The Art of Packing: Making the Most of your Storage Unit Space
So, you’ve made your decision to rent a storage unit – and it’s a great one. Whether it’s just for decluttering, because your family is expanding, you’re renovating, starting a business or relocating short- or long-term, your storage unit will give you peace of mind and as much space as you need.
So what are you going to do with that space to make sure you get the most out of it? It’s all about having a strategy …
STEP ONE: BEFORE
So what do you need to do before you even pack that first box?
Check your Space
Make sure that you rent a unit with enough room for everything that you want to store. They come in different sizes, so keep the old saying ‘measure twice, cut once’ in mind. Create a list of what needs to go in, roughly estimate the boxes you’ll need, and how you’re going to fit any items that can’t be boxed. The more you plan, the more you’ll fit. And hang onto that list – you’re going to need it again!
Check the Climate
We don’t mean bring a brolly. Many storage units offer climate control which is well worth considering for sensitive items like electronics, documents, artworks, antiques and other delicate materials.
Keep It Clean
Store something dirty and it’s just going to be dirtier the next time you see it! Wash clothes, wipe down furniture, clean leather furniture with leather cleaner and scrub fabric furniture with an antibacterial cleaner, making sure it’s 100% dry before it goes in. Dust and wash inside and out where needed – you’ll thank yourself in the future and your items will last a lot longer – and be a lot more pleasant when you visit them again too!
Supply and Fit
Gather your packing supplies – sturdy boxes, plastic tubs, tape, bubble wrap, tissue paper, furniture covers, labels – see what you’ve got and plan how you’ll pack it. It’s worth investing in high-quality supplies to make sure your belongings stay better protected for longer.
Get Organised
Remember this scene at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark? Avoid recreating it by drawing up a detailed inventory. Make a list of what’s stored where so you know the exact location of your ski boots or that book you borrowed in six months time.
Get creative with your methods and be as thorough as possible – for example, take photos of any serial numbers or brand logos that you think you might need; make notes of existing damage to items or keep an account of the monetary value of expensive things. You never know what’ll come in handy!
STEP TWO: PACK IT UP, PACK IT IN
The temptation is always there to just bung stuff wherever you can squeeze it, but we all know no good will come of that in the end so it’s time to embrace the Art of Packing!
Think Tetris
Use uniform-sized packing boxes for easy, satisfying stacking and go vertical – clear plastic is a lifesaver so you can see what’s inside without having to open every one. Invest in shelves for your unit for even more storage space.
Love Will Take It Apart
Take furniture apart – legs off tables, dismantle beds, shelves etc. Tape the parts together where you can but don’t apply tape directly to surfaces where you might lift paint or varnish on removal. Another handy tip is to keep screws, bolts and other fiddly, easily-losable bits in a clear plastic bag taped to the item they hold together. Throw a screwdriver and an allen key in there too for good measure!
For fabrics, avoid bubble wrap as it can lead to mildew – drape loosely with sheets or quilts instead.
Storing everything but the kitchen sink …
Store electronics in their original packing and keep wires and leads with the item they belong to and clearly labelled – nothing worse than a spaghetti junction of cables waiting for you.
When it comes to appliances, drain the liquid out completely and keep it unplugged.
For clothes, plastic containers with clip-on lids are your friends – think about adding in some mothballs and make sure everything’s clean when it gets stowed away.
STEP THREE: A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Organising your unit will take your storage experience to the next level.
Prioritise
You’ve still got your contents list, right? Right? Time to pay it another visit and sort it into columns like: ‘what I need most often’, ‘what I need pretty soon-ish’ and ‘what I don’t need for a long, long time’. Then store accordingly: often and soon – top and front; in a while – middle aisle; long haul – stack at the back and stow below.
Label, label, label
Write yourself notes like full content lists, what room it’s for or from, when you might need to access it (e.g. summer vs winter clothing), what category it belongs in – whatever information you think will help you in the future then attach it to your storage boxes and items an easily accessible, readable format. Make sure that labels are kept waterproof and use strong adhesive to keep them exactly where you need them – not fluttering randomly in the breeze you make when you open the unit door.
Aisle Be Back
They’re not just for walking up at weddings, you know – aisles are as useful in your storage unit as they are in the supermarket. That little extra through-route could be the difference between easy access and needing an entire unload and re-load.
Why not draw yourself a map? Indulge in a little colour coding? Months down the line, your memory of where everything was placed might be a little rusty, or you may need someone else to visit the unit on your behalf – having a visual guide could speed up access and make you feel very smug indeed!
Think Smarter, Not Harder!
Utilise furniture. If you’re storing it, why not pack the drawers in that chest of drawers? Fill up that toybox and there’s no hanging about when you use that wardrobe to the max! Think smart and you can even increase the space you already have.
Speaking of hanging about, invest in some hooks and brackets and make full use of the walls and ceiling space!
STEP FOUR: MAKE A COMEBACK
Surely the fact that your storage unit is a thing of organisational beauty is enough to keep you returning time and again to bask in its glory.
Failing that, it’s not a bad idea to check in or have someone do it on your behalf every now and again. Your unit should remain a work in progress which may require occasional rearrangement should your needs change. It’s also good to examine the condition of your items, and revisit your packing system if there are any signs of damage or discolouration.
Reassess what’s in there from time to time to make sure you still need it or if, perhaps, certain items could benefit someone else or even be worth selling.
Mainly, you’ll want to keep it organised – it’s all too easy to get in and get out when you retrieve something and all those little disturbances can snowball into a much bigger mess. Stay on top of your storage unit, and it will keep working for you as long into the future as you need it.
Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online.
