How to Properly Store Purses in a Storage Unit?

If you spend a lot of money on purses, it pays to keep them in good condition. Depending on the purse, certain brands and models can appreciate in price. Several years down the road, you could end up selling your purse for much more than you originally paid for it.

Obviously, storing purses in the closet for a week while you show off another bag is different than getting long-term storage right. However, a storage unit is one of the best solutions available if you’re a passionate collector, a reseller, or you need to store your purses while you move houses.

Keeping purses upright, organizing them in airtight containers, and avoiding stacking purses on top of each other will get you most of the way. However, keeping valuable items in storage units also requires some additional information specific to storage facilities.

Here’s a helpful guide on what you should do before storing valuable purses or bags you treasure in a storage unit.

Invest in Some Shelving Units

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when putting things in storage is stuffing items in boxes and tossing them on the ground in storage units. If you’re putting valuables in a storage unit, you owe it to yourself to make an effort to keep them in better condition.

Buying shelving units or moving some shelves that you already have are great ways to avoid losing track of your purses or ruining them. Instead of throwing them in a random box, you can place them in containers on shelves where the odds of something smushing them are much lower.

Use the Right Containers

If you’re particularly organized, then you’ll find airtight containers that are clear and big enough to keep your purse in the box. Boxes are another layer of protection for your purses, even if you have them in a plastic container. For example, if you or someone else picks up the container, the purse can shift around because it’s not made to the purse’s specific dimensions.

The box, on the other hand, is made to fit the purse precisely, so you reduce the chances that your purse will shift around and hit the walls of the container.

Buy stackable containers if you have a lot of purses. See-through containers are typically the best choice because you can see what’s inside easier. But, if you need to, label the outside to make grabbing what you need a lot faster.

Keep Purses Off of the Floor

High-quality storage units are clean and well-kept. Still, that’s no reason to be careless, especially with items that carry a lot of value. In addition, storing things on the ground in a self-storage unit increases the risks of water damage if a flood or something else inside your unit spills.

Even if you don’t have shelving units, find a way to keep your purses off of the ground. Whether that’s stacking them on top of other boxes with clothes, etc., in them or some other solution, it’s worth your time.

Keep Purses Upright

When you don’t have containers or aren’t keeping your purses in there long-term, make sure to keep your bags upright. Laying them on their sides can cause rust, discoloration, and other damage. When in doubt, store your purses in the position they’re meant to be held.

If the purse won’t stand up on its own, that’s when containers or boxes with packing paper come in handy.

Fill the Purses with Stuffing

If you go into designer stores, you’ll find that a lot of them fill their purses with packing paper or some other similar material to help the purses keep their intended shape. This is a tip you should bring when you put your bags in a storage unit. Find a material that won’t bleed into your purses or otherwise damage them and fill the empty spaces to keep them in the best possible condition.

Choosing the Right Storage Unit

With a bit of effort, you can dramatically improve your results if you keep purses in a long-term storage unit.

First, you should only rent a storage unit with good reviews and the right policies in place to give you peace of mind. A random storage unit down the street might be fine for sticking some old clothes inside, but you should think about better options when money is on the line.

Look at what sort of security the storage facility has in place. Basic security measures include video cameras, gate access into the facility, and security guards on-site 24/7. Higher security can mean personalized access codes and mobile apps that let you schedule visits and monitor your unit from afar.

A climate-controlled self-storage unit is the best bet for people carrying expensive inventory. With climate controls, you can set your unit at a specific temperature, so you don’t have to worry about things melting in heat or changing colors during the summer.

Lastly, make sure you know your facility’s threshold for storing valuables. Most facilities will have a specific dollar limit when it comes to the total value of what you can store inside your unit, and it’s often not more than a few thousand. That means if you’re looking to store a Birkin, a traditional self-storage facility is probably not the place for it.

Clean Your Bags Before You Store Them

A little time spent cleaning your purses before they go into long-term storage will keep them in better shape. When you keep items in a storage unit, dirt and other debris can eat into the material the longer you keep them in there.

If you want to find your purses in good condition when you take them out, give them a good cleaning before storing them. Also, ensure that all your bags are completely dry before you store them because excess moisture can cause mold growth and other issues.

When you clean the straps, do your best to place the straps inside of the bags or otherwise cover them to avoid creasing them unintentionally. If you lay your purse awkwardly on a strap, you could end up with a permanent line where the weight of the purse touches the straps.

Self-storage units are a fantastic choice for keeping valuables, including high-end purses. If you have questions about how to store them, you can also ask the storage unit manager for advice. They’ve probably dealt with similar issues in the past and can tell you what to do.

SuperStorage Lakeside | 10046 River Street Lakeside, California 92040 United States

If you’re looking for a storage facility to store your belongings, SuperStorage Lakeside has got you covered in this department. Here at SuperStorage Lakeside, we offer a wide range of unit selections and top-notch security. To learn more about our self-storage facility, please check out our website at https://superstoragelakeside.com/.

How to Store Shoes in a Storage Unit without Destroying Them?

Shoes can damage easily in the right circumstances, so storing them properly is the way to go if you want to keep them in better condition longer. With the right storage strategy, you can keep your shoes in top shape for years or even decades.

Whether you’re managing a move and need somewhere to put your shoes for a few months, or you’re a collector with years’ worth of inventory, storage units are a fantastic place to keep shoes. You can avoid moving them too much, which is one of the main ways they get damaged.

By keeping them in containers, managing space well, and watching out for things like mold growth, you can add years to your shoes’ lifespan and get the peace of mind you need knowing your shoes are ok.

Choosing the right type of unit and the containers you use will make a massive difference in how your shoes survive. Here’s what you need to know about storing shoes in a storage unit without destroying them.

colorful shoes neatly organized in a white cabinet

Giving Shoes the Room They Need

One of the biggest mistakes people make storing shoes is piling them on each other. If you walk into a lot of houses, you’ll see baskets or bins full of shoes stacked in a mess. This, of course, is no way to keep shoes in good condition.

If you’re already keeping shoes like this, then you’re probably not overly concerned with how they’ll do in a storage unit. You’re here, however, because you likely care more and want to find ways to prevent rot, dirt, and creases.

The main thing you want to do is give your shoes the correct amount of room. Whether you’re keeping your storage unit specifically for your shoes or you have other items, you need to ensure they aren’t on top of each other or smashed under heavy objects.

Finding the Right Storage Unit

Deciding on the best storage unit is your first step. For example, you may want to pay more for a climate-controlled unit if you live somewhere that gets extremely hot. This is because shoes can melt in extreme temperatures, and even hot units can cause discolorations or colors to fade depending on how long you keep things in there.

If you’re unsure, talk to the rental leasing office before you move in to get their advice on the best unit for you. Also, rent a big enough unit for your shoes and anything else you’re storing to avoid shoving things in corners or stacking too many items on top of each other.

Containers for Your Shoes

Buy clear, air-tight containers to keep shoes in. If you’re only putting a pair of shoes in your unit for a week or so, then keeping them in a box or out in the open is no big deal. Any longer, however, you’ll want something better for storage.

With clear, sealed containers, you can stack your shoes on top of each other without worrying about anything crushing them. You can also pop over to your storage unit and find what you need quickly if you want to wear or sell something.

Plastic tubs or containers will keep your shoes looking new and prevent anything from mashing into them.

You may also want to wrap each individual shoe in either plastic wrap or packing paper for added protection. While this may not be realistic for shoes you’ll regularly wear, keeping shoes for future sale or storing them for an undetermined amount of time may require extra wrapping.

Make sure your shoes are dry before you put them in the container. The seal will trap any excess moisture inside, which could affect how they look when you take them out. In addition, you can buy moisture-wicking products to keep near your shoes to eliminate any water.

open concept closet with clothes hanging and shoes align at the bottom

Keep Your Shoes Off of the Ground

Don’t put anything on the ground of your storage unit. While most facilities go to great lengths to avoid anything like water damage from affecting tenants, you’re better safe than sorry.

If you can, buy some affordable shelving units where you can store shoes and any other small items in your unit. You can build them and have them up in a matter of minutes, and it will help you keep your shoes more organized.

You never want to keep shoes on the ground because if something in the unit spills or if there is a serious storm, you may get water on the floor.

Cover Your Shoes

Even though your shoes aren’t under direct sunlight, you should keep the shoes covered to avoid any yellowing. This is an especially helpful hint if you’re keeping your shoes in the unit long-term. Left alone for too long, your shoes can take on a yellow or brownish hue that will ruin them.

Keep them in the box before you put them in the plastic containers. You can also use tarps or blankets to cover them and prevent any sun or air damage to your shoes.

Organization is Key

Above all, keep track of your shoes by having a system for storage. Suppose you’ve ever seen any reality TV shows about storage units. In that case, you’ll know that the units with poor organization often have a lot of mold and other unnecessary damage to the property inside. On the other hand, well-kept storage units are easier to move through and keep items in better condition.

When you’re moving into a storage unit to store your shoe collection, you should have a plan before moving anything valuable inside.

Sort your shoes based on how often you’ll need them. Keeping less-used items in the back will save you time and prevent any excess handling that you want to avoid. Grouping them based on style or occasion is the best way to go.

With the right approach, you can keep your shoes in fantastic condition for years in a storage unit. Follow these steps to avoid damage and store your shoes worry-free as long as you need them.

How Long Can You Rent a Storage Unit?

Finding the right storage can be the perfect solution for how you manage space. Across the United States, millions of people use storage units to manage moves, store seasonal equipment and toys, and keep family heirlooms. They’re safe, convenient, and affordable.

People often wonder how long rental lease terms are, which stops them from getting the space they need. How long can you rent a storage unit? Rental facilities are typically very flexible with their terms. Shorter leases will typically cost you more per month, and you’re more likely to get a better deal with a longer lease.

Before you go to a storage facility, call them or visit their website to look at their lease term options. If you have a unique situation, ask the management team about a workaround and see what they can do.

Here’s some helpful information about how to rent a storage unit and different lease agreements.

Monthly Rentals

Most storage unit renters rent on a month-by-month basis. However, monthly rentals make things more flexible for owners versus something like an annual lease, and it helps owners and managers run their businesses smoothly.

In many instances, storage companies will have a minimum term no matter how long you need the unit. If you live in an area with high demand, finding something with a shorter window can be difficult than a single month. You may end up having to pay the minimum even though you don’t need it that long.

Weekly Rentals

What if you don’t need a storage unit for a month or longer? If you look around, you’re likely to find some storage facilities offering weekly rentals. Usually, these rental companies cater to people like college students, people moving because of jobs, and other short-term needs.

You can expect to pay more on a monthly basis for a weekly rental, but some people enjoy the flexibility they offer.

couples doing inventory on the things they have in a storage unit

Annual Rentals

If you want to get the best deal on cost, then renting a storage unit by the year is your best bet. Self-storage facilities will often lower their prices the longer you agree to rent.

Taking Over Someone’s Lease

Sometimes, you can get more flexibility by offering to take over someone else’s rental lease on a storage unit. For example, if someone signs a year-long lease and then doesn’t need the unit after eight or nine months, they’ll try to find someone who can take over the rest of their lease. It works similarly to apartments.

Some facilities let this happen, and others forbid subleases or selling contracts, so you will need to check before you take someone’s unit. When it does work, though, it’s a great way to get more flexibility in a high-demand area that doesn’t give you a lot of leasing options.

couple moving their boxes in their storage unit

Seasonal Promotions

Before you sign a normal lease with a storage facility, you should check around for any specials or promotions running in your area. Then, you can save money and find the lease tenure that you’re looking for when companies are trying to attract new business.

Many facilities will run promotions in the summer or at the end of school semesters to bring in new tenants, so these are usually great times to sign a new lease.

Even if you don’t see any promotions in your area, you should call potential storage facilities and ask them if they have any discounts going for new customers.

Canceling Your Storage Unit

Be careful when signing your lease because you may end up paying for a storage unit longer than you need. For instance, if you have a three-month minimum on your contract and only need the unit for a month, you will need to pay the lease in full.

Waiting until the end of the month is another mistake some renters make. Many rental facilities don’t pro-rate leases. If you have something in the unit, or you don’t call to cancel until after the first of the next month, you’re probably going to have to pay for the entire month.

If you do need to cancel, let your facility manager or the leasing office know ahead of time. Ideally, you’ll call them a couple of weeks before you need to stop using the unit and close out the month before having to pay for a month you’re not using.

Canceling your contract with months left to go will vary by company. Some rental facilities will ask you to pay something like a month’s rent to offset the cost of finding a new tenant, and some companies will ask you to pay the entire lease in full.

couple checking the their contract with their storage facility

Knowing How Long You Need

Understanding how long you need a storage unit isn’t always easy. Every year, thousands of people rent a unit by the week, thinking that they only need it for a short while. However, a good portion of them keeps the unit for months and years because life situations change or they realize how beneficial it is to have the extra space.

If you’re moving because of a job, then it’s relatively easy to predict how long you’ll need the unit. However, things like home renovations, the passing of a family member and managing their things, storing business inventory, and other reasons aren’t as easy to predict.

Working with a reputable storage company makes everything easier. First, read some online reviews, talk to the management team to see how responsive they are, and gauge their customer service. An experienced rental office will ask you some questions about your situation and make recommendations on how long they think you should rent a unit.

Work with them on a lease that fits your needs and get the most out of having a storage unit. Depending on what you need, whether you’re looking for a place to stick your bikes during the winter or you need a place to keep mom’s couch, you can find a great deal on a unit by the week or for years.

How Do You Store Gym Equipment? Can You Store It in a Storage Unit?

Steady routines are vital to successful exercise programs. If you talk to most people, they’ll tell you that sticking to a plan works. But, unfortunately, few people see real success by walking into the gym without knowing what they’re doing that day and why.

The same goes for how you work out at home. You can significantly improve your health, strength, or fitness goals with the right equipment. Of course, a big part of having the right equipment is keeping it well-organized and storing it properly.

People want gym equipment they can use, but that doesn’t get in the way of ordinary life. We all know someone with a treadmill in the basement that’s turned into a toy storage platform. Developing a good storage solution will keep your gym equipment in better condition for longer and make them easier to use.

