A self storage unit is a great way to free up more space in your home, office, garage, or shop. With just a little extra preparation, you can get the most out of your space. Follow the Storage Etc. guide to get you started on optimizing your storage unit’s capacity.

Utilize Wall & Air Space

The floor isn’t the only place you can keep your items. The first essential element to a well-organized storage unit is to install shelving or pegboards on the walls. The second is to affix s-hooks or bungee cords to the ceiling. This will allow you to use wall and air space, opening up viable storage room. Items such as bags, tools, and art can fit along the shelves, while you can hang bikes from the ceiling using heavy duty bicycle hooks.

Use Same-Size Boxes

Try to limit all of your boxes to one or two uniform sizes. When your boxes are the same size, it makes it easier for you to plan an organized layout. Plus, stacking boxes becomes a much simpler task when each box is exactly the same size – say goodbye to tumbling cardboard!

It’s best to invest in boxes that are sturdy and can withstand a lot of weight on top of them. And bonus, you can buy them at Storage Etc! Keep the boxes with the heaviest content on the bottom. Move them to the back if they contain items you won’t need often. That way, you don’t have to move an endless pile of weighty boxes to get to what you’re looking for. Everything you need quick access to will be front and center.

Label Everything

We know. Labeling isn’t exactly the most exciting topic for everyone. For those who live for labels, we stan you! But getting into the habit of labeling takes next to no effort. Labeling is fast, easy, and integral to making the most of your space. Plus, it’s totally customizable – you can make it as simple or as complex as you desire. Whether you want to use color coded labels or prefer to quickly scrawl the category name with a marker, tagging your contents will simplify your organizational goals.

Keep a Master List

You don’t want to wake up one morning and wonder whether or not you really did keep that family heirloom locked up safe in storage, or if you misplaced it who knows where. To truly have peace of mind, number every box, list every item stored in it, and maintain a separate master list with all of this information. Yes, it’ll make the packing process a bit longer – but you’ll thank yourself later when you know the cornucopia you’ve been displaying every Thanksgiving for the past 8 years is located in Box #12 on top of the Halloween dinnerware set. Trust us. Looking for more tips and tricks to keep your life organized?

Check out the Storage Etc. blog for all things self storage.