When using a self-storage unit, having maximum space can be important. If you have many possessions that all need to fit within the confines of the unit, a disorganized approach won't work. Instead, you'll have to plan out your storage strategy, organize your items, and employ some helpful hacks to make the best possible use of your space.
5 Tips for Organizing Your Storage Unit Space
1. Draw a Map
It may sound silly, but drawing a simple map or diagram can prove to be extremely helpful as you decide where to put each item in your storage unit. As one example, you can map out your space so that the heavy items are all placed in one section, and the lighter boxes are put around them.
Mapping out your space can also be helpful when you need to fit boxes with specific dimensions into the unit, while still leaving enough room for other items. If you take care of the measurements beforehand, you won't run into any nasty surprises when it comes time to actually store those bulky items.
2. Disassemble Furniture
This may be the single most important thing you can do to maximize your storage space. If you have large, unwieldy pieces of furniture, see if you can disassemble them for easier, more convenient storage.
As an example, if you own a wooden table, take off the legs and store them alongside the top, instead of bringing the table in as a whole piece. The same principle holds true for desks, chairs, sofas, bookcases, and other furniture items.
3. Explore ‘Nesting’ Possibilities
Have you ever seen those Russian nesting dolls? The ones that you open up, only to find another doll on the inside? You can do something similar with your items: look for ways to "nest" one item within another one.
For instance, imagine that you have a hollow ottoman with a lid. Can you place a small box inside the ottoman to maximize space? You can even perform this "nesting" on clothes — for example, if you're really limited on space, you could embed several pairs of socks inside one pair of shoes!
4. Use Ceiling and Wall Space
In some storage units, you can make good use of ceiling space. As an example, some units have a wire mesh for a ceiling, which not only allows for a little flexibility as far as stacking goes, but can also be used to hang clothes and other items if need be.
Whether your unit has one of those ceilings or not, you can (and should) always make good use of wall space. Proper stacking is key here; if you stack your boxes properly (heavy, large ones on the bottom, and light, small ones on top), then you shouldn't have a problem fitting all of your items into the unit.
5. Add Shelves to Your Unit
Finally, you may need to add shelving units to your space in order to keep your items organized and maximize your available room at the same time. This may mean buying shelves specifically for the purpose—but it could be a wise investment if that's the only way you'll fit all of your possessions into the unit.
Organizing your storage unit for maximum space can be a little challenging, but not impossible. If you put in the prep work, the process of moving your items into and out of the unit will go much smoother.
If you'd like to learn more about how to organize your storage space, or want to check out available units in your area, reach out to Blue Mountain Self-Storage today. We'd be happy to help.
