How to Pack Your Storage Unit to Maximize Space

Are you planning to move soon and need to store some items? Or are you in the situation, like many other Americans, that you have more things than space? Whether you need a storage unit for relocating or decluttering your home, it's essential to make the best use of space when packing your storage unit. Here are six basic guidelines for effectively packing a storage unit to maximize space, along with some considerations and warnings.

Make a List of Everything You Need to Store

Before you pack anything, list everything you will be storing. Your list doesn't have to be detailed, but it needs to be a general overview of what will be stored. For example, it should include furniture, along with how many boxes you expect to need. Once you've listed all your items, you'll be able to determine the right storage unit size better.

Draw a Diagram and Label Boxes

After making your inventory list:

1. Draw a map or diagram that shows the locations for every piece of furniture, storage box, and the item you plan to store.

2. Tape your map on the interior door or wall of your storage unit so that you'll be able to access whatever you need.

3. Label your storage boxes as to what's inside them.

Disassemble Furniture

Most likely, you have some furniture items that can be disassembled. By taking apart furniture, such as bookshelves, chairs, tables, and bed frames, you can maximize space. Just don't lose the assembly directions or screws because you'll need to put your furniture pieces back together.

Vertically Stack Items That Take Up A Lot of Space

Look for items that consume a large amount of space and see if you can stack them vertically. Common examples of large items that can be packed vertically include dressers, couches, and bed frames. When choosing a self-storage unit, you may need to rent a larger-sized storage unit if you have several large items requiring additional height when packed vertically.

Fill in Unused Gaps

Check for unused gaps as these can be great niches for storing small items. For instance, you could use the inside of a refrigerator, dryer, washer, or freezer to store books. If you store boxes in a fridge, prop the door open with something like a ball of masking tape to avoid mold and mildew from growing inside.

Do Not Store Valuables or Hazardous Items

Regardless of how well you pack your belongings, it is still safer to not store your more fragile and valuable items. Consider how making an error when either packing or unpacking can damage your valuables, so it is best not to take the risk. Furthermore, most storage units do not permit food, perishables, hazardous materials, plants, weapons, and other items that could cause a threat to safety or attract pests.

Other Considerations and Warnings

• Place items you need to access frequently close to the entry while putting those things you will not need right away near the back end of your unit.
• Leave some aisles or walking space between various rows of stored items so that you can get to everything when needed. You do not want to climb through your entire unit looking for a box that's buried in the back.
• Stack light-weight items on top of furniture— After carefully wrapping furniture, such as sofas, stack some lighter-weight items on top of your table. This is another ideal way to use your vertical space.

Your Preferred Storage Unit Facility in Boise, Nampa, and Eagle, Idaho

Several considerations should be made when choosing the right storage facility so that you can select the storage options that best fit your needs. Contact us at Idaho Storage Connection to tour our facility and learn more about our wide range of storage unit options.