A storage unit works best when it's organised — not just packed. Whether you're storing winter woollies between seasons, keeping family items safe while you move, or clearing a room during a renovation, a bit of planning means you spend less time digging around and potentially avoid renting a larger unit than you need.
Before you start packing, be honest about whether you're storing things you'll actually use again. The best way to make the most of your storage space is not to fill it with things that should go to the skip or a charity shop.
Six ways to use your unit well
1. Use proper containers
Skip cardboard boxes — they collapse, let in moisture, and aren't stackable when loaded unevenly. Plastic crates and storage drawers are stronger, stackable, and easier to identify if they're transparent.
2. Use every inch — including vertical space
- Put up shelves for small or awkwardly shaped items that won't stack well
- Use pegboards — hang small items in labelled bags; you can still stack boxes in front of them
- S-hooks on ceiling or wall rails for items that can be hung — keep a step ladder accessible for anything stored high up
3. Use stored furniture as storage
Chests of drawers, cabinets, and wardrobes you're already storing have usable space inside them. Fill drawers with smaller items before they go in — it makes use of the space and keeps those items protected.
4. Dismantle large furniture
Dining tables and patio furniture can usually be taken apart — store the top upright against the wall, legs flat on the floor. Mattresses, bed bases, and headboards stored upright take up far less floor space than lying flat.
5. Leave a path
Don't pack so tightly that you can't get to the back. A clear path down the middle saves significant time and frustration when you need something that isn't near the door.
6. Organise in sections
Group items by room or category. You'll cut down on search time significantly and it makes it easier to add and remove items without disturbing everything else.
Save time with four habits
- Write a list of everything in the unit — keep one copy inside the unit, one at home
- Draw a rough map of what's where — update it when things change
- Take photos of what goes in each box and stick them on the side
- Label all four sides of every box so you can read it from any direction
cover4storage policies start from £15 a year — no excess, instant certificate, FCA regulated. Get a quote →
Whatever you pack in, make sure it's insured — see our storage unit insurance page.