Storage units are also an excellent longer-term solution for when you’re moving and also serve as a fantastic place to keep seasonal gym items that you only need during certain parts of the year.

Working out at home sometimes means having bands, belts, weights, mats, and a ton of other gear around the house. Deciding how and where to put things can be challenging. Here are some tips on storing your equipment when putting things in a storage unit makes the most sense.

Keep a Dedicated Gym Space

You have enough space for a dedicated home gym if you’re lucky. While not everyone can outfit a CrossFit gym at home or has the room for a squat rack, even finding a corner to keep all of your things is the best place to start.

Knowing where to go helps make working out automatic. This is critical for beginners who, typically, face more internal resistance when they need to work out. Keep all of your yoga mats, jump ropes, and dumbbells in the same area of your house.

Using Vertical Space

Instead of having everything in boxes or baskets on the floor, improve your gym equipment storage by taking advantage of vertical space on your walls. You can install hanging racks, baskets, pegs, and shelves to store your gym gear to give you easy access.

You can hang mats, towels, and other gym accessories with the right vertical storage solution. Obviously, you won’t want to hang anything too heavy on your walls, but at least it will save you some floor space and keep things where you can find them.

Buy Gear that Fits Your Space

Sometimes storing gym equipment properly starts with buying the right gear. For example, avoid buying bulky items if you live in a small house or don’t have a dedicated home gym. You may end up regretting that elliptical that’s sitting in the middle of your living room.

Nowadays, you can find equipment that folds and flexes to fit under beds, in small closets, and under couches. As a result, you usually don’t have to sacrifice much in the way of function, but you may have to go without the fanciest machines if you lack the proper space.

Keep Heavy Equipment Away from Wood

Weights and hardwood floors don’t mix. Even weights wrapped in plastic can become sticky when it’s hot and damage your floors or anything else they’re on. Be careful with any heavy equipment. Always do your best to store them on soft pads where they can’t dent floors or walls.

Use Baskets & Cover Gym Equipment with a Blanket

If you need the gym equipment but don’t want your house to look like you’re living in a gym, then baskets are an excellent solution. Buy some stylish baskets to keep everything in, no matter where your home gym is. If it’s in the corner of the dining room or in the basement, feel free to toss a nice blanket over the top or find other ways to conceal that it’s gym equipment. A little work will make it look like your gear fits in with the rest of your house.

Storing Your Gym Equipment in a Storage Unit

Self-storage units are a great place to keep gym equipment when it’s not the right season or you’re in a transition where you can’t use them at the moment. For example, if your bench press is outside, chances are you won’t be using it much when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. Leaving your weights and bar out there will make them rust and could ruin them.

With a storage unit, you have a flex space where you can park certain gym items and switch things out based on the weather or stage of fitness. However, you also need to know how to store gym equipment in a storage unit to avoid premature rust, mold, and other damage.

Here’s what you should do:

Cover Your Gym Equipment

Cover your items in the unit whenever possible. It will be much better than nothing if all that means is throwing a tarp over your rack or weights. A covering helps lower the risk of water damage, mold growth, or accidental spills.

Store Small Items in Boxes or Plastic Tubs

Small items left in a storage unit for months will do way better in a sealed bin. Label them, so you know where things are and can grab what you need in seconds rather than sorting through everything randomly.

Keep Things Off of the Ground

You should keep gym equipment off of the ground whenever possible. This, again, helps to lower the risk of any water damage and will generally keep your things in better condition, Buy some affordable shelving units and stick them in there where you can keep your mats dry and mold-free.

Lots of people use self-storage units for gym equipment they don’t need. Whether they’re building a new home and making plans for a home gym, or they’re having a baby, and the gym equipment has to go, for the time being, storing gear the right way makes a big difference.

Ways to Divide Space in a Small House

The coronavirus accelerated a massive shift in how we work. Sure, there were already people working from home and in coffee shops, but not at the scale they are now. Entire companies changed from in-office work to fully remote teams.

Now, people are spending more time at home and, as a result, need to re-think how they use their space. Finding creative ways to divide space in a small house will make it feel bigger and keep you more organized. How you position your furniture and use the right dividers will make all the difference.

You don’t always need an expensive divider or a large renovation to divide the pace, though both of those things do a fantastic job. Sometimes, you can effectively divide space with a bookshelf, clothing rack, or a buffet table.

Here are some ways you can divide space in a small house to get work done better, entertain guests, or do whatever else you need.

single couch in the living room with a vertical divider at the back

Buying Dividers

Plenty of furniture stores sell dividers that come in different materials like bamboo, oak, or lightweight plywood. You can find dividers with designs on them or in solid colors if that’s what you prefer. You can hang art on your dividers, put colorful wallpaper on them, or use dividers to hang whiteboards or corkboard that you need for work.

In a small apartment, dividers do a great job when you need to separate your bedroom and home office space in the same room. They can mark where the kitchen ends and where the dining room begins if you live in a studio or somewhere with an open floor plan.

Sectional Couches

Sectionals do a terrific job of breaking up open floor plans. You can set up a desk for work behind your couch that extends away from the wall, and people visiting will know that it’s a dedicated space.

What’s more, you’ll feel the difference as you move from your couch to your desk. Often, just a small change of scenery like that is enough to get you into work mode or help take your mind off your work when it’s time to relax.

A Clothes Rack

A stylish clothing rack can double as a room divider and extra closet space if you live in a small apartment. Position it between your bed and the rest of your room to break up the area. Then, hang your clothes on the rack to give yourself some extra privacy in the bedroom.

cute sofa beside a plant rack as a divider

Using Plants to Divide Space

If you don’t have any plants yet, you can use them to break up a small house and spruce things up. Plants are a wonderful addition to any home, and as long as you are up for the maintenance, they can last for years and keep your area feeling welcoming and relaxed. In addition, homes with plants in them usually feel bigger.

Curtains

What if you want the option to divide the space but don’t love permanent barriers? In small homes, sometimes people want to take advantage of open floor plans, and other times they want some privacy.

Curtains come in handy when you need to go back and forth. You can hang a curtain rod above a doorway or across the ceiling and buy some tasteful curtains that add to the style of your home.

All you have to do is pull them shut when you need to divide the space and open them up when you want to open up the house.

Bookshelves

Bookshelves are another great divider choice because you can buy some of them without solid backs. In addition, the ability to see through a bookshelf can make your small house feel bigger as opposed to a solid bookshelf that really compartmentalizes a room.

If you can, you may also want to double-up uses for your bookshelf by purchasing one that has a section for a desk already built in. Use some of the shelves to hold your jewelry box, small plans, and trinkets you pick up when you travel to make things feel more inviting.

Install a Barn Door

Barn doors are awesome because they slide from side to side instead of swinging open. When you’re short on space, a barn door can divide a bedroom and sitting area, the kitchen from the dining room, and other common areas.

Installing a barn door is a lot more challenging than some of the other divider options on this list, so you may need to enlist the help of a contractor or a couple of friends who know what they’re doing.

Choose a door made of wood that adds to your home’s value, and you’ll love the way it looks and breaks up your home into more spaces.

Buy Some Folding Screens on Wheels

People want the ability to divide spaces but not to have permanent features that make their small home feel even smaller. With folding screens on wheels, you can move dividers around your house depending on when you need to section off an area in your home.

These are the perfect solution for when you and your friend or partner are both working at home. For example, if one of your needs to jump on a video call, you can slide the folding screens in place to make it seem like you’re working in your dedicated home office.

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

When we think about dividing small spaces, we typically go straight to how to break up floorplans. However, people can also get a lot of use out of vertical spaces. You can, for example, build storage into areas under your bed or buy furniture with built-in storage under cushions to help you keep things more organized.

Building cabinets all the way up to the ceiling is an effective way to make kitchen organization easier in small apartments in cities and other smaller homes.

Finding the right way to divide the space can be challenging, but there are some great ways to make your home feel bigger and a section of places to work, sleep, or entertain.

Small Home Office Ideas

Over the past two years, workers have experienced a massive shift in where they work. If you’re a white-collar worker and all you need is a computer, a phone, and an internet connection to get work done, you now likely have more freedom to do your job than ever.

If you’re one of the people who can now work from home, you should count yourself lucky. However, while other people are probably envious of your flexibility, your reality may be very different.

Not everyone had a nice, big home office waiting for them before COVID-19. People are making do on dining room tables and sitting on their beds. But if you want to get more work done, nothing beats a dedicated space. If you have a small space for an office, there are things you can do to make it comfortable and productive.

Take advantage of modern technology and storage options to create a new home office that you’ll love. Of course, it will take some work, but you can design a space where you won’t have to scramble and kick people out of the room before your next work call.

laptop, ipad, planner and a cup of coffee on the table in a home office setup

How Technology Saves You Space

Younger workers are used to doing everything on their phones. For older workers, going digital is usually more of a challenge, so you’re going to have to move in phases. However, the payoff is worth it if you make an effort.

By switching to a digital calendar, notes applications, and online storage, you can eliminate many of the trappings of traditional office space. For example, you will need fewer filing cabinets and cork boards because everything you need will be digital.

Before you set up your office, or if you feel like your office is too cluttered, take a look at what you can use in terms of software or even hardware to save some space. For example, taking pictures of your important documents and saving them in the cloud or on a local hard drive will save you a lot of room. It will keep your desk cleaner and make your small office feel bigger.

Keeping Things Tidy Improves Your Office

Increase your space by keeping things clean. When it comes to your home office, clean means good wire organization, things put away in drawers and taking those dirty cups to the kitchen.

The more you clean, the better you’ll feel as you work, and you can transform any corner of your home into the professional setting that you need to focus on your job.

small office space at home with a colored teal office chair

Choose the Right Furniture

The desk and chair you ultimately decide to use for a home office will greatly impact how your space feels. You need a desk that’s big enough for you to work on, but that won’t monopolize whatever room you’re in.

Desks

These days, you can buy desks in corner configurations to take advantage of unused spaces in your room. For example, if you’ve got an empty corner in a bedroom or the living room, you can put a desk there and make it your work area.

Office Chairs

We all love the idea of a large comfortable office chair that we can sit in all day, but that’s not very realistic when you are in a small space. Large office chairs on wheels become a distraction from your interior design.

Instead, stick with a chair that fits your home’s aesthetic. It will help your office blend in even when it’s in a place like your bedroom. If you must, borrow a chair from the dining room table and put it back once you’re through.

office supplies in a home office neatly organize on the wall

Use the Wall for Storage

If you need ideas on where to put your laptop, folders, hang your monitor, etc., you should consider using the wall space around your workstation. Install hooks and pegs that will help you organize your work items.

The right hooks and shelves make storing things vertically much easier, and they’ll look fantastic too! The best part is that they are easy to install and will hold whatever you need.

Vertical storage is extremely handy if you’re working on a multi-purpose desk that doubles as your vanity or something similar.

man working at home using a noise cancelling headphone

Buy Some Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Sometimes it’s impossible to escape the hubbub of a busy home. If you have kids and have worked at home, you know how difficult it can be to minimize noise. It’s easy to feel like you spend half of your time screaming at other people to stay quiet because you’re getting on a call.

Thankfully, most people are accustomed to hearing pets and family members in the background now that so many people work at home. Still, you want some semblance of quiet to help you focus. That’s where a good pair of noise-canceling headphones come in.

Newer headphone models also come with features that limit background noise. Using them with computer applications that let you blur the background of your camera means you can draw attention to your face and what you’re saying.

cute and minimalist office space at home

How to Create Space at Home for an Office?

You may need to make room for your home office if you get tired of working on the couch. Clearing out space isn’t always easy, especially if you’re in a small house or an apartment. If you’ve got some extra storage space at home, you can move a dresser or a chair to make room for your new office.

You can also rent a self-storage unit to manage your space better. With a storage unit, you can keep things like bikes, toys, sporting equipment, exercise equipment, and other items that take up valuable room. There are probably storage facilities in your area close to where you live, so grabbing what you need is never too hard.

A storage unit can make life much easier if you’re self-employed or perform operation work that requires managing inventory or boxing and shipping. Keep supplies and inventory in the unit, and grab what you’ll use whenever you need to resupply.

Small Space Solutions

Living in small spaces often means you have to go without many of the trappings of larger spaces. For example, there’s typically less room for all of the kitchen appliances you love, and you’re always going to negotiate with yourself in your head whenever it’s time to buy something new.

Everything from buying furniture to getting new clothes can be challenging because you’re always wondering how much space you have and where you’ll put things. Unfortunately, living in the city makes things like closets and cabinets a luxury.

If you’re living in a small space, there are some strategies you can use to maximize storage space and avoid getting rid of things you love. Here are some great ideas for where you can put things and get the most out of your space!

Use Vertical Storage as Much as Possible

In small spaces, it’s vital that you take advantage of vertical storage as much as you can. Thankfully, there are tons of effective storage options that you can buy online or at your local home goods store.

Here are a few examples of what you can do:

Door Hanger Shoe Racks

Buy a rack that hangs on the back of your door and put it in your bedroom. These racks come with slots for several pairs of shoes, so you can keep your shoes clean in their own compartments versus tossing them in a tub somewhere altogether.

Install Wall Shelves

Put custom shelves on wall space that you’re not using. For example, spaces above beds are a great location for shelving units where you can keep extra stuff that you don’t always need.

Storage Bins in Closets

If you do have closets, you should take advantage of the space from the floor to the bottom of where your clothes hang. You can buy some storage bins with shelves in them and stick them in your closets for bathroom items, shoes, winter clothes, and other items.

Hang More Clothes

Speaking of closets, people in small spaces should hang as many of their clothing items as possible. Hung clothing takes up much less space than clothes in drawers. In addition, hanging your clothes can help you eliminate the need for another bulky dresser in your apartment or house.

Use Shelving Units

Shelving units are a fantastic way to store things vertically. There are several great options and shelves that you can space out as much as you need. In addition, you can insert more shelves to eliminate the space between them, so you can fit more things and stay better organized!

bike hanging on the wall in the living room

Hang Bikes & Other Equipment

If you have a bike, scooter, or other outdoor recreational equipment, consider storing them on walls or handing them from the ceiling as well. You can buy bike racks that attach to walls or ceiling beams to keep your bikes out of the way.

