How to Organize Your Storage Unit

How to Organize Your Storage Unit 

As winter creeps in closer and closer, now is the time to get your winter gear ready for use.  As the temperatures get colder and colder, it is important to be ready for it.  You will need to start pulling out cold-weather clothing and accessories such as boots, gloves, jackets, and hats.

You may also have holiday lights and ornaments in storage as well.  If you have your cold-weather gear stored in a storage unit now is the time to start looking for your seasonal items.   Before you even go, have a list of things you will need so that you do not have to make a second trip to the storage space. 

If you haven’t organized the unit properly, you may start digging through boxes for winter gear and forget to take everything you need for the cold weather and holidays.  A little bit of planning ahead to keep your unit organized can save you a bunch of frustration later on. 

We have a few tips for you to follow to ensure that when the time comes to retrieve your winter and holiday possessions, you can find what you need easily.  Read further on how to keep your storage unit organized.  

Have a List Ready of What You Need From Storage

If you are going to get a few things out of storage for winter and the holidays, it will serve you well to bring a list with you so that you get everything you need.  This helps avoid a second trip to the storage space during the busy holidays.  A sample list may look like this…

• Winter jacket, boots, accessories like hats and gloves
• Winter gear like skis, sleds, snowboards, and all accessories
• Holiday decorations, and bakeware
• Tools and supplies to help put up a holiday tree 

Organize and Label Your Boxes in the Storage Unit

Picking the same size box can help you with stacking and organizing.  Large boxes are great to store items that are not too heavy, but they don’t hold up well when stacked. And, they are difficult to pull down and remove what you need.   Go with medium-sized boxes when you can, they are easier to remove and put back.  

For easy access, label each box top so you know the contents of the box.  This allows you to avoid opening all of your boxes to find what you need.  

Plan an Efficient Layout to Organize Your Storage Unit

It will be of great benefit to you if you plan an efficient layout for your storage unit.  Ideally, this layout will allow you to get to your belongings easier.  

Start by putting furniture up against the opposite wall from your storage boxes and bins.  This can leave an accessible path in the middle of the unit. So, when you do have to go to the space to retrieve something, you can locate it with little hassle.  If you do need to use the middle of the storage space too, just be sure to use your most moveable items. 

Make Sure Your Storage Unit is the Right Size

Let’s say you pack a small storage space to the brim, like a Jenga game where every piece fits so precisely.  You get points for use of space, but have you thought about how hard it would be to retrieve the items you need with a storage unit packed like that?  Consider getting a larger storage space if you do not have a middle path to walk through in the unit.  It is a good idea to ensure that you have enough space to walk through the unit for easy access to items.  

Stack and Shelve Your Boxes

If you plan to store your belongings in the long term, then you should consider putting up shelving along a wall in the unit.  By storing your items up on a shelf and away from the floor, you are making sure to take good care of them.  Shelving also keeps items organized for easy access to your possessions.

 If shelving is not an option, then here are some guidelines to consider…

Stack your boxes in order of need.  The boxes that have items you will need more frequently should be the last ones stacked so you can just grab them up easily. So, stack from back to front in order of need.  

Put large and heavy boxes down first, they will not hold out well stacked on top of a lighter smaller box.  

Make a List of All Contents Stored to Organize Your Storage Unit

Take the time to write down the contents of each box and bin that is in storage.  Yes, it is a lot of work, but a master list of contents is really nice to have when you need to locate a specific item.  

You can construct a list by writing one down, or storing one digitally.  If you have bad handwriting, you can create labels for the boxes which are a cinch to read. 

Create a Map of Your Belongings for the Unit

Obviously, you will not need a map of boxes and bins in plain sight, but some of your possessions may be buried behind other boxes, which is why the map can help.  A simple handwritten map will do, you do not need to be an artist.  You can divide your unit into sections and list the belongings in each section on the map.  Place the map where you can see it in the storage unit.  

Do Not Be Afraid to Reorganize Your Items to Organize Your Storage Unit

Let’s say you have gone through a lot of boxes and unpacked them to find a certain item.  Now that everything is unpacked, it may be a good time to repack and reorganize.  This can save you a lot of time the next time you need something from storage. 

Spend a little extra time here to label, repack and organize.  First, you can repack the seasonal items like clothes, decorations, and bakeware.  Yes, this is tedious, but you will be thankful you did once you need those seasonal items again.  You will have saved yourself a lot of time and energy in the future.  

Learn more about how to clean your storage unit.

Organize your storage unit to find what you need.