storing your family's overflow in a storage unit

Renting a storage unit is an excellent way to get control of the clutter around your house. You can store seasonal items or extra belongings until you move into a home big enough to hold them all. Since the cost of self storage units gets more expensive as the units get bigger, you want to maximize the space and squeeze as much into it as possible. Here are a few tips that will help.

Buy Totes And Boxes Of The Same Size

Invest in plastic tote boxes if you can, because they are sturdy and stack well no matter how full they are inside. Otherwise, you can buy cardboard boxes. Just make sure they are the same size and fill the boxes completely full, even if you have to stuff clothes or paper in them to top them off. This keeps the tops of the boxes from collapsing inward when you stack them. When all your totes and boxes are the same dimensions, you can stack them all the way to the ceiling and not have to worry about them tumbling down.

Consider Using Shelves And Trash Cans

Some items won't fit well inside a box. They may be too heavy or have an odd shape. They may also be too fragile to risk stacking them. That's where shelves and trash cans come in handy. Place a set of sturdy shelves against one wall to hold things such as lamps and televisions. You can even use the shelves to hold boxes you'll need to access frequently since they'll be easier to get to if they aren't buried under a stack of other boxes. Big trash cans can be used to hold things like mops, brooms, curtain rods, shovels, rakes, and a grass trimmer.

Dismantle Furniture Or Use It For Storage

Break down furniture as much as possible, so it takes up less space. For instance, you can unscrew table legs. That way the table will rest flat against a wall and the legs can be stored in the trash can. You can break down beds, futons, side tables, shelving units, and maybe even your recliner and couch, depending on how they're made. Some things won't come apart such as appliances and dressers. You can use them for storage instead. Dresser drawers are good for holding fragile items since they are generally sturdy. The space inside a washer, dryer, oven, and refrigerator can be used to hold small items or soft things like pillows and comforters.

If you're certain you'll never need to get in your storage boxes until the day you take everything out, then you can pack the unit full. Stack boxes from the ground to ceiling starting at the back and sides. Leave the middle and front for items with an odd shape that won't stack well. If there's a chance you'll need to access your belongings while they are in storage, then create access aisles among the boxes or you'll have to pull everything out of the unit to get to the boxes in back. Good organization will go a long way towards helping you maximize the space in your storage unit while keeping your possessions accessible. If you find you need a bigger storage unit, contact a professional storage company, like North Star Mini Storage, to ask about the different storage unit sizes they have available.