These are just a few vertical storage ideas you can use to maximize space and declutter small spaces.

Get Creative with Space

Finding creative ways to store things in small spaces like city apartments will make organizing your stuff a lot easier. Here are some examples of where you can put stuff in non-traditional storage spaces.

Under the Beds

Storing things under your bed keeps them out of sight and within arm’s reach. People do well by storing things like seasonal clothing items, extra sheets, and even toiletries under their beds. You can buy clear containers with wheels on them that easily slide in and out from under your bed. Just stick a label on them, and you’ll stay much better organized.

If you’re looking for more space, then you can elevate your bed! First, find something you can put your bed posts on to give yourself a few extra inches. LIfting beds is something college students have done for decades to get more storage space out of small dorm rooms.

Furniture with Storage

If you’re living in a small space, then you’re probably always thinking about buying things with compartments. Whether it’s a couch with a storage shelf underneath or a foyer bench with shoe storage, buying the right furniture can give you a ton of added space!

Hooks & Pegs

Wherever possible, installing hooks and pegs on your walls is a terrific way to store items you use frequently. In small spaces, the ability to hang a purse or a coat when you walk through the door will save you time and keep your items in better condition.

Above Doorways

This might not be an option for renters, but owners who live in small spaces may want to take advantage of empty spaces above doorways. Installing custom cabinets over doorframes is a great way to find space for pots, pans, mixers, and other kitchen items. In addition, you can store extra pillows up there and other items you don’t need every day.

How to Use Self-Storage Units to Free Up Space?

Every year, more and more people discover the benefits of self-storage units that help them live more comfortably in small spaces. People store business inventory in them, family heirlooms, and a variety of other items. With a storage unit, you don’t have to worry about where you’ll put things, and they’re usually in striking distance to make putting things inside or taking them out a breeze.

couple putting boxes in a self storage unit

There’s a good chance you have a quality self-storage unit just a few minutes from where you live, and you can find a size that fits your needs at a great price. Having a storage unit means you don’t have to sacrifice things you want just because you won’t use them all of the time. Simply keep your winter items or that bread maker in your unit and pop over to grab it when it’s that time of year.

Your small space doesn’t limit you. For an affordable price, a storage unit can be the extension you need to keep your place from getting cluttered. There are climate-controlled units where you can store delicates, and you can also typically change the size of your unit if you end up needing something bigger down the road.

How Do You Tell If Your House Is Cluttered?

Clutter tends to sneak up on people quickly. One moment you’re managing all of your stuff just fine, and then suddenly, you feel like you have nowhere to put things and can’t find where your sewing machine is.

Staying organized is more challenging the more stuff you have, and a cluttered house always seems like it’s in disarray. You can tell your house is cluttered when you’re frustrated by how many things you have or if you feel like you can’t ever keep things clean because there’s no space to put things.

Decluttering is hard work. It’s relatively easy to throw away junk but deciding what to keep and what to get rid of when you have nice things is challenging. If you’re wondering whether your house is too cluttered and what you can do about it, we’ve put together a list to help. Here are some ways you can tell if you have too many things and where you can start decluttering today.

Deciding You Have Too Much

Sometimes you just have to live with clutter. Families with small kids are a great example of people who must adjust expectations regarding organization and cleanliness. Small children need toys, special cups, extra clothes, and school supplies.

As you move through life, your ability to control and manage clutter changes. Your definition of clutter will be different than someone else’s. People have different tolerance levels for how much stuff they have and what they need to feel comfortable where they are. For instance, some folks work better on a cluttered desk. Others need their workspace completely clean before they can focus. It all depends.

Here are some signs you’ve got too much clutter in your house.

problematic girl because of her messy house

You Feel Like You Can’t Keep Things Clean

If you’re stuffing things into overflowing drawers or are constantly looking for new places to put things when you clean, you probably have too much stuff. People who excel at organizing have dedicated spaces for almost everything. There are no jumbles of wires in cabinets or piles of clothing at the bottom of closets.

You Hate Your Living Space

Your home should make you feel relaxed and at peace. You need to declutter your space if it doesn’t because there’s simply too much stuff inside. Pay attention to how you feel when you’re at home around your things. Ideally, most of your stuff will be a source of joy rather than trigger any sort of stress.

girl looking for something under the sofa

You Can’t Find What You Need

Trouble finding things you need is another sign you’re too cluttered. It’s fine if you occasionally can’t find something, but when it becomes a common issue, then you need to eliminate things to stay better organized.

Other People Make Comments

You should never put too much weight into what people say about your house and how you live your life, but regular comments about clutter should be a concern. Unfortunately, people become accustomed to the level of clutter they’re around every day. Sometimes, it takes an outside opinion to ground you and face reality. Asking a friend or a close relative for their opinion may be a good idea to gauge where you are.

Feeling Embarrassed to Host Guests

Do you feel embarrassed about how disorganized your house is to the point where you don’t want people to come over? If so, you’ve got an issue. Hoarders are notoriously protective of their spaces and don’t want anyone coming in because they feel embarrassed and don’t want to face judgment.

You may not be at that level, but if you’re shying away from hosting friends because of the clutter in your house, it’s time to take action.

You Park Your Cars Outside

If you’ve got a garage, but you can’t park your car inside, then you’re probably dealing with too much clutter. The same goes for basements, sheds, and other utility spaces. Anytime you feel like you can’t use them for what they’re intended for, then you likely need to clear out some stuff.

These are just some of the ways you can tell if your house is cluttered. In many cases, people will start to feel like they have too many things, which indicates it’s time for some spring cleaning.

How to Start Decluttering Your House?

Starting is typically the most challenging part when you realize that your stuff is an issue and that you need to get organized.

First, you should set some realistic goals about how you want to live and what you want your house to look like. Overnight change is unlikely unless you’re okay with getting rid of some things you’ll wish you hadn’t. Take things slowly for better results and to avoid mistakes.

Consider each item as you go through them. Start with things that you haven’t used for months and pay attention to how they make you feel. Decide what your life will be like without them. Don’t hold onto things just in case you might need to make pasta from scratch, or you’ll eventually get back on that 10-year-old treadmill. Move on.

Once you get rid of everything that you don’t need, then it’s time to think about where to put them. When you have limited storage space at home and no longer want to sacrifice places like your garage or the guest bedroom, it’s time to look for other options.

Renting a self-storage unit is an excellent option for people who need flexible storage close to home. They’re relatively affordable and will keep your items safe when you don’t need them at your fingertips. People use storage units to keep bikes, winter clothes, kitchen appliances they don’t use frequently, and things like camping equipment.

When you need to grab something, all you have to do is zip over to the storage unit and fetch them. You get to keep your house free of clutter without having to throw away things you need. It’s a fantastic solution for people living in small spaces and families with children.

How Do You Know If You Have Too Much Stuff?

It’s an interesting question, whether you have too much stuff. A cluttered house to one person is a home to another. Certain people’s treasures are dismissed as junk by friends or relatives who prefer clean spaces and open floorplans.

Having too much stuff has a lot to do with personal perspective and your stage in life. For example, if you think you have too much stuff as a college student, just wait until you have some kids and start buying toys. In many cases, the stuff you have only grows the older you get.

girl stressed out on so many stuff at home

However, no one wants to have too much stuff. So then, you start to feel overwhelmed when it’s time to clean. You find yourself not being able to use spaces like the garage or basement the way you want to. You’re worried about buying new things because you don’t know where to put them! Drawers are overflowing, cabinets are full, and you can’t seem to throw away things that you aren’t using anymore.

If you’re wondering how much stuff is too much, here’s some information to help you make the call. Decluttering is freeing and is a fantastic way to sort through things to find out what you really need and what you can give away.

Signs You Have Too Much Stuff

Stuff can creep up on you. One moment you’re feeling fine and having fun buying things, and the next, you’re frustrated about how little space you have left in your house or apartment. When your place gets too crowded, it can make things more difficult. Here are some signs you’ve got too much stuff.

Trouble Finding Things

Do you have a hard time finding things? If you’re rifling through piles of kitchen supplies to find the mixer attachments, or you can’t find your batteries no matter where you look, you may have too much stuff.

People should try to keep only as many possessions as they can responsibly keep track of and maintain. Losing something is one thing but having trouble finding something in a sea of other stuff is a problem you should avoid.

Buying Duplicates

You might have too much stuff if you have multiple irons or several vacuums. First, consider whether you need more than one item, no matter what it is. Typically, you’re better off using it until it’s worn out and buying a new one than keeping more than one at the same time.

Stuff Stresses You Out

For many people, just thinking about their stuff is a good way to stress them out. If this sounds like you, then you probably have too much stuff in your house. Avoidance is a common tactic. People will stop going into their cluttered garage, so they don’t have to remember what a mess it is.

Trouble Moving Around

Too much stuff can mean you can’t move around your house like you want to. If walkways or sections of rooms are off-limits because of piles of boxes or furniture you don’t use, then it could be time for some spring cleaning. And we don’t necessarily mean hoarder-level stuff. Most situations, of course, aren’t that dire. However, many folks already live in tight spaces, so managing stuff ensures you can feel comfortable and relaxed at home.

You Wish You Had Less Stuff

One sign you have too much is when you wish you didn’t. So if you wonder what your house would feel like with everything gone, you should likely start sorting through things to find out what can go.

How to Declutter When You Have Too Much?

It’s hard to declutter, especially when your stuff is still useful and valuable. Chances are, you’re not tiptoeing around piles of old newspapers or worthless junk. When you have things you like, it makes parting with them challenging.

Still, decluttering, once you start, can feel fantastic and help you feel more at peace with your things. It’s a process that, once you start, you can build into your routine. Eventually, you’ll make purchases with more discernment and only buy things you either really need or love tremendously.

woman sorting her clothes to keep or declutter

Decluttering an entire house is daunting. Instead, go through your house one room at a time. When you decide whether to get rid of something, take a look at it and think about when was the last time you used it. Ask yourself how much you enjoy owning it.

Avoid keeping anything because you might need it one day. And, if it’s been several months since you last used it, set it in the “sell” or “give away” pile. Instead, work your way through things and try to keep things you treasure.

Set goals for how you want your space to feel. You shouldn’t get rid of stuff just to get rid of things. Instead, imagine how you want your garage to look and work your way toward that vision.

Use Storage as a Flex Space for Seasonal Items

Not everyone has stuff they can simply get rid of when they need to declutter. Imagine you’re living in an NYC apartment without closet space. You can’t buy a new winter coat every year. The same goes for bikes. If you have nice bikes and no room to keep them in the garage, where should you keep them?

man pushing a cart of boxes in a storage unit to keep

Millions of people across America use self-storage units as flexible storage spaces that help them keep a handle on how much stuff they keep at home. With a storage unit, you can store items you don’t need all year or that you’re not ready to get rid of yet. People use them to house family heirlooms, winter clothing, sports equipment, and other things that tend to pile up in a corner at home.

Storage units come in various sizes to suit your needs. They can help you manage spring cleaning efficiently so you don’t feel like you have to toss more than you want to. You can also keep seasonal items there and go grab them when it’s time to get the sleds, jackets, and gloves for the snow.

Living with stuff gets a lot easier once you have a system in place to keep you organized!

Moving? 9 Tips for Researching Your New Neighborhood

Moving is like an emotional rollercoaster. You experience the highs of excitement knowing you’re in for new opportunities and challenges. There is so much to explore and learn. You’ll meet new people, see new things, and find new hobbies.

On the other hand, there is also the stress of putting new roots in the ground. Will you make friends? How long will it take you to make the new place your home?

Some people are pros at moving. People in the military, for example, move a lot and have it down to a science. It’s almost like they have a mental checklist of things they need to do. For others, though, moving is highly disruptive. You may have lived in one place your entire life, so the thought of moving can be quite daunting.

Whether you’re moving for the fourth time or the first, there are things you can do to make things go more smoothly. A big part of any successful move is learning as much as you can about where you are going and picking the right spot to live. What you’ll look for depends a lot on where you are in the stages of life and your priorities.

Doing the research and choosing where to live often have the biggest impact on your happiness. If you’re trying to make the most out of your move, here are 9 tips for researching your new neighborhood.

woman commuter wearing her headphones in the bus

1. Getting Your Commute Right

Studies show that people with shorter commutes are happier overall. Finding an easy commute is critical if you have a stressful job or obligations that require your attention outside of work areas.

Choose a neighborhood close to work. It will pay off in spades even if it means living in a smaller place or making compromises on priorities that are lower on your list.

The last thing you want to do is live in a larger house and then sit in the car for hours each day. It’s not worth it.

2. Research Public Transportation Routes

Just like your commute impacts your happiness, so will not having to drive. Find out what sort of public transportation options your new neighborhood has and whether it’s a viable option for your work commute. This will save you a ton of time and let you read or watch movies while you’re on the way to work and traveling home.

Most towns these days have bus and tram options to serve workers.

3. Schools, Schools, Schools

If you have kids, this is THE issue. Finding the best schools in your new neighborhood shoots to the top of any list for families with children. Luckily, there are now more tools online than ever to steer you in the right direction.

Yes, better schools mean higher housing costs, but the money is worth it knowing your children are getting a great education. Also, buying real estate near highly-rated schools pays off. Your home value will increase because those spots will always be in high demand.

4. What Hobbies Do You Have?

Do you like to play tennis? Do you want to join a gym?

When you’re researching your neighborhood options, look for places close to the things you like to do. This is crucial to you continuing to pursue hobbies and other interests. When things are too far away, it’s easy to shrug your passion off and stay home more than you’d like.

Map the distance from where you want to live and then track how long it will take you to get to your class or favorite spots.

5. Pet-Friendly Parks

Having pets is a huge obligation and should be a big part of your move research. If you have a dog, for example, you’ll want to know where all of the dog parks and other dog-friendly areas are around where you live.

Also, while you’re at it, check out whether there is a good vet near you and where you can go to buy any pet supplies you need if you don’t have time to wait for an online service to deliver products.

Take your dog’s welfare into account early because if things are too far away, it’s too easy to say you’ll go some other time.

