Self-storage is one of the best ways for individuals and businesses to store their goods and possessions, and, as a self-storage provider, we see all sorts of people come and go.
Whether you’re looking to store furniture before a big move, to make the most out of limited student accommodation space, or storing excess goods and equipment for your business, self-storage provides a safe, secure and cost-effective solution.
However, there’s more than one way to store, and while there isn’t a ‘wrong way’ per se, some approaches are better than others!
Join us as we list our top five tips for getting the most out of your storage space so you can save yourself hassle and money!
1. Store your most used items at the front
With units of varying sizes available, storing possessions large and small can be convenient and quick. However, when first loading your items, you must consider which to place at the back and the front.
Place bulkier, less useful items at the back, while smaller, more frequently used items can be placed at the front. This way, you can easily view and access everything you need without wading through cumbersome items that may require more laboured lifting.
Before moving items into a storage space, we’d recommend keeping a list of the items likely to be used most often so that you can actively plan which items should go where.
2. Start from the outside and work inward
To our last point, using space efficiently when moving around in your storage space is essential. The best way to maximise movement is to fill your storage space from the outside walls inwards. This means you can retain good visibility and access to as many items as possible before making rows.
As the interior fills up, more items may become less visible. The best way to combat this is to create aisles (a bit like a library) so you can access your items quickly and with maximum visibility.
When doing so, ensure your aisles give you enough space to manoeuvre so you don’t cause a catastrophic domino effect when you accidentally brush into the wrong thing!
3. Pack bulky items vertically…carefully!
For our next tip, it’s worth remembering that floor space only makes up a small amount of your total storage space, so don’t forget to use it to its full potential – you can save money on overall square footage by making the most of vertical storage space.
To this end, bulkier items like bed frames, mattresses and furniture can all be stored vertically, saving considerable amounts of floor space that can be used more effectively.
To make sure your items are suitably secure, stacking your bulkiest items on-top of each other, against a wall, minimises the risk of mishaps that may squish any nearby items (or people!).
4. Create spaces within spaces
No matter the reason for your move or for using storage space, chances are not all items will be the same size.
If you have hollow furniture like chest drawers, filing cabinets, or even wardrobe spaces in your storage space, use them to their full potential by storing smaller items within them. This will free up floor space and keep smaller delicate items safe from being bashed or trampled.
To ensure you don’t forget where you’ve placed them, labelling larger items with their contents will protect you from any misplacement mishaps.
Remember this tip using this helpful rhyme: ‘When storing items big and small, make a storage Russian doll!’ – it’ll save you hassle and money in the longrun!
5. Create an inventory
Finally, no matter how good you are at storing and arranging your items, our memories can be fickle! That’s why having the foresight to create an inventory of your storage space can dramatically reduce any time you might spend faffing around, looking for one specific item that’s been tucked away beyond memory.
Creating an inventory is easy. Start with a floor plan that makes your space easy to navigate, and then begin filling in your items. This means that even if you’ve been away from your storage space for some time, you can quickly and efficiently retrieve any item.
Whether you’ve had a storage place for a while or are using one for the first time, it’s never too late to get your storage space looking shipshape, allowing you to get your money’s worth!
Visit our blog for more storage tips, and contact us for more information on finding the perfect space for your needs.