work smarter, not harder”? Because this is exactly the logic you will be applying! Think of which items you’ll be using frequently, in the near time. This can include (although not limited to) seasonal clothing, bathroom accessories, or small electronics. If you secure these items towards the front of the storage unit, this will greatly simplify for you the later steps of unpacking. You may even mark them with a permanent marker of bright color, as well as a small post-it note.
7. Pack Small Electronics and Cords With Waterproof Plastic Bags.
One of the most common questions that arises upon organizing a storage space is how to protect the most delicate items. You certainly wouldn’t want to spend unreasonable money and time repairing an electronic item in the case of unpredictable damage. If you’re placing any small electronics, such as phones or iPad tablets, inside the storage unit, they will require to be put inside waterproof plastic bags first. Again, safety is essential!
8. Label Every Box.
We have spoken before on the efficiency of clear bins, and how they can speed up and optimize your storage organization. The labeling trick, however, would mostly work with cardboards, hence it would compensate for your inability to have a quick peek inside the box.
Maybe you have chosen to give clear containers a try and ordered a brand-new set. Maybe, however, you prefer to go with the more familiar and affordable solution of cardboard boxes. It’s even possible that you will be incorporating a mixture of both, depending on the contents of each box or container, and your personal preference. While there is nothing wrong with whichever route you have chosen, we encourage you to use labels regardless.
Pack groups of similar items together. With a permanent marker, label each box or container in a way that is direct and specific. Anything from “office supplies”, “Christmas decorations”, and “old photograph frames” would work well. This would make it extremely easy for you to identify the box, and you won’t have to spend hours searching for that one winter cold in the case of a sudden snowfall!
Now that you have learned some useful tips and tricks, you’ll be able to handle the tasks of organizing a storage unit with little to no hassle. You are all set and ready to properly prepare your storage space, and Seka Moving will happily assist you in the remaining steps of your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Not to Put in a Storage Unit?
We have previously mentioned that some items cannot be stored in a storage unit due to safety and other restrictions. These items include anything combustible and corrosive, for example, gas, kerosene, or oil. Cleaners, fertilizers, or paint are also not the best choice for storages.
Another dangerous choice to avoid would be radioactive materials, such as fertilizers or biological waste. Perishable food items are not allowed in storages, due to being a magnet for all kinds of pests. If you are storing any kind of food, make sure it’s canned and sealed securely.
It would be common sense (and in fact, illegal) to not store anything live, such as animals or plants. Lastly, if you possess anything that’s of extremely high value, such as expensive jewelry or unique collectible artwork, these items would be safest stored separately.
What Is the Best Way to Organize a Storage Unit?
The best way to organize a storage unit is by making a strategy for every step. First, you make a list of all your inventory in order to keep track of all your belongings. Next, you implement a guide to see how different items should be stored and placed. For example, items you might need sooner must be stored closer to the front, so you have easy access to them. Carefully evaluate all the tips described by Seka Moving to equip yourself with knowledge on organizing on a storage unit.
How to Store Furniture in a Storage Unit?
Furniture usually takes up large amounts of space and is uncomfortable to carry around. To place it in a storage unit, you must first disassemble it and store the parts separately. It is also recommended to store the furniture, whether complete or disassembled, upright for space-efficiency.