6. Make a List of Interest Points

Whenever you move, there are always going to be things that catch your eye that you normally wouldn’t do back at your last place. There are going to be parks, restaurants, clubs, museums, and other activities that you can visit and enjoy in your new neighborhood.

Make a list of interest points while you’re doing your research so you don’t forget the places that catch your eye. You’re not going to be able to do everything in the first week or month that you’re there, so having the list is an ideal way to remember all of the things you want to try.

nurse explaining something to the senior lady

7. Get Healthcare Sorted Early

You never know when you’re going to need medical care, so the earlier you get this stuff sorted, the better.

Right now, doctors are booked full of clients in a lot of places. You may be surprised to discover that you’re on a waitlist if you’re trying to find a family physician for you and the kids. Find a good doctor, or more than one, and get on their lists as soon as possible.

Likewise, research the nearest hospitals and know where to go if you have an emergency. It pays to know where the important resources are in your area, so you cut down on the time it takes to make a decision when it’s important.

8. Find a Storage Facility If You Need One

Moving is chaotic. A house full of boxes and mess while you’re trying to work or sort the kids’ school only adds to the stress. One of the best things about storage units is that you can better manage the chaos because not everything is in your living room all at once.

You can lease storage large or small enough to fit whatever you need in there while you make your way through organizing your new space. Usually, you’ll have no trouble finding a spot near your home that’s a short drive away.

mobile phone with different social media with the city as background

9. Find Social Media Groups

OK, so social media is controversial, but one of the best things about social media platforms these days is the groups and marketplace forums they offer. You can find like-minded people, buy things at a bargain, and sell anything you find out that you don’t need after you’ve unpacked.

People create neighborhood groups that only people who live there can join where they post about activities and meetings you will want to know about. It’s typically worth all of the madness that comes with the territory, and you can always filter out any kooky members so you don’t see their posts if you don’t want to.

The more time you put into researching your neighborhood, the easier your transition will be. You can fill your calendar with things to do before you even get there. It’s a fantastic way to hit the ground running and settle in more quickly.

Find places where you can do what you love, and also look for new things that you want to try. If possible, make connections early on. A good friend in a new neighborhood is like having a key to unlock the door to your new life.

13 Simple Starter Tips for Self-Storage Newbies

For first-time self-storage users, the learning curve can be steep. It’s a bit more complex than just putting things inside your unit and then leaving them there. There’s more to learn to get the most of your money and make your storage unit the most effective.

Right now, storage units are helping millions of people across the country handle moves, store seasonal gear, keep things safe for military personnel posted overseas, and more. You can find a high-quality storage unit in your area at a bargain to help you augment your space and manage your things. They keep you more organized and clear the clutter that so often ends up in garages, basements, and other areas of your home.

For small businesses, self-storage units are a terrific way to manage inventory. You’ll pay a fraction of the cost of renting a commercial space. Still, there are things you should know that will keep your things in pristine condition and make your life easier whenever you need to move things in or out. Here are 13 simple starter tips for self-storage newbies.

woman adjusting her climate-controlled storage unit

1. Climate-Controlled Units Are Worth a Look

Whether you’ll need a climate-controlled unit depends largely on where you live and what you’re keeping in your unit. If you have anything sensitive to temperature swings going in your unit, then ask about climate-control options.

Climate-controlled units are typically more expensive than units without air conditioning, so know that going in. You’ll pay more, but the cost is well worth keeping your things away from mold or warping in the heat.

2. Store Things Off of the Ground Whenever Possible

The ground and the walls are where most of the moisture builds up in storage units. Although the facility you’re storing at should employ their own moisture prevention measures, what you do inside of your unit can be just as important.

The biggest thing that you can do is to keep things off of the floor. If you’re keeping items in there long-term, put them on wooden pallets or cinder blocks. This allows air to flow underneath your property and prevents water buildup.

The same goes for walls. Keep things off of the walls, even if ever so slightly.

inventory list for things in a storage unit

3. Keep an Inventory List

The only people who regret renting a storage unit are those who pay every month and don’t know what they’re getting in return. That happens, most often, when people can’t remember what they’re keeping there.

Tracking your property with an inventory list helps you remember what you’ve got in there and why. Whenever you move things in and out, update your list.

An updated inventory will help you decide whether next month or next year if you still need the storage unit. It’s easier to end the lease if you find that you’re not keeping as much as you thought, and it’s a nice reminder of the value you’re getting from maintaining your lease if that’s what you decide.

4. Clear Containers Are Your Friend

Boxes are easy and relatively affordable but clear, air-tight plastic containers are a better way to store things. You can see what’s inside of each container without opening it. Also, labels make it easier to remember where things are, and you can typically stack the containers.

5. Leave a Path

Most people will tell you to keep the things you’ll frequently need in the front of your unit. It’s good advice, but what they usually miss is telling you to keep a path to things in the back.

Don’t be that person who has to climb over a mountain of furniture or boxes of shoes to get to your photo albums in the back. Leave a path through your things for easier access.

6. Put Some Shelves Inside

Typically, your storage unit will be completely bare. You can take advantage of vertical space, though, by setting up some low-cost shelving units inside. Shelves make it much easier to store small things and stay better organized.

You can also store things outside of boxes (like inventory for your small business, or shoes, sports equipment, etc.)

7. Ask About Deals!

Remember, you can’t get a better deal on your lease unless you ask. A lot of storage facility owners and managers will have promotions for certain professions, students, moving specials, and other discounts. Check out their websites for any information on promotions. If you can’t find any, it can’t hurt to ask!

8. Don’t Rent Too Far From Home

One of the biggest mistakes that self-storage newbies make is renting too far from where they live. This might be fine if you’re moving, but if you plan on going to your unit regularly, you’ll likely live to regret it.

Thankfully, most areas will have a storage facility close to you. Even if it costs a bit more, you’ll get more value having it close by.

9. Know What Not to Store

Don’t keep any exposed food, hazardous items, anything flammable or combustible, and ask your management about prohibited items. Some storage units prohibit things like fireworks, weapons of any kind, and valuables like jewelry.

Also, don’t put anything living in your storage unit. Some people think that storing a plant for a short while is no big deal. However, it’s dark, and the air is restricted inside. Temperatures can swing widely depending on what time of year it is. Plants in storage units can die very quickly, so think of another option if you need to move them.

10. Consider Liability & Safety

Self-storage facilities are usually very safe. There are access control measures like keypads or cards, and many have 24/7 security on-site. However, you shouldn’t keep anything inside your unit that is irreplaceable or high-value. Jewelry, birth certificates, family heirlooms, and other precious items belong in a safe deposit box or a safe at home.

Before you put anything valuable in your unit, look at your insurance policy to see what they’ll cover in the event of loss and check your lease to see what responsibility your facility assumes.

11. Make Your Unit an Extension of Your Home Storage

People love using self-storage units to manage home storage space better. For example, you can keep bikes there in the winter and store coats in the summer. Changing out seasonal gear saves you space at home and reduces clutter.

12. Heaviest Items Go on Bottom

Avoid smashing things by keeping the heaviest stuff on the bottom when stacking boxes or containers. Even if you think it’s only going to be there short-term, it’s a simple way to prevent property damage and keep your things in good condition.

13. Plan Your Move-in

You’ll save time and frustration by planning your move-in before you start. People go into their unit without a plan and end up having to rearrange everything multiple times to get everything to fit or end up hating going to their unit.

With a plan, you stay organized and know where everything is. Based on your unit’s size, put some time into thinking about where everything should go before you start lifting any boxes.

These tips will get you started off on the right foot and get you the most out of your unit from the beginning. Doing it right will give you peace of mind knowing your property is safe and will say in good shape no matter how long it’s in there.

Small But Tidy: 11 Storage Tips for Keeping Kids Organized

Are you looking for ways to keep your kids’ stuff organized? If you’re tired of finding toys in every drawer or constantly hounding your kids to clean their rooms, then you’re in the right place.

Families are great but talk to any parent, and they’ll tell you about the struggle to stay organized. Kids love “things.” Just take them to Target or some other store, and most kids will beg you endlessly for toys, markers, or some other trinket. They act like getting that one thing is life or death, no matter what it is. The problem is, they usually play with something once or twice, and then it ends up in a pile with the rest of the Legos or Barbie toys you’ve collected over the years.

Staying organized makes it easier for your kids to stay clean, and you’ll get more use out of the money you spend buying things for them. Instead of screaming at them to just “clean up!” they will have a system in place and know what to do when it’s time for their chores.

Here are some fantastic ways to keep your kids organized with effective storage solutions available to everyone.

1. Use the Space Under the Bed

Beds in kids’ rooms are often underutilized. It’s either an empty space or a messy catch-all for everything they don’t want to pick up. Instead, you can use the space under the bed as a terrific storage spot. Buy some clear plastic storage bins. Usually, you can find some with wheels that slide in and out or stack easily.

2. Use Labels!

Whether it’s those plastic storage bins or shelves in the closet, using labels is helpful for everyone. Once a kid can read, they can decipher labels and know where to put things when it’s time to stay organized. They can have a space for shoes, hair products, coats, toys, and whatever else is cluttering up their rooms. You can buy a custom label maker or just use something like masking tape with a marker. It all depends on how much time you want to use and how visible the storage is.

3. Consider a Storage Unit for Seasonal Items

One of the challenges of staying organized as a kid is that you’re often limited to smaller spaces. They don’t get to decide what goes in the basement or the garage. A lot of families have considerable organizing success by renting a storage facility to keep seasonal items like winter clothes. It gets the stuff out of the house, which means there is less to organize. You could even store winter toys, bikes, and scooters, along with other things your kids don’t use all year. Just pop over to the unit when you need them and change them out for something else you can stow away for a while.

4. Purge Regularly to Get Rid of Stuff

Kids accumulate things and then grow out of them. Eventually, you’re going to have a child with clothes, toys, books, and other stuff they are too old or mature for. It’s time to get rid of that stuff! You can always donate them or pass them along to a friend with younger kids. But if not, don’t be afraid to just throw it all away! It might be hard to let go, but you’ll feel so much better once you’re through.

5. Door Racks Are a Big Help

Does your kid have a lot of shoes? There are racks that hang on the back of the door, with room for a ton of shoes. It’s a great, discreet way to manage storage and stay organized. They’re affordable and easy to find only or at your local home goods store.

kids listing their household chores on a chalk board

6. Chore Charts Work

Staying organized isn’t all about stuff. A routine is a big part of the structure that kids need to feel productive and learn responsibility. You can DIY a home chore chart or buy one of a million charts online that outline what they need to do before school, when they come home, and on the weekends. For most kids, staying organized is a habit you need to develop. They’ll resist initially, but once they get in the routine, work will become automatic.

7. Build a Shared Family Calendar

It might not work for little kids, but as you kids get older, schedules need to sync to make things run smoothly. Build a free online family calendar through your phones and other devices where you and your kids can create and edit events. This will help you know who needs to be where and manage all of the logistics of sports, clubs, jobs, and other kid commitments.

mommy and daughters washing the dishes together

8. Do Things On Time

It may not seem like a big deal, but kids love routines. They like knowing that breakfast is a family thing on the weekend or that chores must be done before playtime after school. Create a routine and stick to it. Have dinner at roughly the same time every evening. Do chores all together as a family on Saturday morning. It will help you keep things organized, and children feel more secure when they know what to expect.

9. Trust But Verify

Most parents want to help their kids become more independent. It’s nice when your kids start telling you what time soccer practice is on Thursday. Just remember that they’re new to this. They may not always get it right. Just in case, make sure to connect with their teachers, coaches, and other people to stay on top of their schedules. The last thing you want is that end-of-semester freak-out when you realize they’re way behind on their schoolwork. Follow up with their commitments and stay up to date as much as possible.

mommy hugging son appreciating a good job done

10. Reward Good Behavior

Children, like adults, respond best to positive reinforcement. When your child does the right thing, even if you had to ask them a million times, tell them that you’re proud of them and that you know they can stay organized. Help them keep up the good work, whether it’s picking up their toys or getting good grades at school. They’ll come to recognize that certain behaviors (in this case, staying organized) is the way to unlock compliments and other forms of praise.

11. Don’t Wait Until Morning

Mornings are usually rushed when you have kids. When you’re trying to get to school or drop the kids off before you head to work, there is not much wiggle room for forgotten chores or missed assignments. Ideally, all of that stuff will happen at night before bed, so mornings are less stressful.

After dinner, you can check in with your kids to make sure they’re doing their homework, the bag is packed, lunches are ready, and all other chores are complete. Then, you and the kids will go to bed relaxed, knowing everything is sorted for the next day. Then, all you have to do is grab things on the way out the door.

Keeping kids organized will help them focus better, do well in school, and feel confident knowing everything is in its place. With kids, the challenge of staying organized is multi-faceted. It would be best to keep stuff organized and track things on a schedule. It takes time and commitment on your part to see that they develop the habits now that will make them successful in the future. Keep at it, and eventually, everyone will get it!

10 Self-Storage Fun Facts

There’s a lot to discover about self-storage units and how they can make your life easier! More and more people learn how storage units keep them organized and save space at home every day. You can finally clear out your garage or basement and make way for home projects you’ve always wanted to complete. A storage unit makes it possible.

With more space, there are endless possibilities. You’re not bogged down by clutter. With a storage unit, you have a flex space you can use for long-term safekeeping or as off-site storage where you can keep winter clothes, kayaks, bikes, and other equipment for the weekends.

There’s a lot more to self-storage than dusty units and furniture from mom and dad. Now, people are finding ways to use self-storage to make life more manageable and get more out of their homes or apartments. Especially for people living in urban areas, self-storage opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to creating a space you love in smaller homes. You don’t have to fit everything with you at all times. You get to pick and choose what goes where for an affordable price.

If you’re considering a self-storage unit, we’ve put together this list of 11 fun facts to help you decide. Now, there are more options than ever, and you get to choose how a storage unit can make your life easier. Let’s take a look!

1. Those Auction Shows Are Real

Have you ever seen the reality TV shows where people bid for the contents of abandoned storage units? They’re real! Auctions happen, though not always how they’re depicted on television.

