Nightmare storage units are out there, as any one who has watched those storage unit TV shows, or spent any amount of time in a storage facility can attest to. Units that are filled to the ceiling with boxes, junk, and assorted randomness. It makes accessing the unit really difficult, if not outright impossible at times. The key to keeping your storage unit working for you is proper organization technique.
Organization Tips
Create An Inventory List
First step in finding things in your storage unit is knowing what is in there to begin with. Can you imagine slogging through a densely packed unit, looking for something you are convinced is in there, only for it to end up not being in there at all? Creating an inventory list will help you remember what you’ve actually put into storage. Doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a simple checklist would do, a spreadsheet would be great as well.
Choose A Uniform Box Size
Where ever possible, use the same sized boxes or containers for as much of your items as you can. Doing so will ensure you can plan out how much can fit into the space you have, saving you time by not having to tetris odd shapes together to make it all work. While we’re on the topic of boxes, select a good sturdy container if you intend to stack them directly on top of each other. We want to avoid an avalanche of boxes from happening at some point down the road.
Label Everything, Or Use Clear Bins
Having good stout boxes of a similar size is great and all, but if you forget what’s in them to begin with. Clearly label every box with their contents to help you remember. Alternatively, using clear storage bins lets you see directly into them, avoiding the need for labels.
Store Vertical Before Horizontal
Before you allow your stored goods to spread across the floor like an encroaching flood of mold, stack things on top of each other, or install shelving units, to maximize your use of vertical space. It’s a common mistake for people to just throw things wherever a spot is available, especially early in their storage days. Taking the initiative to stay ahead of the clutter from the get go will result in less headaches.
Keep Regularly Accessed Items Forward
If you are constantly in and out of your unit in order to get common items, you’ll have an easier time leaving them towards the front. Think about it, if you need to wade through your unit for items you frequently need, what’s the point? It makes far more sense to leave things where you can get at them easily, but if you enjoy the journey into the depths of the storage unit, we won’t judge.
Create A Directory Listing
Similar to the item list we mentioned above, a directory listing tells you exactly where everything is stored within the unit itself. For example: 1st row, 3rd shelf is where the cold weather gear is kept. It’s a simple yet effective system, combined with the itemized list you won’t just know what is in the unit, but exactly where it is. This level of organization isn’t for everyone, but the results speak for themselves.
That’s All Folks
So there we have it, some good tips to keep you storage units from looking like a bomb went off. If this all sounds great, but you’re lacking an actual storage unit, we can help with that.