Renewal abounds in the springtime, and along with fresh blooms, we’ve got organization on our minds. As you begin your spring cleaning, it may benefit you to learn how to best organize for frequent access. For example, realtors, may use their storage unit regularly as they stage homes for sale. Retail businesses often store extra inventory in a storage unit, which makes accessibility important when visiting the space frequently. A little planning will make for easy storage unit trips down the line, saving you an immeasurable amount of time.
How to Organize Your Storage Unit for Frequent Access
Before you move into your storage unit, a little bit of planning can go a long way in making your space as accessible as possible. When you’re in a rush, stopping by your storage unit can turn into a lengthy event if you don’t know where to find what you’re looking for. These tips will help you organize your storage unit for frequent and convenient access.
- Identify Items You’ll Want to Access Easily — Consider what you will need to access from your storage unit most often. These are the items you’ll want to separate out from the rest of your belongings. These items will be different for every customer, but some examples of these items include:Seasonal clothing
Holiday decor
Extra inventory
Recreational items (Tents, sleeping bags, skis, etc.)
Tools - Create an Inventory List — When organizing your storage unit for frequent access, it can be difficult to remember everything you have to store and where it’s going to go. Creating an inventory list helps you keep track of everything — think artwork, photos, electronics, clothes and all of the small stuff that doesn’t instantly attract your attention like a sofa. If you want to get really in depth, save your inventory in a spreadsheet and take photos of everything inside. It can also be helpful to create a map of your storage unit.
Label Everything, Consider Using Clear Plastic Containers — If you’ve already created an inventory, labeling everything should come easy because you’ll already have the list. One of the best tips we can provide is to label EVERYTHING in your storage unit. Take it further by adding the label name and location in the storage unit to your spreadsheet and locating items will become a breeze. Using clear plastic containers makes it easier to identify what is inside and provides protection against the elements.- Choose One Box Size, If Possible — Whether you opt for plastic containers or cardboard boxes, choosing one size makes it easier to stack them in your storage unit. Be sure to choose strong, sturdy boxes that protect what’s inside and can be stored safely for a long time. Consider stacking the boxes like bricks, with one box centered between the two below, which will make accessing them easier. The heaviest boxes should be stacked on the bottom, with the lightest boxes on top.
- Store Frequently Used Items in the Front — The items you saved out for frequent access should be stored towards the front of the storage unit, if possible, to grab easily. It will make finding these items easier and prevent you from wasting time searching for what you need. Consider hanging a map of your storage unit in the front so you can easily navigate when visiting.
Use the Vertical Space — Many storage units include plenty of vertical space that can be used for additional storage. Stacking your boxes to the ceiling allows you to save space and accounts for longer items like canoes and paddle boards to be stored vertically, if necessary. Be smart about how high you stack items in your storage units, though. You don’t want to have a box crashing down on you.- Create an Aisle For Frequent Access — We love when our customers create maps to help them navigate their storage units, it’s top shelf organizing. Another great idea is to create an aisle inside your storage unit, giving you access to both sides of the unit. Having an aisle makes it easier to get to what you need without causing a big mess.
- Consider Adding Shelving — If you have items you plan on accessing regularly, adding shelving to your storage unit could be a game changer. Shelving allows you to fit more items inside of your storage unit without giving up access. Shelves make it easy to organize your items and they make your belongings easier to find.
Get the Right-Sized Storage Unit at SPS
Spring is in the air, which makes it the perfect time to clean out your storage unit and organize it for frequent access. If you plan on visiting your storage unit regularly, to switch out seasonal clothing and outdoor gear or to grab inventory before heading to work, you’ll thank yourself for organizing it for easy access. By keeping an inventory, creating a map and building an aisle into your storage unit, you’ll save time when you don’t have to flip your space upside down to find what you seek. Choose from a variety of clean and well-maintained storage units at the SPS location nearest you. Bloom into a more organized storage unit this spring at SPS.