Many of them happen online, so the people aren’t standing there outbidding each other before a big reveal. Usually, in an abandoned storage unit auction, people bid online and make their way to the unit within a prescribed timeframe. It can be both a lot of fun (sort of like a treasure hunt) and some people do viable business in this space.

2. Moving Is the Top Reason People Use Storage Units

While, yes, people are renting storage units more and more to better manage their space at home, moving is still, by far, the biggest reason people rent them. The past two years have been an incredible time for migration in the United States. People are moving a ton, and often are leaving big cities for places a bit more relaxed. Using a self-storage unit is the perfect way to eliminate stress before a move. You can spend the time you need finding the perfect new home without worrying about where you’re going to put your stuff.

3. There Are a Ton of Storage Facilities!

According to some sources, there are more than 40,000 storage units across the U.S. If you’re looking, it’s more than likely there’s a good facility right near you. You will also probably have a ton of choice when it comes to the size of unit you can choose, security features, climate-control choices, and more.

4. Renting a Storage Unit is More Affordable Than You Think

A lot of people refrain from even looking at storage units because they’re afraid it will cost too much money. However, they’re usually pleasantly surprised when they find out just how much renting a unit will cost them. You can find a great deal on a storage unit during off-peak season as well. As with anything, ask about promotions before you sign a lease to make sure you’re getting the best price. Some storage units will also help tenants who need to get out of their lease by letting new customers assume the rest of their term. If you’re looking for something shorter-term, this could be the way to go.

5. That’s A Lot of Square Footage

Experts estimate that there are more than 1.7 billion square feet of storage unit space in the country. That’s incredible when you think about it. Even though there is so much space, storage space is still in very high demand. There are more facilities going up all of the time to meet customer demand. As of 2015, more than 90% of storage units in the county were occupied, and the number has only continued to go up from there.

6. The Military Loves Storage Units

As you might imagine, military members are big storage unit customers. They’re always changing stations or moving their family to a new base. It’s certainly an interesting lifestyle. You can never settle in one place for too long before you’re getting orders to transfer somewhere new. The same goes for government employees posted overseas working in embassies and consulates around the world. Typically, the government will arrange for a storage unit or provide some sort of stipend to help cover the costs.

7. Storage Units Are Like Time Capsules

When your company is paying for a storage unit while you’re on assignment or traveling for months, opening up your unit or taking delivery of your household goods is sort of like opening up a time capsule. If you’re gone from your things for a few months, it’s easy to adjust to living without what you may have thought was must-have stuff. People become used to having the things we use, and it’s always interesting to go back and remember what we put in storage at the time.

8. Americans Use the Most Self-Storage

We live in a consumer society in the United States, so it may come as no surprise that the U.S. is the biggest self-storage user anywhere in the world. To be sure, other places use them, but not at the scale we use them in America.

What can we say? We like to have fun, right? People like to have things, and we keep items that mean something to us. Having them in storage is a terrific way to keep them out from underneath us at home without feeling like we have to get rid of them completely.

9. What About Storage Lockers?

Did you know that self-storage units come in sizes so small they’re called lockers? That’s right; you don’t need to rent a massive storage unit. Instead, get something smaller at a lower price to keep things you want to hold onto but don’t want to store at home. These types of units are perfect for people like college students who need to store their things when they go home for the summers.

10. More Than 1 in 10 Households Rent Storage

Storage units are in high demand, but still, only 1 in 10 households rent storage. Knowing that the trend has seen a steady uptick for the past two decades indicates that storage units will only continue to grow in popularity. According to the Self-Storage Association, only 1 in 17 households rented storage in 1995.

Packing & Moving with Kids: 9 Tips

Moving is stressful enough. With kids, you’re dealing with unique challenges while trying to keep everyone happy at the same time.

It’s easier for adults to go without. In a pinch, you can run to the store to buy anything you’ve left in a box or forgot back at home in the move. With children, however, there are things you’ll need with you the whole time to make them feel comfortable and settle in as quickly as possible.

On top of keeping track of things like treasured blankets or favorite toys, you also face the difficulty of organizing and packing things that are smaller, usually have more pieces, and don’t travel as well.

If you’re planning a move with kids, here are nine tips that you can use to make a move easier. Hopefully, these strategies will get you and your family where you need to go with less pain and bumps along the way.

kids helping to pack things in the boxes

1. Decide What Comes With You

One of the first things you should do, before you even pack, is to think about what needs to come with you on your person the day of the move. Things like personal electronic devices, a change of clothes, toys, favorite snacks, and other items need to be in a backpack or a carry-on if you’re flying. If you’re driving, you have more wiggle room and space to plan what makes the trip.

Your child is likely going to feel stressed and unsettled just before and on moving day. It’s strange to see a childhood home empty, and there is often anxiety tied to a new place with new people. Having the toys or clothes that make them feel most comfortable will help a great deal.

2. Pack By Room

Do what you can to put things in boxes according to rooms in your new house. Labels and specific boxes will make unpacking faster, and you won’t have to spend a ton of time looking for kids’ books or clothes in the chaos of boxes everywhere. You or your children can get what they need right away. Do your best to unpack their stuff early so they can start building space in their new room where they feel comfortable.

3. Use Ziploc Bags

Whether you’re trying to keep a Lego set together or want to make sure slime doesn’t explode inside of a box in transit, sealed plastic bags are your friend. You should use them for toys, liquids, and anything else you want to keep together in the move. In fact, we’ve seen people use plastic wrap to keep already-built Legos and other toys in one piece for the move. Plastic bags will help you keep hair ties together and track all of the kids’ toiletries in one place.

4. Rent a Storage Unit

Self-storage units are ideal for things like furniture and other large items. Using a storage facility will help reduce the stress of moving because you’re not overly worried about where to put your things. They come in especially handy for folks who don’t know where they’re going to live just yet. If you’re staying in a hotel or temporary living space until you find a permanent place, then renting a storage unit will keep you sane.

They’re also great for kids’ stuff because you can keep things like bikes and other large toys even when you’re staying in a hotel. You can pop over and grab them for the weekend and return them when you’re done.

5. Take the Kids Somewhere for the Day

Packing with kids running around the house or constantly asking for snacks is extremely tough, particularly once the TVs are unplugged and the internet is disconnected. To free up time and brain space for the packing, ask a friend or relative to take them for the day. If you’ve got professional movers coming, then you or your partner can take the kids to the movies or the park for a few hours while things get sorted. They’ll be away from the stress of the move, and you’ll get more things done faster.

6. Talk Things Through

Even if your kids look fine, they’re probably spending a lot of time processing the move. Even kids who move a lot don’t love it. They worry about losing their friends, fitting in at a new school, and other valid concerns. You should be talking to your kids early and often to help them feel confident about the move and let them know that you’re there to support them.

You can search together to help them research your new neighborhood together to find exciting things to try. Look at their new school and book some cool activities in your new location to build excitement before the move.

7. Let Them Help Pack

Your children may want to be part of the moving process depending on their age. Making your kids pack can empower them to feel like they have control over their lives. You can, of course, step in to make sure the computer or other fragile items are correctly packed, but most of their stuff isn’t either valuable or fragile. Set them up with some boxes and make a list of what they need to pack, and give them power over the process.

Letting them pack will also help a great deal when you arrive. They will know where everything is, and you don’t have to open a ton of boxes looking for whatever they need. Instead, they’ll go to the correct box, find their stuff, and start getting set up.

8. Pack a Kid Kit

Parents need emergency kid supplies on moving day. Whether driving or flying, you’ll inevitably come across a bloody nose, bathroom accidents, hungry kids, and other minor emergencies. Buy a small container, something the size of a shaving kit or similar. Fill it with wipes, granola bars, batteries, and anything else you can think of that you might need mid-flight or drive. This will come in handy on any move, and you just might end up keeping it in the car going forward once you realize how valuable it is.

9. Have an Entertainment Plan

Remember when we were kids, and our options during a move or travel were so limited? Now, most kids have devices they can use with batteries that last for several hours. Just don’t be that parent who gets on the plane without downloading a few shows, movies, or games for the flight. You’ll live to regret it. The same goes when your driving through fields on the highway where there is no cell signal for hours.

Plan ahead and make sure your kids have enough to keep them entertained during the move. Make sure you don’t pack chargers, headphones, and other items in boxes that you’ll need later on. When in doubt, make a list of what you need before the movers show up. Separate them out into the kids’ bags and keep them there until moving day.

These strategies will help you pack and move with confidence. Do what you can to make your child part of the process and get their input before you make any concrete decisions about what to bring and what to pack. They will love the involvement and it will teach them responsibility. The more they are involved, the less stress they’ll put on you before while you’re packing and on moving day.

Nothing To Wear: How to Organize Your Clothes

Deciding what to wear is hard enough on a good day. When your closet is a mess, good luck trying to find an outfit for work or a night out. You’ll probably end up scrounging around for something and throwing it in the dryer to get some of the wrinkles out. If you’re not that bad, you might deal with the issue of wearing the same handful of items in a small rotation even though you own plenty of clothing.

How do you get the most out of your wardrobe and keep everything in good condition? With an organized closet, it’s easier to know what you have and keep your clothes in better shape for longer. It’s easier said than done. With busy lives and a calendar full of obligations, it’s hard to keep things tidy in your closet or bedroom. However, sticking to a system is the best way to look good and save money.

We’ve put together some tips that you can use to organize your clothes. It’ll help you avoid buying three of the same shirt and will assist you in wearing different outfits to make it seem like you have more clothes than you do. Here are some ways to organize your clothes starting today.

Buy High-Quality Hangers

If you’re a grownup, it’s time to do grownup things. Using the complementary metal hangers from the dry cleaner is fine, but you owe it to yourself to do better. Investing in higher-quality plastic or wooden hangers will space your closet and make it easier to see what’s in your closet. Those thin metal hangers scrunch together, and your clothes will wrinkle faster. You’ll feel better hanging shirts and dresses, and you’ll be able to choose what to wear faster in the mornings.

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

Whenever possible, add shelves to open spaces. Typically, people have a ton of unused space on the sides or in the bottoms of their closets. You can either buy small shelving units or install custom shelves in your closet where you can store shoes, purses, ties, socks, and other accessories. It’s better than keeping things in drawers, or worse, in piles at the bottom of your closet.

Shelving units in your closet are great for organization, but they’re also a space saver in other parts of your room. You’ll have more areas to use for sitting or open spaces rather than putting in a dresser to keep your extra stuff.

Use Closet Dividers

Find a way to divide your closet bar so you know where to put that skirt or blouse, or dress shirt. Don’t just hang things up randomly. You’re going to end up pulling things off of the rack and putting them back on, searching for a specific item. Make putting your clothes away simpler with dividers that sit on your hanging bar. You can make as many sections as you need and go from there.

Clear Out Your Seasonal Clothes

Too many people make the mistake of keeping all of their clothes in their closets all year. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the summer; your down overcoat is still sitting there at the end of your closet.

Make things easy by keeping your seasonal clothes somewhere else. Eliminating unnecessary items from your wardrobe reduces decision fatigue and gives you more room to work with the clothes you need. If you have the space, pack your seasonal clothes up in the basement or garage, or you can rent a self-storage unit at an affordable price.

girl deciding which clothes to keep and to donate

Purge Every Year

How often do you look through your clothing and feel unexcited about what you have? It happens to all of us at some point. We end up wearing a handful of items we’re comfortable in, but for whatever reason, that one shirt or those jeans we swore we’d be into at some point are still taking up space.

Having clothes you love makes it easier to stay organized. Likewise, you should get rid of things you don’t like! People don’t want to shop when they have drawers full of clothing. It feels excessive. When your closet is bare or half-full, you feel better about shopping online or going to the mall.

Schedule a weekend where you go through all of your clothes. Be honest with yourself about how often you wear them. Get rid of the things you never wear or that are getting tattered. Donate what you can and throw away the rest.

Keep Your Laundry Room Clean

When you have a clean laundry room and a laundry system, you’re more organized and will get more out of your clothing. Keep your laundry room clean, so you feel better about doing the laundry. It’s weird, some people love doing the laundry, and others absolutely hate it. Wherever you are on the spectrum, a clean room, racks, a good iron, plenty of laundry baskets, and cleaning supplies will get the laundry done faster, and it will feel like less of a chore.

woman organizing her clothes for work and for play

Separate Work & Play

Another great organization tip is to keep your clothes, wherever you have them, and separate them by purpose. Store or hang your work clothes together, and then put all of your exercise clothes in the same drawer or dresser. You’ll know where to go to look for things to wear depending on the occasion. If you want to kick things up a notch even further, you can label bins, drawers, and shelves to make things clearer for you or anyone else in the family who does the laundry. It doesn’t so much matter where things go, but rather that you have a system in place to keep things tidy.

Hang Everything Clean on the Same Side of Your Closet

It’s hard trying to remember how long it’s been since you’ve worn your favorite sweater. At the same time, you don’t want to be that person in the office who wears the same outfit every other day. How do you keep things in a steady rotation?

One way to track what you wear and when is to always hang newly-laundered items on the same end of your closet. Then, you can pick what to wear from the other side confidently because you know it’s been a while since you’ve put it on. As you put new clothes up, it will gradually push the older items to the other side, and you can pluck them off and wear it with confidence, knowing it’s been a week or two.

Use the Space Under Your Bed

Finding other areas in your room to store clothes you wear less often is another great tip. Under your bed is a particularly valuable piece of real estate for organizing shoes and clothes. You can buy storage bins with wheels that push in and out quickly. If you can, buy clear plastic containers so you can see what’s inside each without having to open it every time you need to find something.

Staying organized with your clothing is key to getting maximum value for your money and looking the way you want to. You’ll feel better knowing you have clothes that you love, and you’ll enjoy the absence of unnecessary clutter. If it’s been some time since you went through your clothes, it’s time for a refresher. Build a system that isn’t overly complicated. Design something you’ll maintain long-term and go from there. Soon, you’ll know which clothes to keep and what you can get rid of. Once you have some space, then it’s time to start building a wardrobe you love.

How Can I Organize My House on a Budget? 11 Tips

Have you ever walked into an AirBNB or a nice hotel room? When you walk in, it feels so relaxing. Successful resort operators and individual rental property experts know how to design rooms and properties for maximum effect. They pick the right colors, arrange nice layouts, open things up with light and make sure it smells nice inside.

