Planning to rent a storage unit? Before you start packing, it’s important to have a strategy in place. Properly packing your storage unit not only saves you space, but it also keeps your items secure and helps with accessing things in the future.
Whether you’re storing furniture, boxes or personal items, packing smartly means you’ll know exactly where everything is. We’re here to guide you through the practical tips and tricks to help you maximise every inch of your unit – and avoid common mistakes.
Let’s dive into some simple strategies and help you get the most out of your unit, keeping things hassle-free.
Figure Out Your Storage Requirements
Before you commit to hiring one of our many types of storage units, it’s important to establish what needs to be packed away in the first place – is it just a couple of boxes? Or the contents of a five-bedroom home?
Make a list of everything you plan to store – group items by size, how fragile they are and how often you might need to access them. This will help you decide which sized storage unit is the best fit for you, because there’s no point in paying for more space than necessary.
As you group items, consider the fact you’ll want to leave pathways between belongings, allowing you to move past items and access stuff that you may need sooner. This avoids a situation where you need to unpack the entire unit to reach that random box at the very back.
Trust us, we’ve seen our fair share of rookie packing mistakes.
Gather Your Packing Materials
The next step in your packing journey is to gather all the essential packing materials that will keep your belongings protected and organised.
Durable boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, labels and furniture covers are a good start.
We recommend high-quality boxes because they stack neatly and reduce the risk of crushing beneath the weight of boxes on top. There’s nothing worse than opening a box and finding out the items inside buckled under the weak cardboard.
When you begin packing your belongings away, labels are critical for keeping control of what was put where. Proper labelling saves you the headache of searching through multiple boxes when you need something later on. You’ll be able to sift through boxes and find what you need in no time.
Bubble wrap, obviously, keeps fragile items from shattering – it’s absolutely worth taking the time to cover precious items in this stuff. Furniture covers are an underrated packing essential that allows you to remove your couches, chairs and mattresses and use, or sell them as though they’re new.
Smart Packing Strategies
Smart Packing is all about taking the time to think through the way that you pack, stack and organise your unit.
The golden rule of packing a storage unit is to always pack the heaviest items first, placing them at the bottom to ensure a sturdy base.
Next, you’ll want to maximise the vertical space that our storage units offer. Stack boxes upwards to begin with, taking full advantage of the unit’s height. This prevents filling the storage unit too quickly.
Take the time to disassemble any large furniture if you’re packing it away. Beds, couches, entertainment units and coffee tables can often pack down into flat-pack pieces that store a lot easier, saving you space.
Also, consider whether items you’re storing can help you with storage by themselves. Drawers, empty containers and even appliances can help store smaller items – which helps to keep everything neat and organised whilst using every little bit of space.
Space-Saving Storage Strategies
In order to truly maximise every inch of your storage unit, consider the way that you’re packing the unit and whether there’s more space that could be used.
Consider storing similar-sized boxes together – rather than placing them randomly throughout the unit. When boxes of varying sizes are packed together, it can create an unstable tower that risks toppling over. By grouping smartly, the boxes build a more solid structure that will be simpler to access.
Next, you’ll want to take advantage of gaps in your storage unit by filling them with smaller items – this strategy ensures you’re making the most of every inch of available space. Items like shoes, books and kitchenware can fit within the tiny nooks that might otherwise go to waste.
When it comes to soft items – like clothing, linens and towels, consider vacuum-sealing them to drastically reduce their size. Vacuum-sealed bags are fantastic for compressing these items, not only because it allows them to stack neatly and save space, but it also protects them from dust and moisture – keeping them fresh and clean whilst in storage. They’re a simpler way to create additional room for other belongings.
Finally, remember to store larger items – like mattresses and large furniture pieces, in an upright position. This simple adjustment can save you a significant amount of floor space, allowing you to fit more items into your unit.
Additionally, storing those larger pieces in a vertical position also prevents them from damage – as they’re avoiding the stacking and movement of other belongings around them and protecting them from scratching.
These space-saving tips allow you to build an organised unit that gives you more bang for your buck.
Store your Fragile Belongings Carefully
The key to stacking and storing fragile items is careful preparation and smart packing. Whether it’s glassware, electronics or cherished collectibles, protecting these delicate items should be a top priority.
The first step to safeguarding these belongings is to wrap them properly. Delicate items like glassware, electronics and other breakables require careful attention, so bubble wrap is your best friend here – wrap each item individually to provide a protective cushion.
For glassware and dishes, it’s helpful to place padding between each piece to prevent them from knocking together. You could use packing paper, or even spare towels and clothes you were already planning on storing away.
With electronics, make sure to cover their screens and sensitive parts with bubble wrap and secure the cords separately, to make sure they don’t tangle or end up damaged.
To go a step further, you could also consider double-boxing especially fragile items. This means placing your wrapped item inside one box, filling any gaps with packing material, then placing that box inside another, slightly larger box with more cushioning in between.
This method provides an extra protection layer that could be a lifesaver.
It can be tempting to try and cram as much as possible into a single box to save space, but you’ll want to avoid the rookie mistake of overpacking, which can lead to broken items. When boxes are overfilled, or too heavy, they’re more likely to burst open or become crushed when stacked in storage.
Instead, aim to fill your boxes so they’re full, but not overly heavy. Use lightweight filler materials like packing peanuts, foam or bubble wrap to cushion your items without adding extra weight.
Also, remember that heavier boxes should always go to the bottom when stacking – this prevents boxes from collapsing, but also makes it easier to access your delicate items without disturbing everything else.
Smart Packing with Safeguard Storage Units
Packing your storage unit effectively is key to protecting your belongings and making the most of your available space. By applying smart packing and space-saving tips, you can store more items securely and ensure everything stays in great condition.
Whether you’re storing large furniture, fragile items or everyday essentials, take the time to pack properly and save yourself time, stress and effort down the road.
We encourage you to use these space-saving strategies to make your storage experience as smooth and organised as possible. However, in order to execute the best packing approach, you’ll need the perfect storage unit – and that’s where we come in.
Contact Safeguard Storage today and discuss with us your storage requirements. We’re here to help you store your items with confidence and ease!