You can have a broad range of reasons for renting self-storage units. For example, you might want the space to put some of your belongings while moving. Alternatively, you might need a place for your inventory while running a side business. Whatever the case, you should use your rented space at the self-storage facility effectively and efficiently. This way, you can store and take things with minimal hassle. Moreover, you can get as much usefulness out of your rented space as possible.

Here are five critical guidelines when setting up your self-storage unit.

Go From Bottom to Top

People often ignore vertical space when storing things. This is a mistake because this means wasted storage space. However, you shouldn't just stack containers on top of one another if you want to use your vertical space. Heavier examples can crush their lighter counterparts. That won't be good for anything stored within. Even worse, your stacks can collapse, thus resulting in further damage and disorganization. To minimize the chances of this happening, you should put the heaviest and strongest containers at the bottom before stacking the rest on top of them.

Get Shelves

Consider putting shelves in your self-storage unit if you're willing to spend extra money. It's the easiest way to make your vertical space available for use. This is particularly true because you can't install hooks and other fixtures in your self-storage unit. Better still, you can retrieve containers you put on shelves without removing everything resting on top of them. Something that can make it much easier for you to access your belongings.

Use Descriptive Labels

Labels are must-have packing supplies. You might be able to remember the exact contents of your containers now. Unfortunately, you can't guarantee that will remain the case months or years into the future because memories fade. Boston College points out that people remember events with emotional significance the best, a descriptor that tends to exclude the contents of storage containers. Due to this, you shouldn't use single-word descriptors for your labels. Instead, you should include as much detail as you need to determine what's in your containers without opening them to take a look.

Consider Plastic Bins

On a related note, consider plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes when buying packing supplies. Apartment Therapy says they're heavier, bulkier, and more expensive. In exchange, you can count on them to be sturdier, so much so that you can use them repeatedly rather than once. As a side bonus, you can even peek into plastic bins to see what's inside. That won't make labels pointless. Instead, that can serve as a helpful supplement.

Leave Aisles Between Containers

You want to arrange your containers so you can access every single one of them. This is so you can retrieve something stored at the back without taking everything else out. Many arrangements let you use your storage space efficiently while leaving everything accessible. One example would be lining containers against the walls to leave an aisle in the middle of your self-storage unit. If you have enough space, you can put some containers in the middle of your self-storage unit, thus creating more than one aisle. Never maximize the use of storage space at the cost of accessibility unless you know you'll be retrieving everything all at once at some point in the future. In most cases, it's better to strike a balance between the two.

For more information on self-storage units, contact a professional near you.

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