One of the biggest things they do, though, is get rid of “stuff”. You won’t find a lot of clutter around these places. Everything has a designated spot, and you only see what needs to be there. There aren’t any drawers stuffed to the brim with junk, and the kitchen areas are well-organized with designated places for every piece of flatware and kitchen appliance.

You can get the same feeling in your house, it’s just harder because you’ve usually got a lot more stuff. With the trite organization methods, you can sort through your stuff and create the calm and inviting environment you crave. The bonus is that finding what you need will be easier for you and anyone else in your family.

Here are 11 awesome home organization tips that won’t break the bank.

1. Buy See-Through Plastic Containers

This is a huge organization tip because, so often, we toss things into drawers or boxes and have no idea what’s in there once the lid closes. Sure, your stuff is put away, but it’s not exactly organized if you can’t recall where anything is. You don’t have to break the bank by buying fancy plastic containers. Just buy stuff online that will last. See-through containers make it easy to see what you’ve got inside your container so you don’t have to rip through everything to remember where you put something.

2. Use Labels

Whether you’re using a piece of masking tape and a black pen or you go out and buy a label maker, putting labels on things will make your home a lot more organized. Your kids, partner, guests, or whoever else is pitching in will also know where they should put things instead of tossing them in random spots. You can label places for school supplies, extension cords, electronics, or whatever else you need.

3. Separate the Seasons

If you’re living somewhere where it’s swimming in the summer and snow in the winter, you probably have a lot of stuff in your closets that don’t need to be there all year long. Take your winter coats out of the closet and stuff them in boxes instead.

4. Use the Space Under Your Bed

The room under beds often goes unused. You can find affordable storage containers with wheels on them that are designed to roll in and out from under beds. Instead of tossing your shoes in a pile under there, you can stay organized by keeping them in sealed containers.

5. Donate Stuff You Don’t Use

If you’re feeling like your place is a bit cluttered, you can get rid of stuff for free by donating it to charity. Several stores will take donations, and it’s perfect for clothes that don’t fit anymore or toys you don’t need. You can even write off the tax value of the donations to save a little money when it comes time to file taxes in April the next year.

6. Sell Things on Facebook Marketplace

A lot of people are surprised at how well their old things sell on Facebook. If you aren’t using Facebook Marketplace, then you should check it out. It’s a thriving marketplace where people can save a ton of money by buying things second-hand. Reducing clutter while you make money, what could be better? You’ll get organized a lot faster, and once you make money you probably won’t be so emotionally attached to things you aren’t using any longer.

7. Build It Yourself

You can save money by purchasing shelving units you build by yourself (hello Ikea). Even though it will take you some time, you will definitely save some money by organizing with DIY furniture. They are great too for places like basements or bedrooms where you need a lot of different compartments for things like toys and clothes. Just be patient when you start out and remember to keep breathing the first time you run into a challenge and you have to go back a few steps to build it right.

8. Buy Storage Furniture & Containers Second-Hand

We’ve already touched on getting organized and saving money by donating or selling things you don’t need anymore, but you can also be a buyer and organize your home on a budget. Odds are someone is selling something that is exactly what you’re looking for or pretty darn close to it. You can save a lot of money and find those containers, racks, or shelves you need to get organized.

couple bringing in boxes to store in their storage unit

9. Rent a Storage Unit

If you think about it, renting a storage unit can be the ultimate money saver when it comes to organizing. Most people in life get to the point where they have so much stuff they feel like the only option is to buy a bigger house or move into a bigger apartment. You end up spending a lot more on housing costs. With a storage unit, you can save and find a place close to home to keep things like bikes during the winter or all of your winter clothes while it’s hot outside.

10. Recycle Old Boxes

Things like shoe boxes are great little containers for tools, sewing supplies, pens, small toys, or whatever else needs organizing. They’re sturdy enough to last and take a bit of a beating as well. You can write on the outside or put a label on them and stick them in a row on a shelf.

11. Use a Virtual Planner

What about time? People are busy worrying about organizing stuff, but typically organizing your time has a way bigger upside. If you’re not syncing with your family on a shared calendar, you’re missing out. These are usually software tools that are free to use and can help you organize where everyone needs to be and when.

Is It Okay to Store Your Wedding Dress in a Storage Unit?

Wedding dresses can cost a lot of money. In addition to what you or your family spends on your dress, there’s also the sentimental attachment associated with the dress. It’s not like you will want to get rid of it right after the wedding. Sure, you may sell it, donate it, or gift it at some point, but not right away. You need time to think about it.

So many people end up keeping their wedding dress hanging in their closet for years or decades after they marry. While wedding dresses are indeed beautiful, there has to be a better way. You’re probably going to need to use the space at some point, and you could end up resenting the fact that you’ve got that massive garment bag hanging in your closet.

Keeping your wedding dress in a storage unit is a perfect way to keep it safe and in good condition while also getting it out of the house. Done right, storing your wedding dress in a storage unit can maintain your dress so you can hand it down to someone at the right time or sell it if the price is right. Here’s some helpful information on how to find the right storage unit and the best ways to keep your wedding dress inside.

Don’t Use Plastic Garment Bags for Too Long

Most of the time, when you buy a wedding dress, the boutique will send it home with you in a plastic garment bag. Sometimes it’s a polyester blend, but many wedding dresses are sold in plastic coverings so people can see the dresses without handling them too much directly. They are, after all, white, and too many hands-on them can damage the dresses. It’s fine before the wedding, but if you keep your wedding dress in a plastic covering for years, they can emit chemicals that tend to turn the dress or any other garment in them a yellowish color.

If you do some research, you can find acid-free boxes designed specifically for storing wedding dresses long-term. It may cost you a bit extra, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing your dress will look just as good ten years from now as the day you wore it.

Clean It Professionally Before You Store It

One thing you should certainly do before you store your wedding dress, whether it’s in the attic or a storage unit, is professionally clean it. You should find a place that specializes in wedding dress cleaning to make sure the job is done right. A lot of dresses have stones and other things on them that are sewn on by hand. Your normal dry cleaner has commercial machines that may not be delicate enough for your gown.

Find a place that will do it correctly, and have it cleaned before you put it away long-term.

Check on the Wedding Dress Regularly

Don’t leave the dress in a storage unit for years without checking on it. You should visit it at least once a year to make sure nothing is going wrong with the dress. If you spot an issue early enough, you can salvage it and keep the dress in top shape forever. Left alone for too long, it can get water damaged or have other types of damage and become permanent. With a storage unit close to home, you can drop in and open its container to make sure your dress is still in good shape.

Finding the Best Storage Unit for Your Wedding Dress

If you’re going to store your wedding dress in a storage unit, you need to find the right facility and unit type to keep your dress the way you want it. Here are some tips on finding the best possible storage unit.

Location

You should find something relatively close to where you live. Odds are your wedding dress isn’t going to be the only thing that you’re keeping in there. You need something close enough that you won’t regret renting it. Also, you should take advantage of it. You can store things like winter clothes, bikes, and other seasonal items that will free up space at home. Reclaim your garage and optimize with a storage unit. While you’re there dropping things off or picking something up, check on your wedding dress to see that it’s still doing okay.

Climate-Controlled

Depending on where you live, you may want to opt for a climate-controlled storage unit. This will best protect your wedding dress if you’re living somewhere that’s hot with a lot of humidity. If it gets too toasty in a storage unit, an attic, or wherever else your wedding dress is, it’s easier for it to wilt under the bad weather.

Security

Wedding dresses are a pricey item, and they command high prices on the vintage market. People who spend a lot of money on their dresses are hesitant about storing them somewhere off-site and worry that a storage unit could leave them at risk. Find a storage unit facility with good security like cameras, access cards, gates, personalized locks, and possibly security guards to make sure whatever is inside your unit will stay safe.

Price

Most people don’t realize how affordable storage units are. They think they are a major expense when in reality they’re way cheaper than moving into a bigger apartment or buying a larger house. With a storage unit, you can maximize space and stay in a place you love for longer while your family grows or you accumulate more things.

Think about storing your wedding dress in a storage unit. It’s a fantastic way to keep it safe, dry, and out of harmful sunlight. Your dress will be ready for the next generation when the time comes or you can sell it in mint condition if that’s what you’re trying to do. Modern storage unit facilities offer terrific choices for people, and you can find something large enough for what you need.

What Holiday Decorations Can Be Stored in a Storage Unit?

Are you looking for a way to better manage your holiday decorations? We all love them, it’s just a shame that we can’t keep them up for longer. People who stay on top of holiday decorations put in a lot of work to make their homes look and feel festive. Everyone appreciates it, but so few actually pull it off well.

Keeping up with holiday decorations is hard because you have to buy and keep things in good condition. Cheap decorations break easily and never last. High-quality decorations last for decades and sometimes become family heirlooms. Most of us remember that special feeling of our parents pulling out the decorations for our favorite holiday. It let us know fun, meaning, and family memories were about to be made.

If you’re a holiday decoration lover, and you’re looking for a better way to keep your decorations in better condition so they’ll last longer, then storing them in a storage unit is a great option. Done right, holding your holiday decorations in a self-storage unit will prevent damage and keep them pristine for when the holidays come around each year. Here are some things you should know about storing holiday decorations and which decorations are most suitable for a storage unit.

What Goes Best in a Storage Unit?

Any holiday decorations that you want to keep in great condition should go in a storage unit. In a storage facility, you can rest assured that no grandchildren or someone messing around in your garage are going to knock something into them and break anything glass or fragile. You can keep them in shelving units, drawers, or boxes inside of the unit so nothing falls and there won’t be any accidents.

The annual holiday decorations go great in storage units because you can break them out weeks or days before the holiday arrives. When the holiday is over, back in the storage unit they go. You get to save all of that space in your garage, attic, basement, or wherever else you normally keep them.

Different Items to Store

Here are some of the holiday decorations that go best in a storage unit:

Big items

Think things like an artificial Christmas tree, holiday lights, Halloween yard decorations (the big scary things that inflate and make noises to scare all of the neighborhood kids), wreaths, flagpoles (4th of July), and other large decorations. Rather than have them cluttering up your house, you can stick them in a storage unit for safekeeping.

Fragile items

Don’t take any chances with those glass Christmas decorations your mother gave you. Likewise, Hanukkah decorations that are family heirlooms and other fragile decorations can go into a storage unit. You can either bubble wrap them or put them in plastic containers to keep them safe. Some people like to wrap them in newspapers and put them in boxes as well.

Temperature-sensitive items

Do you have anything that you’re worried about molding or otherwise spoiling? Cloth decorations can be a bit tricky to keep in the hot attic during the summer or out in the garage. Luckily, you can rent a climate-controlled storage unit that will prevent any mildew from getting to your cherished items. Talk to the storage unit facility manager or check on their website to see if a climate-controlled unit is available. For a bit more cost, you can have peace of mind that your decorations aren’t too hot.

Yard decorations

We’ve already mentioned the Halloween decorations, but there are a lot of other yard items that people love putting out for the holidays. It lets the neighborhood know you are celebrating and gets everyone in the mood. Whether it’s ribbons, flags, fake pumpkins, Easter bunnies, or anything else you decorate your yard with, you can place them in a storage unit to cut down on how much storage space you’re using at home.

Stuff you might forget about

One of the main advantages of self-storage units is that they keep you so well organized. Have you ever put something in your storage at home or put something away and then can’t remember where it is? There’s only a small window for holiday decorations all year, and it is always a shame when someone can’t remember where they put one of their favorite items. In a storage unit, you’ll always know where your things are, and it’s a quick and easy trip to go get them and prepare them for hanging.

lady packing boxes in a storage facility

Finding the Right Storage Unit

Choosing the right storage unit will make managing your holiday decorations so much easier. You can pick one that’s close enough to your home so that going to check on things or switch something out is never an inconvenience. You can rent a range of different sizes, so there’s always something perfect. And you can always go up a size if things start getting tight in there. It happens when people have kids and buy more decorations as the family grows.

On top of choosing the right size and location, you should pick something with the ideal security measures in place to keep things safe. Some items are impossible to replace. Heirlooms, antiques, family photos, etc. can be priceless, so you’ll want a storage unit that will keep your things safe. Give your facility a walkthrough and talk to them about what security protocols they have.

Of course, you’ll want to rent a storage unit in good condition. The way a facility looks, smells, and feels is a great indication of how your stuff will be looked after and also what kind of customer service you can expect from the facility. Too many people are so focused on price, they fail to pay attention to some red flags that cause them trouble in the future.

In the end, putting your holiday decorations in a storage unit is the perfect way to free up room at home and keep your items safe. You can label boxes or containers in your unit so everything you need is just a quick trip away.

Storing Your Video Games & Equipment in a Storage Unit

These days, buying a hardcopy video game can feel like a thing of the past. It’s not like it used to be, anyways. In the old days – heck, even ten years ago – people used to line up outside video game stores and gaming sections in places like Walmart before the release of a big game. Once midnight struck, employees would come out, rolling shelves filled with gaming cartridges for eager games to buy, then race home to put them in their CD drives or insert cartridges into their gaming systems.

Now, a lot of game purchasing happens online. With internet speeds so fast, large batches of data can be downloaded in hours or even minutes. When you talk to some kids about how we used to game, they almost can’t believe it. “What, you used to have to blow the dust out of your video games to get them to work?!?” We know, it sounds crazy just saying it.

However, physical gaming isn’t completely dead. Like many other things, games have become vintage. People collect them and trade or sell them for large sums. They’re nostalgic, and their rarity makes some games very valuable. That means finding good ways to store video games and equipment is crucial to keeping them in good condition so they retain their value.

Thankfully, storage units are available and are an ideal place for you to store your gaming systems, physical games, and any other gaming equipment you have. Here are some things you should know about keeping video games in a storage unit so you can keep your games pristine for years.

Renting a Good Storage Unit

A lot of people still keep their games shoved into shoeboxes or in a plastic container under their bed. It makes sense, especially if you’re still playing them every so often. That, or you’re saving them for wherever you have kids or a niece or nephew who takes an interest in gaming.

