Renting a self-storage unit provides a great option for short or long-term storage solutions for storing your extra belongings. Renting a storage unit is the easy part, how to organize a storage unit is the hard part. If you don’t keep your storage unit organized, you can tend to just keep adding more things and not ever really take anything out because you’ve lost track of things. Keeping your storage unit organized allows you to make the best use of the space.

Make a List of Your Inventory

Create a list of everything you put in the storage unit. Make a list of every item that you put in there. This way you won’t be wondering if your favorite dress is buried somewhere in your closet or tucked away safely in your storage unit. Large items such as furniture are easy to remember. But it can be very hard to keep track of all the small items. Be sure to not only keep track of what items you put in the storage unit but also keep track of where you put them in the storage unit.

make a list for your storage unit

Use Clear Bins Instead of Boxes

We get it, boxes are free or cheap. But using clear bins is so much better! Boxes will get crushed and aren’t water-resistant. One of the biggest things about how to organize a storage unit is keeping your items organized. Clear plastic bins not only protect your belongings but also allow you to see exactly what is inside. Plastic bins make it much easier to keep track of exactly what is in your storage unit and where everything is. You also won’t have to open and dig through boxes as clear bins will allow you to see exactly what is inside when packing and storing your items.

clear storage bins

Organize a Storage Unit by Thinking Vertical

In order to organize a storage unit in the best way, thnk vertical when it comes to storage. Disassemble tables and other large pieces of furniture and store them on end. This allows you to make the best use of your storage space.  Storing larger items and boxes more vertically will take up space at the top of the storage unit. This allows more space on the floor areas.

store items vertically

Sort Your Items by Priority

When packing items in your storage unit, be sure to place more frequently used items towards the front of the unit. You don’t want to have to move a bunch of boxes and other stuff every time you need something you frequently use. Belongings such as seasonal items are more likely to be used more frequently. You can keep extra mattresses, furniture, and other larger, heavier items towards the back of the unit. These aren’t likely to be used as often.

organize storage unit

Don’t Forget to Label Everything

Even if you do use clear bins to store your items, you should still label everything. Make a list of all the small items that could be forgotten about in a box. Don’t just label your items with generalizations. Be specific with everything that is in the box. The more detailed you are, the easier it will be to find the items you need.

label items in storage unit

Contact us to learn more about our storage units! We have both large and small unit starting at just $60 per month. Need more space for hauling and moving? Learn more about our moving truck rentals