The Best Ways to Pack a Storage Unit
If you have made the smart decision to rent a storage unit and free up extra space in your home or business, the next step is to get organized! Good storage unit organization can help you fit as much as possible inside the unit and make the most of your investment.
In this article, we cover the important topic of how to pack a storage unit, plus storage unit tips and tricks so that you can easily find what you’re looking for and maximize the space.
What to Put on Floor of Storage Unit
When you begin thinking about how to store things in a storage unit, start from the ground up. Rule number one is to place heavy things on the bottom. Appliances and furniture are often good choices for items to put on the bottom of your storage unit. Heavy personal belongings that you don’t plan to use for a long time are also good candidates for the bottom level of your unit.
But before you even move in those first items, you may want to put something down on the floor of the unit for added protection. Most storage units have concrete floors, which are durable and weather resistant. However, a plastic tarp or wood pallets can be placed on top of the concrete floors to plan for potential temperature or humidity fluctuations. Having wood pallets under your boxes can increase air flow near the floor and allow for better ventilation throughout the entire unit.
Best Way to Organize a Storage Unit
There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to find what you need in a storage unit after you’ve packed everything inside. The best way to keep organized is to keep an inventory list of what is contained in every box. Make sure that all your boxes are labeled and have the labels visible and facing out toward the door.
Although the task may seem daunting and time-consuming, create a master list of all your boxes in an electronic document or spreadsheet so that you can access it on your smartphone when you visit your unit later to retrieve something. It also helps to draw a map that visually describes where items are stored in your unit. Having a map, even a very crudely drawn one, is especially helpful if you have a large storage unit with many items or if you do not plan to access your unit very often.
Another storage unit organization idea is to store items inside clear bins rather than cardboard boxes so that you can see what is inside of them without having to open them. Take apart furniture and bulky items so that they don’t take up excess space and allow more room for as many boxes as possible. As you continue to add more items to your storage unit, remember to think vertical. Many of our storage units have high ceilings and ample vertical space, so don’t waste that valuable square footage!
Create walking Access
Understandably, you’ll sometimes need every inch of space your storage unit offers. But, if you can manage it, creating walking lanes will help to quickly access items throughout your unit. Begin by lining the back wall of your self-storage unit with your large, blocky items (think mattresses, box springs, and bookshelves) and then begin to make your way towards the center of the unit with smaller and smaller items. This will give you clear sightlines to just about anything in your storage unit. Use the hollow spaces of those larger pieces to store your small boxes or knick-knack items. Stack as much as you’d like but keep the light items on the top of those stacks.
More Storage Unit Tips
Since we have been in business since 1980 and serve customers throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and even Manhattan, we’ve pretty much seen it all regarding storage unit organization! Some customers are experts at packing storage units with detail and precision, while others haphazardly throw all their belongings inside without any regard to organization or accessibility. However, we have found that customers who make storage unit organization a priority have the best experience with their storage unit rentals and that just a little advance planning is definitely worthwhile for the sake of more convenience and fewer hassles in the long run.
We’ll leave you with a few more storage unit tips and tricks to guide you as you are packing your own unit in the near future!
- For larger units, create a path to easily access items in the back of the room
- For smaller boxes and containers with breakable items, install shelves to access them easily
- Keep a foldable step ladder in your unit to reach belongings stored up high
- Place frequently needed items on top and at the front of your unit
- Check out Stop & Stor’s blog or contact us for more storage unit organization ideas
Established in 1980, Stop & Stor is a family owned and operated business that has become New York’s Self Storage Leader by offering cutting-edge facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
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