People don’t know that storage units offer incredible flexibility and the safety you need and want for your games and equipment. Here are a few reasons why you should think about renting a storage unit if you’ve got a lot of gaming equipment around.

Safe

People want to protect video games and equipment for several reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason, though, is that you want to make sure that it’s still usable. The games only keep their monetary and sentimental value if you can still plug them in and see the graphics pop up on a display.

A storage unit has security on-site to prevent theft and other types of damage. Putting your stuff in a storage unit also helps avoid anything like something falling on the games and crushing them. All too often, vintage games get thrown into a random box or storage containers and other things smash and break them.

Free Up Room

Another reason a storage unit works so well is that, if you’re an avid gamer, then stuff starts building up rather quickly. You don’t want piles of potentially valuable equipment taking up random corners in your house or your apartment. By renting a storage unit near where you live, you have quick access to your collection without it becoming a nuisance at home.

It Is Affordable

Most people overestimate how much a storage unit will cost them each month. They’re very affordable and come in different sizes at a variety of prices to fit your needs and your budget. It’s something to consider, especially if you’ve got any type of valuable collection going.

old video game with a controller and cassette

How to Safely Store a Gaming Collection?

For old cartridge-style games, dust is a big enemy. You don’t want to leave the game cartridges out where they are exposed to dust in the air. Whether you’re keeping your collection at home or in a storage unit, ideally you’ll keep them in an air-sealed bag or container that will keep the dust out. They’ll also protect them in the event any moisture tries to get inside. A good thing about storage units is that they almost never flood. The risk of water damage is very low. The same can’t be said for homes with complex plumbing systems.

A big part of storing game collections is the organization, which, thankfully, also helps keep them safe. Store the games in boxes on shelving units that elevate them a bit and make grabbing a game for a buyer or to play a bit faster and easier.

Does it need a climate-controlled storage unit? It’s something you may want to consider, particularly as dollar figures on the items start to get higher. Paying a bit more for climate control options can be well worth it if you’ve got something valuable by comparison. Ask your facility how much extra having the option would be and make the right call based on your collection.

Find Something Close to Home

Not everyone is collecting physical games for money. It’s a big part of the industry, for certain, but there are a lot of passionate game collectors who don’t want to get rid of something they’ve spent years playing. There are some seminal games that leave a lasting mark on us that we’ll associate parts of our lives with forever.

A lot of games come and go, but many will stick around. You’ll play them for hours, and then a new game comes up and you’re onto some other character or challenge. It doesn’t mean, however, that you’re done with that other game. It’s just goodbye for now.

With a storage unit, you can manage which games you play and when much better. There’s no pressure to sell or give them away to free up shelf space in the TV room. You can keep them in the storage unit and, when you feel like it, drop by to pick it up and spend more time playing. Storage units are ideal for seasonal gamers who want to keep going back to games they love again and again.

Can You Store Musical Instruments in a Storage Unit?

People are justifiably worried about storing valuables and sensitive items in a self-storage unit. Without being able to constantly monitor your items, it’s easy to worry about what type of condition they’ll be in when you finally take them out.

One thing folks often worry about is storing instruments in a storage unit. Can you store musical instruments in a storage unit? Yes, but with stipulations. Instruments are sensitive to things like temperature and the presence of termites. If you’re going to store an instrument in a storage facility, you should make sure it’s suitable for whatever you’re putting in there.

Different types of instruments are more sensitive than others. We’ve put together some information on what you should know to keep your instruments in the best possible shape.

Protecting Your Investment

Some instruments are affordable. You can buy a used guitar, for example, at an affordable price. However, some instruments are very expensive. Buying something like a bass clarinet can set you back thousands of dollars. Violins, electric guitars, drum sets, etc. can go up in price into the tens of thousands of dollars depending on who made them, how old they are, and other factors.

On top of the instruments you buy yourself, instruments are frequently handed down in families and become invaluable antiques. They tell the story of a grandfather or mother, and people want them to last.

The bottom line is, you want your instrument to last, whether you paid a lot of money for it or it carries some deeper meaning. Here are some things you should check on before you put it in a storage unit.

Find a Secure Storage Facility

Would-be thieves know that people keep valuables in storage units. That’s why they target them occasionally. Any storage unit you use should have appropriate security based on what you’re keeping there. You can find a facility with cameras, access cards, security guards on foot patrol, high fencing, and other security measures. Most of these serve as effective deterrents and will keep your item safe. You should also go to the facility and take a look at how thick the doors are and how easy it is to get in. Only sign a contract with a company you have faith will keep your property secure.

Climate-Controlled Units Are Available

If you live somewhere with a lot of humidity or a place that gets very hot, then you may want to opt for a climate-controlled storage unit. You can keep the unit cooler and avoid any mold or rot. Climate-controlled units are going to cost more money, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing your instrument is well taken care of.

Use Protective Cloth to Cover Your Instruments

It’s always best to store your instrument in its original case. These are usually tightly sealed cases that are made specifically for the instrument. On top of that, you can buy some thick protective material that can go over and around your instruments for an added layer of protection.

Protective cloth is also ideal for larger instruments like a piano or an organ that won’t fit into a case. Cover it thoroughly and do your best not to leave any space where something could knock into it and cause damage.

Hire Movers

Too many people try to lift heavy pianos, harps, and other instruments onto a truck or trailer. Inevitably, they bump into corners, drop pieces of the instrument, and scratch it with keys or scrape it against a railing. The same goes for when you get to the storage unit. Make life easier and hire a moving team that specializes in moving large instruments. Keep it in pristine condition.

Think About Insurance

Sometimes, your existing insurance policy will cover what’s in a storage unit. Before you move anything valuable into the unit, check with your provider and, if necessary, buy some additional insurance just in case. It’s usually worth the small extra fee each month to cover any damage or loss.

Clean the Instruments First

Finally, one thing you can do to keep it in better condition is to clean the instrument thoroughly before it goes into the unit. It’s no big deal if you’re storing it short-term, but gunk inside of the instrument can make it easier for mold and other bacteria to grow while it’s in the unit. Take it apart, spray it down, and wipe it dry before it goes into the case.

Check on the Instrument From Time to Time

Don’t just let the instrument sit in the storage unit for years without checking on it. This is especially important if you live somewhere with high levels of humidity. You need to track how the instrument is doing in the unit, and you may need to move it to a climate-controlled unit if it’s showing any signs of wear. You don’t have to be there every week, but once or twice a year is a good idea.

Talk To Your Storage Facility Manager

Odds are, there are a lot of other tenants who are storing instruments at the same facility you are. When in doubt, ask the manager or some other employees about what you need to know and how you should best store whatever instrument you’re keeping there. They’ll have unique insights based on their available units and location and will guide you in the right direction.

Done right, your instrument will stay in pristine condition and will be ready for whenever you have extra space, decide to sell it, or pass it on to the next generation. More and more people are using storage units to keep valuables because they’re out of the reach of children, pets, and other things that could possibly damage them. If you’re interested in storing an instrument in a storage unit, make sure it’s clean and ask the manager what you need to know about that specific unit before you move it in.

Guide to Renting a Storage Unit

Every day, more and more people are discovering the benefits of self-storage units. Now, more than ever, storage units are affordable and accessible. The industry has come a long way in recent years. Modern storage facilities are safer and come with more features for renters. They are also likely closer than before. Most neighborhoods are in striking distance to a quality storage facility where you can keep valuables long-term or stow your bikes for when you need them on the weekend.

Choosing the right storage unit will save you money and make a real positive impact on your quality of life. If it’s too far, you won’t go as often. If it costs too much, you’ll regret the purchase and may not keep it as long. If it’s not the right facility, you open yourself to mismanagement or security concerns.

Finding a great storage unit isn’t hard, but it takes a bit of work. There are things you should consider before renting that will get you the most for your money and make your storage unit a value-add for your life.

Here’s a guide to renting a storage unit so you can make the best possible decision.

Picking a Location

Location, along with price, is probably the most important consideration for your storage unit. Traditionally, people used storage units to keep things they didn’t know what to do with. It’s where we put antiques, grandma’s winter clothes, and other items we weren’t ready to get rid of just yet.

These days, however, storage units are way more versatile. People use them to stage businesses. They house inventory and equipment for all sorts of businesses. A close storage unit is a perfect place to keep recreational toys and vehicles. If you live in an apartment, for example, you can keep your bikes or water sports equipment, and other recreational items. In the right location, grabbing what you need for a ride in the park or grabbing some balls to play with your kids on the weekend is super easy.

The closer your storage unit is, especially if you live in a crowded area, the more you’ll probably pay for it. Storage units of comparable size will become more affordable the further out of town they get. Depending on your budget, you can choose something close or far that fits your lifestyle.

Consider Security Features

A lot of people are using storage units. However, some of them still harbor reservations over security. They worry that putting things in storage units is unsafe and it leaves them exposed to theft or property damage.

It’s certainly a concern, particularly when you can’t be close to your property all of the time. But most quality storage facilities go the extra mile to keep their tenants’ property safe. They have a lot on the line, so typically they invest in cameras, gates, and access cards for customers who want them. Many have on-site security guards to conduct regular patrols and inspections around the clock.

Not every storage facility is the same when it comes to security, so you should take a hard look at any potential units and make sure there is appropriate security for what you want to store there. When in doubt, talk to the management about the best way forward.

Be Clear on the Rules

Different storage units place restrictions on what can and can’t be stored on-premises. Before you sign a contract, you need to make sure that whatever it is that you want to store is allowed. The last thing you want is to sign a year’s contract and then find out you can’t put your stuff there. Ask before you sign as well as read anything you sign carefully.

What Do You Need to Know as a First Timer Renting a Storage Unit?

If you’ve never rented a storage unit before, there are things you should check for to make sure you don’t end up in a bad situation. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Read Reviews

These days, it’s fairly easy to check on whether a business is reputable. Posting online reviews is very easy, so a lot of people do it. And it’s not just those who are dissatisfied with service. Of course, you should probably avoid any storage facility that has a lot of negative reviews. It’s a huge red flag. Go with highly-rated storage facilities instead.

Understand the Seasons

Storage unit prices fluctuate based on local conditions. If you’re in a college town, for instance, prices will be higher in the summer and the winter between terms when everyone’s moving in and out. If you’re trying to get a better deal, you’ll want to sign a contract off-season.

Ask for a Deal

It never hurts to ask for a discount. A lot of storage unit facilities can discount rates for new customers. They often run promotions to attract new customers as well. At least mention it on the phone or in an email and see what the response is.

You Can Always Move Up

Don’t rent the largest storage unit available at first. Go with something smaller. You can always move up, often without signing a new lease. You just pay the difference for however many months remain on your contract. If you rent something too large, you’ll end up regretting it and it will end up costing you more than you should pay.

Walk Through the Facility

Before you sign a contract, visit the storage units and walk through the facility. Take a look at whether there is trash on the ground or if the paint is peeling everywhere. Check out the condition of the doors and what the front office looks like. The condition of the facility indicates how much management is investing and how much the employees in charge of taking care of your property care about what they’re doing. Rent from companies that take pride in the product they’re selling.

Renting a storage unit makes life easier when done right. Do your research and find something that fits your lifestyle. It will free up space at home and keep your things safe.

Possible Layout of Your Storage Unit

A storage unit is a helpful way to store your items to make room in your house. A storage unit is an extension of your home with your valuable belongings safely tucked away.

So it is important to organize your storage unit in a neat and orderly manner. With a little bit of planning, you can turn your storage units into an organized space instead of messy stacks of boxes.

Creating a layout for your storage unit helps in organizing your storage unit space, utilizing every space for your items. It also helps in making it easier to find your things whenever you need something from your storage unit without actually making a huge mess.

There are various possible layouts you can do to your storage unit. With smart packing and efficient organization, you’ll surely have a neat, clean and a well-organized storage unit.

Here, we provide you with some tips on how to organize and maximize your space as well as some possible layouts for your storage unit.

Tips for Organizing and Maximizing Space in Your Storage Unit

Survey the Unit

Check out the storage unit you’ll be renting. This will give you an idea on how to maximize your space and how to layout your unit in an efficient manner before moving in.

Also this is a good way to check if the storage unit size would be the perfect fit for all your items you need to store and the extra space you might need.

girl sitting down browsing her phone and sorting her clothes

Classify Your Items

Divide your items in categories and classify them according to their priority and importance. Sort out items which you would need access to frequently and items that you won’t be needing anytime soon.

Place items you need frequently in an area which is easier to access and long-term storable items at the back and bottom stack.

Label Boxes and Containers

Label all of your boxes, bins and containers and keep labels faced out to be seen clearly for quick identification. Use white label stickers and write on black permanent markers for the labels to be more visible.

Keep an Inventory

Keeping an inventory will give you a knowledge of everything you’ve stored and will help you find your items quickly. It is easy to forget things you kept away if you don’t have a list.

For your inventory list, use a spreadsheet or a lined notebook and list your items per box. Label each of your boxes and take note of groups of items inside the box and any important items in that specific box.

This will be very helpful in navigating your storage unit and helps you to quickly identify your boxes. You can also draw a map of your whole storage unit to know where the specific box you are looking for is.

If you’re not into writing things down, you can opt to take a photo of the items inside each box. This way, you can easily identify where specific items are.

Choose the Right Storage Containers

To have an organized storage unit, choose a good container for your items which are easy to stack and fit together in a neatly organized grid. Select one size for every box to help with packing, stacking and accessibility.

Clear plastic containers can help you easily navigate and identify the items on your unit. Organize your boxes and create an aisle between them. When stacking boxes, make sure to keep the heavy boxes on the bottom to create a stable base.

The use of shelves is also very helpful to organize your space better. It also helps box failure from stacking too many boxes on each other and is easier to access boxes which are on the bottom.

Disassemble Your Furnitures

Disassembling large furniture maximizes space inside your unit. Arranging them effectively is a top space saving solution. Furniture should also be stored upright except for mattresses as they should be laid flat.

For furnitures who couldn’t be dismantled like a dining room table, you can use this as an additional shelving to your boxes and containers.

