Make the Most of the Space

First and foremost, it’s important that your new self-storage space is the right size to suit your needs. You may also want to consider access to your items and this may take some careful planning and consideration in regards to how much room you have. It is best to store the items you use regularly or will require access to, at the front of the storage unit.

It’s also a great idea to create an aisle down the middle of your storage space so you can access your items more easily as well as leaving a small space between the wall and your items or boxes to allow air to circulate. These factors should be considered when choosing how much storage space you will require and how to make the most of the space.

Get Organised

Aside from planning the use of the space you should also be getting organised in terms of packing materials. Before moving items into storage, you are likely to need a number of boxes, plenty of tape and other materials such as cotton sheets, bubble wrap or packaging paper.

An inventory list is highly recommended too, as a way to keep track of all your items or possessions that are to be kept in the self-storage unit. This list should be kept safe at home, but you may also want to make a note of the contents of your boxes with a marker pen to make looking for particular items that bit easier.

Think Inside the Box

When it comes to filling the space in the most practical and efficient way, it can be helpful to use boxes that are the same size in order to make stacking them more straightforward. Heavier boxes should be at the bottom with the lighter boxes on top to avoid them toppling over. When storing furniture with drawers it is a good idea to use them as further storage places for smaller items such as chinaware or pictures.

If possible, you should remove the legs of furniture, being careful not to lose any of the necessary screws and bolts by tying them together in a small back, and sofas should be stored on end in order to save valuable floor space. Expensive items like TVs and other electronics should be placed at the back of the unit.

Handle with Care

It’s no surprise that some items may break easier than others so it is important that you are aware of your fragile items and treat them accordingly. Dishes and glassware should be wrapped in paper and placed in boxes marked fragile. Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in cardboard and also marked as fragile. It’s also important not to place sharp or heavy objects on top of upholstered furniture in order to avoid any damages.

If you are concerned of any metal items going rusty then they should be wiped with machine oil to prevent this, also wood items should be polished and leather furniture should be conditioned before storage. When storing mattresses, make sure they are propped up correctly so that they don’t go out of shape and wrap them in cotton sheets to avoid mould.

If you need any packing supplies, be sure to see our merchandise available instore at all our locations.