How to Organize Your Self-Storage Locker for Hassle-Free Access
Organization is a key component of managing a self-storage locker. Having a place to house your treasured items is one thing, but knowing exactly where in that space to find them is another. It’s easy to simply put items wherever there is room, but the proper organization can keep frustrations at bay and optimize your storage locker space. You want to avoid having to pull everything out of storage just to get that one item or box. Here are some useful tips that can help you organize your self-storage unit in a way that is easily accessible.
Create Contents List
You may have seen the warning signs you need storage a mile away based on your circumstance. Now that you’ve acquired a self-storage space, it’s time to make a list of all the contents that will be kept in the unit. Think of it as an inventory list that you can categorize. Be sure to leave a copy in the storage unit just in case the one at home gets misplaced. Smartphone apps like Sortly and Inventory Now can be used to help you tag and keep tabs on everything in storage. Sorty, for example, allows you to create custom labels to create a visual inventory of your boxes of storage items. Consider creating a map of the general location of your items.
Optimize Space with One Box Size
When it comes to stacking and achieving accessibility, packing your storage items in the same-size boxes is a great idea. Bigger isn’t always better, so keep in mind that a packed large box may be difficult to move depending on what’s on the inside. You want to make access and maneuverability easy by choosing medium or small boxes for most of your storage items. Medium-size boxes are ideal for items that do not need to be packed tightly, such as clothing, toys, pots, and pans.
Small boxes are best for packing small, heavy or fragile items, like books, vases, and dishes. Items like blankets and linens, small kitchen appliances and lamps are better off in sturdy large boxes. Just don’t forget to fill in the gaps with packing paper, for instance, to ensure stability and to protect certain items.
Label Each Box
It’s pointless to pack and stack boxes and not label them. How will you know which box holds a particular item? Prevent frustration and save time by labeling all boxes; place a label on the top of each box and on one side with a specific number and the contents of the box. A special mark could also be useful in labeling a box and serve to identify its content. Being detailed in the description on the label is a time-saving strategy when it comes time to find an item that’s needed.
Create an Organized Layout
Take into consideration how frequently you’ll be accessing the self-storage unit when deciding on how to create the layout. Accessibility and space optimization are key when it comes to organizing storage spaces, and the layout needs to be just right to facilitate both. Where and how the boxes are stacked should be given some thought. For example, it’s a good idea to place frequently used items in the front of the unit, furniture against the wall and perhaps create a path in the middle for maneuverability and easy access if possible.
A self-storage unit can serve a number of purposes based on your personal needs. It helps to keep it organized for easy access and space optimization. Create a contents list to keep tabs on what’s in storage and label all boxes. Maximize your space with one-size boxes and establish a functional layout as with proper organization, you’ll have less stress when you need to pull an item.
