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How to organise your self storage unit

When considering self storage, for many people it’s a difficult task working out what size space you need and how to pack your unit. Through clever planning and organisation, you can help to maximise costs and organise it well so it’s easily accessible. Here’s some great tips to help you along the way.

“Clean out the past, pack up the present and prepare for a better future!”

Sort through your belongings

Declutter your items before you pack and decide what you want to keep. What’s the point in keeping things, that at some point in the future you will dispose of? Create different piles: to keep, donate to charity, give to a friend or family, or dispose of. This will save you time in the long term and may reduce the size of self storage space you need.

Create a contents list of what you’re storing

When trying to work out what space you’ll need, the best starting point is to write a list of what you’re looking to store. It’s also worth having this information to hand when you go to view self storage units, as it will help you and the staff work out what’s the best option for you. Space is often calculated by the size of a home, but you could have more or less belongings than the average home.

Design a layout plan of your space

Creating a layout of the storage space will help you to think about how to utilise the space most effectively. If you have people helping you to move in, it will help them to understand what needs to go where too. If you need to locate any items whilst in storage, it should make them easy to find. Don’t leave hollow space with things like wardrobes and draws, these are the perfect places to store things like your boxes. Make sure to keep items you may need frequently at the front of your unit and keep a copy of your layout in your unit.

Using the correct packaging

Cardboard or plastic boxes are a great way to store your items. If you’re planning to stack your boxes ensure the heavier ones are placed at the bottom, they’re of equal size and place your fragile items on the top.

Vacuum bags are great for storing clothing and bedding and can reduce the space taken by two thirds. Makes sure all items are washed clean and are dry before placing in the bag, as this will help to preserve you items.

Use dust covers or protective bags for your fabric furniture items, such as sofa’s and beds in order to keep them clean during the move and protected whilst in storage. If you’re storing long term, consider using wooden pallets to raise your goods off the floor. This helps the air to circulate around your unit, keeping your items in pristine condition.

Identify the contents

Labelling your boxes will help you to identify the contents and especially the fragile items. It also helps you to identify what boxes to access when looking for particular items. Fragile tape is handy to use when labelling up any delicate items.

Consider racking

Shelving can be used to maximise the space in your unit, allowing you to stack your boxes effectively without the risk of damaging your items stored underneath. Reasonably priced racking is available to buy from most DIY shops and is easy to assemble.

Additional space

Consider upsizing to a larger unit, so you don’t have to pack your unit like you’re playing a game of Tetris. This is also a good option for frequent access, as it will allow you to create a corridor to locate your belongings easily.

To give you an idea of space you need, try using a space calculator as a guide.