If you want to free up space in your home or business, then a self-storage unit can be an amazing resource. Self-storage units offer plenty of additional space; you can use them to store items that you don’t need every day, heavy equipment, and more.
But if you’re going to use one, you’ll need to know how to organise your self-storage unit.
Trying to figure out how to organise your unit isn’t always easy, especially if you’re not naturally an organised person. You could find yourself working for hours, arranging and rearranging items, and still be unhappy with the result. So how do you organise your belongings in a way that works?
At Store More Self Storage, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled some tips to help you make the most of your storage unit and keep your belongings safe. By following these best practices, you can organise your unit properly.
Index
- Why Is Organising Your Storage So Important?
- Step One: Create a List of Anything You’re Putting in Storage
- Step Two: Prepare Your Storage Unit
- Step Three: Properly Pack and Label All Boxes
- Step Four: Organise Your Items in Your Unit
- Storing Your Belongings Is Easy
Why Is Organising Your Storage So Important?
Proper organisation is key to making the most of your storage space. It can:
- Help you find things easier. We’ve all had moments where we aren’t sure where something’s gone. It can take ages to try and find missing items — if you find them at all. Organising your belongings can help you find items quicker and easier.
- Protect your belongings from damage. Not every item that goes into storage is incredibly sturdy. Some items are pretty fragile, which means you have to be careful to protect them from damage. By organising your storage unit correctly, you make sure those items stay safe.
- Make it easier to navigate your unit. You don’t want to struggle to get around in a packed storage unit — or worse, end up knocking items down. Good organisation can help you avoid potential problems.
Knowing why proper organisation is important doesn’t actually tell you how to organise your self-storage unit, however. We’ll break it down step by step so that you can proceed with confidence.
Step One: Create a List of Anything You’re Putting in Storage
Organising your storage unit begins long before you get to the unit. If you want to organise everything correctly, then the very first thing you’ll need is proper planning.
It’s important to know exactly what’s going into your storage unit. Otherwise, you could struggle to keep track of everything. Create a list of items you’d like to put into storage so that you can quickly reference it if you need to find something again.
Creating a list has other benefits, too. Your list can help you plan out how you want to pack and organise things. Make notes on what items would work best in similar locations or boxes to make your life easier later.
Step Two: Prepare Your Storage Unit
Now that you’ve put together a list of all your items, it’s time to take a look at the storage unit itself. You’ll want to:
- Make sure that the unit is big enough for all your items
- Clean out the storage unit to make sure nothing’s taking up extra space
- Decide whether or not to add shelving to help store your items
Preparing your storage unit might be a bit of a time-consuming task. However, it’s an important one if you want to avoid potential problems down the line.
Step Three: Properly Pack and Label All Boxes
The next step is to actually begin packing your items. In order to maximise space, you’ll want to try and pack as much as you can into each box — within reason, of course. Also, you’ll want to disassemble any furniture so that it’s easier to move and takes up less space.
Packing isn’t just about sticking as much as you can into different boxes; it’s also about what you put into each box. You’ll want to try to match items together in a way that makes sense to you. For example, you could include all of your holiday decorations in one box and clothes in another.
This is where your list can be handy. If you’ve already gone through your list and marked down what should go where, it’ll be easier to decide how to pack everything.
Once you’ve packed your items, you’ll want to label your boxes. This will give you an easy way to figure out what’s inside — without having to open them up again. Generally, the best way to label things is to include a ‘general’ tag for what’s inside (for example, glassware) and then make a list of the specific items.
Choose the Right Packing Materials
Careful packing is important. You want to make sure you pack your items efficiently to maximise your space — but you also want to make sure that they’re protected. To reduce worry, it’s best to choose the right materials for the job.
Decide whether you’ll use plastic or cardboard boxes — or a mix of both. Plastic boxes are sturdy and waterproof, so they’re good for things like electronics or fragile items. Cardboard boxes are more breathable, so they’re better for things like fabric.
Deciding what sort of boxes you’ll use will also help you determine where they should go when putting them in your storage unit. You can often place other items on top of sturdier plastic boxes. You should place lighter, more fragile cardboard boxes on top of something else. Plan ahead and pack correctly to make sure your belongings stay safe.
Step Four: Organise Your Items in Your Unit
Once you’ve packed your items and cleaned your unit, it’s time to move everything in!
Of course, this is where proper organisation really comes into play. You’ll need careful planning to ensure that everything is easy to find and access. If you want to know how to organise your self-storage unit, then there are a few important things to keep in mind.
Take Advantage of Vertical Space
You can store your belongings on a single level in your storage unit — but is that really making the most of your storage space? If you want to fit as many items in as possible, stack them on top of each other.
When stacking items, you’ll want to work with care. You don’t want anything falling or breaking, after all. Placing heavy items at the bottom can create a solid foundation and prevent damage to other items. You’ll want to go steadily lighter as you get closer to the ceiling, with the most fragile items at the top. In addition, you should place larger, studier items closer to the bottom.
Put Frequently Used Items at the Front
Sometimes you might put something in storage that you still intend to use frequently. Maybe you have some heavy equipment that you need for a job. Or, perhaps you have some important documents that you’re putting into storage to give yourself extra space.
If you bury these items deep in your storage unit, getting to them can be a huge hassle. Plan ahead by putting any frequently used items near the front. This way, you can access them easily — without having to disrupt the rest of your unit.
Put Like Items Together
You’ve already organised your items together in similar boxes — now it’s time to do the same when putting them in your storage unit. If possible, you’ll want to place similar sets of items close to each. For example, you might want to put cooking supplies next to dishware or children’s clothing next to old toys. Organising your belongings like this can make finding stuff later a lot easier.
Leave an Aisle
Having an otherwise well-organised unit means nothing if you can’t move around in it. Packing units to the brim might make efficient use of the space, but you’ll likely have trouble getting to items that are deeper inside. This means that you’d have to unpack your entire unit if you need to get to those items, which can be frustrating and exhausting.
The solution? Leave an aisle down the middle.
Make sure that there’s empty space all the way to the back of your unit. This way, you can easily get to just about any item — no matter where it is.
Storing Your Belongings Is Easy
Proper storage is incredibly important. Knowing how to organise your self-storage unit can help you make the most of your storage space and find items easier. Plus, it can help you protect your belongings. Think carefully about how to organise your self-storage unit, plan ahead, and pack properly to get the most out of your space.
With just a little effort, you can organise your storage unit perfectly! But before you get too deep into planning, you’ll want to find a storage unit to use.
If you’re looking for fantastic self storage in Wrexham, then consider contacting Store More Self Storage. We have versatile, secure storage units that are perfect for just about any need. Give us a call and ask about renting a unit!
