How to organize your storage unit the best possible way!

5 tips to maximize your storage unit space

If I’m being honest, when I organize a storage unit, I consider it an art form – a talent, if you will. After all, doing it right ensures that everything stays where I put it and nothing gets damaged.

Furthermore, I always know where everything is, and I am able to find exactly what I’m looking for when I need it. I absolutely hate opening box after box looking for one specific item. Lastly, packing and organizing my storage unit, helps my belongings last longer because they don’t get full of dust and grime that’s common in storage.

I use self storage regularly to organize and house my belongings. And because I’ve been so successful at it, I’d like to share my secrets with you. Here are my tips for organizing and optimizing self storage units:

1. Make a List and Check it Twice

If you aren’t a list maker, I highly recommend you adopt the practice when packing and placing your things in a storage unit. The list should contain all the pertinent information associated with all the boxes you place in the unit.

Each box should contain a front-facing label with exactly what’s inside, and the value of each item, if you’re insuring it. I find numbering each box with a corresponding number on the list helps me find what I need quickly.

2. Size Does Matter

Try to use no more than two different sizes when it comes to boxes. This helps stacks stay sturdy, and it also enables you to place boxes in numerical order for easy retrieval. When boxes are multiple sizes, they are almost impossible to stack, which throws a monkey wrench into that numbering system you have going on from tip number one.

3. Use Common Sense When Packing Boxes

I don’t want to sound patronizing here, but a little common sense goes a long way when packing boxes. When I pack boxes destined for my storage space near me, I always think before I pack.

What I mean is, you need to fill each box to the top so it stays sturdy, but you can’t fill it with heavy stuff. Not only could you hurt yourself trying to lift it, it’s very difficult to stack heavy boxes atop other boxes without crushing them. I like to read, so I have a lot of books. When I pack my books, I place a layer or two of books in the bottom of a box and then fill the rest with clothing or some other soft, lightweight items.

4. Create a Floor Plan

I know it seems like a lot of work, but if you ever need to get something out of your storage unit, you’ll be glad you went the extra mile. You know the size of the unit you rented, and you can measure the boxes you’re using, so plan ahead how you’ll place the boxes and other items you plan to store in your unit.

Think logically and place boxes you think you’ll need to access more often in the front of the unit. Leave pathways between rows and stacks of boxes to maneuver through. You might be tempted to fill every cm2 of your storage unit, but doing so will have you muttering a few choice words if you ever need something in a box located at the back of your unit with no easy route to get to it.

5. Create More Space

If you find yourself running short on space in your storage unit, you can make more room by utilizing hollow pieces of furniture and appliances such as wardrobes, refrigerators, and freezers. Fridges and freezers should be stored with their doors open anyway, but you can fill up their empty cavities with small items and boxes to maximize your storage unit space.

I’ve used self storage units near me for years, and I have to say, they are a great invention. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t to store as much of my stuff as I can in the smallest space possible. With just a bit of time and organization, you can get the most out of a storage unit near you, too.