5 Tips for Organizing a Storage Unit

Whether you’re in the process of moving homes or you’re simply needing to clear some clutter from your home, knowing how to keep your storage unit organized and clutter-free is very important. To save you the future headache of searching through an unorganized mess every time you need to find a specific item, make sure that you put some thought into how you organize and pack your belongings. Keep reading to learn helpful tips and tricks to keeping your storage unit organized and tidy!

1. Create a Master Inventory List

It can be quite frustrating to forget where you placed an item, especially when it’s packed among several boxes in a storage unit. While large furniture pieces are relatively easy to remember, many of the smaller items often get forgotten or overlooked. In order to keep everything straight, create yourself a list of all of the items you have stored inside your unit. If you’re up for it, you may also want to create some sort of map indicating where the items are located inside of your storage unit.

2. Label Your Boxes

One of the most important things that you can do while organizing your storage unit is to label every box. It is recommended that you label the top and at least one side of each box, making sure to include a box number, the room that the items came from, and everything that is inside.

Additionally, you may want to consider using clear bins instead of cardboard boxes to pack up your belongings. While cardboard boxes are completely acceptable to use, clear bins make it much easier to keep track of what is going inside your storage unit. It also make locating items much faster, as you can see through the bins without having to dig through them.

3. Stack Boxes & Be Sure to Leave a Center Aisle

Whether you are planning to leave your items in storage on a short-term or long-term basis, stacking boxes is a great way to keep your storage unit organized. Make sure to follow these helpful guidelines when stacking your boxes:

• Put any large, heavy boxes down first. Stack your lighter boxes and items on top. 
• Stack from the back of the storage unit to the front in order of need. 
• When stacking same-size boxes, using a brick-wall pattern can be very helpful. 

Storage units can quickly become an un-navigable maze with all of the items and furniture. It is highly recommended that when packing your storage unit, create a center aisle. Having a center aisle through the storage unit will save you the pain and embarrassment of struggling to get to the items in the back of your storage unit.

4. Store Large, Heavy Items on the Bottom Towards the Back of the Unit

As you start the process of packing your storage unit, it is advised to begin by placing any large, heavy items, such as furniture, towards the back of the storage unit. To refrain from damaging or crushing any of your lighter boxes, heavy items should always be placed on the bottom of the storage unit; this helps to create a stable base for any of your lighter items.

5. Make Sure to Put Any Items That You Will Need Regular Access to in the Front

If you’re like the majority of people, there will be some items that you put into storage that you will need access to more than others, such as seasonal clothing or holiday decorations. Although you don’t need to reach these items daily, you will be getting them from the storage unit at least once a year. Make sure to place these items in an easy-to-reach spot near the storage unit door; this will save you the time and hassle of digging through boxes every time.