How to Prepare and Organize Your Storage Unit

There’s nothing better in life than a little bit of organizing and shuffling things around. Whether it’s the end of the year and time to put those holiday decorations away or just time to clear out and reorganize the kitchen, attic, or garage, few things are more satisfying than having everything neat and tidy. And the same can be said of your storage unit.

If you’re keeping things in a storage unit, it’s not a case of out of sight, out of mind. You want to make sure your beloved possessions are in a well-organized environment that protects them and makes it easy for you to find what you’re looking for when it’s time to bring items home.

Whether you already have a storage unit or you’re planning on renting or sharing one, this guide will give you some top storage unit organization tips including what kind of containers to use, how to label boxes properly, and how to arrange things in the best way possible.

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How to prepare your storage unit

Treat every organizational task as if you’re starting from scratch. You may well have worked on organizing things in the past, but the best approach is to get everything out and start again, or you risk only doing half a job, and that won’t cut it when it comes to effective long-term storage.

Here are some of our top storage unit organization tips before you embark on your journey of organization.  

Clean your storage unit

Starting fresh will make all the difference, so clean up before you begin organizing your storage space. First, take out everything currently in the unit and stack it separately. This may feel like a mammoth task, but it can help make things easier down the line. It can also be a good idea at this point to look at everything you’ve got and decide on anything you want to throw away. Be honest. If you haven’t used something for years, ask yourself if you still need it.

Once everything is out, it’s time to get a bit of elbow grease and get cleaning. Sweep and mop your storage unit to get rid of any dust and debris and wipe the walls. This can help to remove any contaminants and ensure your storage space is in good working order.

Inventory

Having an inventory of everything in your storage unit is an important starting point. List out every item that’s in your storage space and whether it’s a regularly used item that comes out of storage every so often or something that’s going to be there long-term.

Having this list and knowing what’s in your unit, as well as the purpose of everything, will make a world of difference down the line.

Organizing Your Storage Unit

So, you’ve got everything out, tossed the things you don’t need and are ready to start on the organization journey. It’s time to start labeling, listing, and keeping track of everything you have, to get your stacking skills on, and start to create a storage space that works for you. Follow our top hacks below to ensure you have the most effective storage solution for your needs.

Install shelving in your storage unit

If your storage unit allows, it can be a good idea to add some shelving to your space. This can help make it easier to organize things. It doesn’t have to be a permanent installation either. Investing in some metal racks and shelving units that sit within your storage unit can make it easier to keep valuables off the floor and organize everything.

With shelving installed, you can have set areas of your storage unit for each type of item you’re keeping there. Choose to do it alphabetically, or by theme or room. However, you choose to do it, shelves keep things neat, tidy, and easier to find. What’s more, you can also use sticky labels to easily keep note of what is stored on each shelf, making it simple to find what you’re looking for when you need it.

Create a center aisle or walkway

Accessing your items is as essential as storing them appropriately. Not everything you put into storage is intended to be there long-term. It could be holiday decorations or the extra tables and chairs for seating everyone at Thanksgiving.

Being able to access the things you need and reach everything easily is important. Not only does it make it easier to find things, but it’s safer too. The last thing you want is to be climbing over boxes and cause a mini storage avalanche.

However you choose to organize a storage unit, make sure you lay everything out in a way that makes it easy to access. Think about how a storeroom or warehouse is organized, with clear aisles between rows of boxes and items, and try to emulate this.

Having a walkway that gives you access to all your boxes and items makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and remove it. If you’re finding it difficult, why not tape out a walkway on the floor to ensure you keep that space free of any items?

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Label every box

One of the most effective storage unit organization ideas is labeling boxes. You need to be able to find things without having to pull out and open every box, and that’s where labels are your friend. Whether you use small label stickers to itemize each box, or you just write what’s in each one on the side in permanent marker is up to you. The important thing is just to ensure it’s easy to identify each box without having to disrupt your storage space.

Remember to note down handling instructions such as ‘this side up’, ‘fragile’, or ‘sensitive items’ too. Check that any labels are large enough, easy to read, and do not fall off very easily.

Buy plastic tubs and boxes

When storing items in a storage unit, most people will rely on the tried and tested cardboard box. One great storage space organization idea is to ditch those old boxes, and instead invest in plastic tubs and boxes.

There are two great reasons why plastic tubs can be a great storage alternative. For one, they’re far more durable than cardboard boxes. This means that if your storage unit gets wet or something falls, your items will be better protected from the potential for damage.

In addition, if you invest in clear plastic boxes and tubs, it’s easier to find things in your storage unit. While it can still help to label everything, if you can see into boxes, you can instantly find something you’re looking for.

Stack appropriately

When you’re putting everything into your storage unit, you’ll want to make the most of your space. Remember, height is everything. Most storage units are quite tall, so there’s plenty of room to be utilized. But this might take a little bit of planning.

If you’re a Tetris expert, this will likely be a little easier, but the key thing to remember is that boxes of a similar size and shape are easier to stack. Try to not use mismatched sizes on top of each other or you risk things coming tumbling back down.

To stack effectively, put heavy items and boxes at the bottom, and ensure you don’t stack anything on top of things that are easily broken. And remember, if you have boxes you’re going to need to take out of storage often, it can be easier to put these at the top, rather than having to unstack things and re-stack them over and over. Try to leave space between stacks as well to allow your items to breathe and minimize the risk of mold and other problems.

Frequently accessed items upfront

There are always some items that we use more frequently than others. If you have things, you find you’re regularly taking out of storage, it makes sense to stack them near the front where they’re easier to access.

Anything that’s in long-term storage and that you don’t expect you will need for some time can go at the back of the unit, while those seasonal items you bring out every so often should go nearer to the door, where you’ll have easier access without having to dig through everything each time you come to your unit.

Map the unit out after you’re done organizing

Once you have everything in your unit, one great storage organization tip is to have a map of where everything is kept within the space. As you pack everything away, keep a note of what is going where. You can then draw this out on a simple map that highlights what types of items are stored in certain areas of your unit.

You might want to keep the map in your storage space too. Try taping it to the wall near the door so you don’t lose it and always have it to hand when you need it.

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Storage solutions

As well as organizing a storage unit, it’s important to consider if your current space is right for your needs. If you’re storing a lot of valuables that could be susceptible to damage, such as furniture or musical instruments, you might want to look at a climate-controlled storage unit that keeps your room at a steady temperature and reduces the risk of dampness.

It’s also worth considering space. Your items need room to breathe to ensure it’s easy to find things and that organization remains a key focus. If you find you’re having to squeeze new boxes in or your walkway is getting ever smaller, it could be time to think about upgrading to a larger storage space.

If you’re looking to organize or upgrade your storage unit, check out CubeSmart’s offering of secure storage units.