12 Ways To Maximize Space In Your Storage Unit

As real estate prices have skyrocketed over the last few years, rentals of storage units have reached all-time highs in many regions. With these high prices, it’s understandable you want to rent the cheapest and smallest unit possible to save on monthly expenses. To fit all your precious belongings into a small storage unit, however, you must learn different ways to utilize every inch of space at your disposal.

To maximize space in your storage unit, you should map out a plan before you start moving in your belongings. Try to fit most of your things in similar-sized totes to make stacking easy, and always put your heaviest items at the bottom. Ensure you use your vertical space as much as horizontal space and always maintain a path so you can reach the back of your unit. 

Whether you have a disorganized storage unit or are considering renting for the first time, you must make the most of your rented space. Your storage unit will cost you no matter how you map out your belongings, so you should make the space work in your favor. If you follow the tips below, you might even find it possible to rent a smaller unit and save hundreds of dollars a year.

12 Ways To Help You Maximize The Space In Your Storage Unit

1. Create A Map And Plan Before Moving Items In

One of the best ways to maximize the space in your unit is something you do before you move in a single box. Moving is often a hasty process, and it’s something you want to get done quickly. Still, a little bit of planning goes a long way.

Take time to map out the dimensions of your unit on paper. Measure the size of your large furniture and know the dimensions of the totes you decide to use. Next, start planning the best strategic place for each item. 

This will help you understand how much extra space you have (if any) and where the most logical spot where each bulky item and tote should go. This will save many headaches down the road, and set you up for success on move-in day.

2. Use Similar-Sized And Stackable Totes

Totes are much better than boxes for safely keeping items in a storage unit. They keep out moisture and pests. Best of all, if you buy the same size totes for most of your belongings, you can stack them very easily.

Buying uniform large totes is a fantastic way to keep your storage unit looking organized, and it’s also a great way to make the most out of your space. If you use all sorts of different boxes instead, there will be gaps of space everywhere. 

3. Use Vertical Space As Much As Horizontal Space 

It can be instinctual to only stack totes up to your chest or eye level. For one, it’s hard to see above your head. Furthermore, it’s easier to store items closer to the ground than high up. Still, you must use your vertical space as much as your horizontal space if you plan to maximize every square foot of your unit.

As you fill your storage unit, stack your items upwards as as well as stacking them sideways. This will ensure your space fills evenly as you add more items.

4. Label Everything And Keep A Photo Inventory 

Part of maximizing your storage space is keeping everything very organized. If you don’t know where everything is, you might be less ambitious in how you pack and store things. Therefore, label every box and bin, with some details on the label.

Some people like to write one big label, and then add details on an index card, so specific items are easy to find without opening every bin. Alternatively, you can take a Polaroid photo of the inside of the box and paste it to the outside.

5. Build Shelving To Make Boxes More Accessible 

One great way to help build your storage space vertically as well as make everything easy to access is by adding shelving. Sure, storage units are rentals, but if you plan to have the unit for several years, it might be worth spending a few hundred dollars on shelving for all your totes. 

Shelves help with stacking, but they also allow you to open all your totes and boxes without having to shuffle everything around in an already-cramped space.

6. Create Boxes Within Boxes For Mismatched Fragile Items

If you opt to use matching totes, you may find that you have some categories of items that only fill half a tote, or even just a quarter of the space. To make the most of your containers while staying organized, consider putting additional organization on the inside of each tote. 

This means putting two to four boxes within each tote to help keep your items (especially fragile ones) from moving so they will stay in place. Remember to properly label the box without leaving any category out.

7. Always Store Heaviest Items On The Ground

Since you need to stack boxes and totes vertically to make the most of the space in your storage unit, remember that the heaviest boxes and totes go on the bottom. Books, heavy kitchen equipment, and anything metal should dominate the bottom row of totes.

Totes should get progressively lighter as you stack them. This will prevent your boxes from tipping. It will also make lighter work when you have to move boxes around.

8. Use Vacuum Sealed Bags For Clothing And Linen

Clothing and linen tend to take up quite a bit of space in a storage unit. Use vacuum-sealed bags to help keep your clothing well-preserved while occupying minimal space. Vacuum-sealed bags are relatively cheap and come in all sizes. 

These bags can reduce the amount of space your tote takes up by more than 50%, which is a great way to help you fit more in your storage unit.

9. Roll Clothes Instead Of Folding Them

Another great way to ensure your seasonal clothing takes up less space in your storage unit is to roll it instead of folding it. Rolling clothes helps take the air out, and makes your garments more compact and easier to stuff into a confined space. This is a good option for those who don’t have access to vacuum-sealed bags but want to maximize their storage space.

10. Routinely Go Through Items And Purge What You Don’t Need

One easy way to make space in your storage unit is to throw away anything you don’t need. You may think that everything you are holding on to is precious, but you’ll be surprised how your opinions change as time passes. Just as you get rid of things when you move, you should do the same when relocating items to a storage unit.

Make it a habit to go through your storage unit each year. This will remind you what you have, and possibly inspire you to use some of the items. It will also help you purge things you don’t need to hold on to.

11. Disassemble Furniture So It Takes Up Less Space

If you have any large pieces of furniture you plan to store in your unit, try to break them down. Putting large furniture pieces in your storage unit as-is may significantly reduce the amount of usable space you have in your unit.

Taking off legs, and disassembling frames can significantly increase the free space you have to store other things.

12. Install Wall Racks And Hooks For Oddly Shaped Items

While it’s great to have uniform totes for everything in your storage unit, there are some things that simply won’t fit. Sports equipment, fishing poles, and musical instruments are commonly found in storage units that won’t fit in a tote.

To ensure these items don’t take up lots of space but are safely stored, consider adding hooks and racks on the walls of your unit. Protect items with wrapping or keep them in a case, and hang them securely to the wall.  

Wrapping Up How To Effectively Use All The Space In Your Storage Unit

You can’t control the rising prices for storage units, but you can control what size unit you buy. To help maximize all the space in your storage unit, create a map and a plan before you start moving items in. Try to use large matching totes that you can stack vertically, and consider building shelving to make it easier to access all your totes. Remember to place heavy totes on the bottom, and install hooks and racks for objects that can’t fit in boxes or totes.

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