Possible Layout of a Storage Unit

Small Storage Units

A small storage unit can fit several small to medium sized boxes and mid-sized bedroom furnishings. Stack boxes vertically to the ceiling to make use of your small storage unit.

If you have furniture you won’t be needing anytime soon, place them at the back of the unit and place the boxes nearer the door.

If storing only boxes, you can line up the boxes on one side of the wall to clear a path in the middle for you to get inside your storage unit and access the boxes you need.

Medium Storage Units

For a medium sized storage unit, line up your items against the walls of your unit creating a space in the middle for you to navigate to. Make sure that the labels of the boxes are facing you.

If you have furniture, you can store the furniture against one wall and have the stack of boxes on the opposite wall. This allows you to create a space in the middle for you to be able to access your items with ease.

If you do need the space in the middle, you can put your movable items there so you can remove them easily whenever you access your unit.

Large Storage Unit

A bigger storage unit will give you enough space to navigate around your unit and make an aisle or walking lanes. It gives you more layout choices for your storage unit where you can properly organize your containers and storage boxes.

You can line up all your items against the wall and add a middle section, creating two aisles. Use shelves for better access to your boxes.

If you have furniture you need to store, you can place them in the middle of your storage unit leaving a space on all sides for you to access the stacked boxes which are placed against the walls.

If your furniture is a dining table, a dresser or a coffee table that you couldn’t dismantle, you can place it in the middle and you can also put some lighter boxes on top of it for an additional shelving.

If your storage unit is high and you can stack your boxes vertically on shelves, keep a step stool or a small ladder for you to access items on the top more easily.

Storage Units: An Extension of Your Home?

If you’re fortunate enough to be able to work from home, then you know that finding space to focus and get into a flow isn’t always easy. Over the past year, more people are working from home than ever. It’s a nice benefit, having a flexible working environment, but it also comes with unique challenges. Working from the dining room table for a month or two is fine, but is it a good permanent solution?

A lot of people are discovering that their work from home arrangements will become a larger part of their career. For some people it’s permanent. There is no more office to go into. Everything’s got to be set up and maintained in your living space.

Carving out a workspace in your home takes a lot of work. Even more importantly, creating a place where you can focus and work efficiently requires careful planning and more than just a card table in the basement. People are repurposing bedrooms, separating off places for offices in the living room, and getting rid of the home gym to make way for a home office.

If you’re looking for creative ways to manage small spaces and make room for your new reality that has shifted to something more virtual, then you may want to consider using a storage unit. With the right self-storage solution, you can manage your things and free up much-needed space at home. It can become an extension of your home that you use as a staging area to keep things more efficient.

woman lists the things she has on her storage facility

Self-Storage as a Staging Area

A lot of homeowners use places like their garage, attic, or basement for storage. It’s where we keep things like skis, bikes, balls, workout equipment, winter clothes, and a ton of other things we don’t use all year. We also need places to put all of our keepsakes. Photo albums, clothing for kids, antiques, and other family heirlooms also need somewhere that’s safe for the long haul.

With a storage unit, you get extra space that’s not in your house. You can clear out cluttered places where you’ve traditionally kept boxes and storage bins and create spaces where kids can play or you can shift into work mode.

Shift as the Seasons Change

People also can take advantage of the flexibility that storage units provide. You no longer have to keep winter jackets or snowboards in your home all winter. Also, you can keep your bikes in the storage unit when things get cold outside and take them out again when spring and summer come around.

This constant rotation of seasonal toys, recreational items, and clothing will save you a great deal of space in your house or apartment. People typically keep seasonal items in labeled boxes that are easy to spot and pull out from your storage unit.

man agrees that storage units are affordable

Storage Units Are Surprisingly Affordable

Most people are pleasantly surprised when they hear how much a storage unit costs every month. It’s a relative steal, and storage unit facilities often run specials for new leases or during low-demand months.

For a bargain, you can get a decent-sized storage unit to fit your things in. They’re also probably closer to your house than you think. In a few minutes’ drive, you can be in your unit to grab what you need. Some people make weekly trips to their storage unit to grab items for a dinner party, take a weekend bike ride, or do whatever else they need to.

With a quick online search, you can likely find several storage unit facilities in your unit with reviews. Talk to some of them and ask questions about what’s involved before taking a visit to check one out.

Great for Kitchen Items

The pandemic has made cooking and working in the kitchen part of most peoples’ lives. For months, it was impossible to buy a bread maker because they were sold out everywhere. If you’re like us, your kitchen now has a lot more in it than a year ago. Whether it’s a waffle maker, a pasta maker, new pans, or recipe books, kitchen storage may have become more challenging.

While we wholeheartedly agree that more time in the kitchen is a lot of fun, there is a better way to manage to store all of your new appliances, dishes, pans, etc. With a nearby storage unit, you can keep everything you need and then run over to get what you want for Sunday brunch at home.

t-shirts on the rack that is stored in a storage facility

Inventory for Your Home Business

The pandemic left us all with more time to think about priorities, careers, and what we want out of life. For some people, that meant following a lifelong passion that had been left on the backburner. For others, it meant finally starting a business or taking on a side gig to earn some extra cash.

Before you get up to your neck in t-shirts, coffee mugs, or whatever other products you need for your business, arrange a storage unit to help you manage your inventory. They can make organizing and mailing out products a lot simpler. A trip to the storage unit can become part of your daily routine to get work done and make your business run efficiently.

Temporary Furniture Storage

If you’re short on space and want to install a home office, you may have to sacrifice a guest bedroom, a home gym, or some of the kids’ play areas. That can mean that you have to move furniture out to get a desk and chair, computer, and whatever else you need.

You probably aren’t in a rush to get rid of that furniture you’ve taken out because you don’t know how long this virtual work environment will last. Having a storage unit lets you hang on to them affordably and stage your home appropriately without feeling rushed. It will help you avoid making rash decisions and possibly selling something or donating furniture you’ll regret down the road. Instead, keep them in the storage unit until you are sure about what you want to do.

How to Keep Your Storage Unit Clean: 9 Tips & Tricks

Storage units are great for storing your personal belongings in a safe and secure place. It’s a convenient way to store your valuable possessions and free up space at home. Although if you don’t maintain and clean it regularly and properly, dirt and dust can accumulate inside the unit during long-term storage.

It’s best to keep your storage units cleaned, maintained, and organized to ensure your items are in good condition at all times. Keeping your storage unit clean in turn will help keep the items stored within clean and dirt-free as well. Keep your storage units and your belongings clean, tidy and organized with these 9 tips and tricks to keep your storage unit clean.

1. Clean Items Before Storing

All items that you put inside your storage unit must be cleaned. Dusty and dirty items can potentially get your other things in storage dirty. Give all items a good cleaning first before storing them in your storage unit.

2. Use Containers for Your Items

To protect your belongings inside the unit, store your items in containers. Containers are perfect tools to organize your belongings and save up space inside the storage unit. Plastic containers create a secure and sealed environment for your things. They are also easy to clean and don’t tear or get damaged as easily as cardboard boxes can.

Double check your items to be placed in these sealed containers and wipe the containers themselves with a microfiber cloth to make sure that the container is clean and dry before storing your items. This helps to prevent mold and mildew that can build up if there were any moisture in the container. If using plastic containers, you can also easily wipe them down once a month or every few months with a microfiber cloth or wet wipe.

3. Cover Large Items

Protect large items and furniture by covering with sheets or tarps to prevent any scratches on their fabric or surfaces. Then you can easily stack other items on top of them for neatly packed storage, or if shuffling items around in your storage unit you can temporarily set a box on top of a covered piece of furniture without worrying about causing tears or scratches.

Plastic tarps can wear down and are not advisable to use for long-term storage of wooden furniture. You can also use old blankets you don’t use anymore to cover these items if plastic wraps and canvas tarps are not available.

4. Do Not Store Perishable Items

Avoid storing items like food or any perishable items inside your unit. Food can cause smells that can attract ants, rats and pests, so most storage facilities have strict policies against storing these perishable items. Even sealed food items might compromise your unit so avoid storing food at all costs. Double check your things to make sure that there is no food included in the things that you will be storing in your unit.

5. Clean Your Unit and Contents

If you’re a long-term storage renter (maybe you’ve rented the same unit for years), performing a thorough cleaning at least yearly is a good idea for checking on the condition of your belongings and making sure your unit is in the same condition as when you moved in. If you’re in a humid area and haven’t rented a climate controlled unit, examine your furniture and other items for any mold or mildew growth.

If you spot any mold building up on your upholstered furniture or mattresses, it should be removed immediately and should be cleaned by a professional. Maintain cleaning the unit by going back every few weeks or months and wiping down shelves, contents and the exposed floors and walls.

wooden pallets that can be used in the storage facility

6. Keep Your Things Elevated

Keep your items off the floor by using pallets and shelves. Elevating your items gives good air circulation.

7. Rotate the Contents

Rotate the contents of your storage unit every now and then. Sweep and clean your items before sorting and re-assembling. Move boxes, re-distribute weight and rotate the contents inside your storage unit. Reposition anything that is stacked, and re-fold items such as rugs or textiles to avoid permanent creases.

8. Keep Cleaning Supplies Inside Your Storage

Keep a small stock of cleaning supplies inside your storage unit such as wet wipes, a duster, paper towels, and a broom. This way, it’ll be easier to clean your unit every time you visit. Try making it a habit and do a routine clean up every time you check on your unit.

9. Label and Organize

Label your items that you’ll be storing and divide in categories the items in your storage unit to keep it neat and organized. This way, it will be easier for you to find things you need without having to rearrange your unit each time you visit. Items that you’ll need often should be placed in an accessible area near the front.

Organize your boxes and create an aisle between them and keep the labels faced out to be viewed easily. You can even create a map or a layout of your things inside your unit for easy reference.

Living Independently After Graduation

Congratulations on your college graduation! If you’ve just recently graduated or you’re about to finish up with school, no doubt you have a lot on your plate.

graduates throwing their hats up in the sky

Like most new grads, you’ve probably been engaged in a lot of different important life choices, including what job to take, whether to go to grad school and if you should break up with the person you’re seeing or go long-distance. Finally, there is the all-important question of whether to move back in with the parents or strike out on your own.

Living independently after graduation is a path a lot of new graduates make. If you’re lucky, your university has a good network of employers who come to your school to recruit or advertise on your campus job board.

These jobs aren’t local. Most of them will require you to pick up and move somewhere new. That can be intimidating, and moving to a new state, meeting new people, and starting a new job can be a lot to digest.

Life after school away from home doesn’t have to mean living alone. In fact, living alone is probably not the best way to go if you want to meet people and stay active socially. Taking on roommates or joining a house with an open room is a great way to ease into an independent, “grown-up” life without all of the responsibility of managing a plan by yourself.

Planning for a successful start in a new location takes work. Here are some things you can do to make sure you set yourself up well from the start.

happy graduate sorting here clothes on what to bring to her new place

Sorting Out What’s Yours

Most parents hate the idea of kids moving out of the house. While it’s a nice milestone in any family’s journey, your parents probably get nostalgic thinking of the days when you were all under the same roof. When you go off to school, they probably kept a lot of the stuff you accumulated over the years. Sports trophies, posters, yearbooks, and your old bed.

One of the first things you should do to prep for the big move is to sort through your old stuff and decide what’s coming with you. Only take what you’ll use and enjoy in the new spot. Of course, not everything that doesn’t make the cut should be thrown out. There are old keepsakes you’ll want to look back on years from now.

A nice way to bridge your journey into independent living is to book a storage unit where you can keep your things for an affordable cost. Local storage facilities can offer leases for a bargain, and now that you’re making a paycheck, paying for one shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.

Having a storage unit also takes the stress off of taking too much stuff to your new place. New beginnings are best done uncluttered by a bunch of possessions. Start with the bare essentials and start buying higher-quality items you’ll use for years.

Think About a Storage Unit Near Your New Place

If you’re pressed for time and won’t have the days you need to sort through all of your things, then think about getting a storage unit in your new location. Shifting everything into a storage unit will be a lot less stressful than moving everything you own into a small apartment or a room in a house.

A lot of people are surprised to learn just how affordable a self-storage unit is, and how convenient they are. Chances are you’ll be able to find a storage facility within a few minute’s drive from where you live, and you can go back and forth and outfit your new place in your spare time. It’s great to hold seasonal things as well so you don’t clutter up closets or a garage with things like skis or winter jackets.

What You Should Buy First

One of the biggest issues with moving into your first place will be what you need to buy. As a fresh grad, it’s probably a long list. We advise opting for quality because these can be things that you will use for years. You’re going to need:

Kitchen supplies
A good bed
Shelves
Containers
Bathroom supplies
Cleaning supplies
Sheets/Covers/Pillowcases
New towels
A TV
A desk
Laundry supplies

The list goes on and on. Yes, you’ll probably have some things you used in college, but when you’re starting fresh, make a good impression on whoever comes over by having nice things around the house.

You may even have to act extra grown up and buy things like rugs and area lamps for your new place, depending on how big it is and how much of the decorating burden is on you.

If you’re up for decorating, living independently can be a lot of fun because you have more space and more money to decorate with. Buy some nice art and spend a little extra on your sofa and chairs. You won’t regret it.

girl on the phone while resting after cleaning her place

Stay on Top of the Chores

One of the things that will get you a good return on your time is staying on top of household chores. Keeping a clean space will go a long way to help you feel confident about living away from school and without your parents.

In the current climate, odds are you’ll likely be working remotely to some extent. Most companies and other organizations have adjusted work policies during the pandemic to allow most employees to work from home completely or on certain days of the week.

That can be a big adjustment for some people because work is where a lot of us get the social interactions we need to feel connected to other people. Sometimes working from home can get lonely.

Buy a nice desk and create a work-from-home space that you’ll love being in. A nice desk and chair are the building blocks of any home office. You also can buy nice lighting as well as all the tech and other accessories you need to be successful in your new job.

How to Maximize Small Living Space When you Have a Toddler

Going from two to three people, or two to one if you’re parenting alone, is one of the hardest transitions to make when it comes to managing living space. Having a child is difficult for many reasons, but adding a new person to the family has a huge impact on how you live at home.

mom and dad sitting in the kitchen counter with their cute toddler sitting in an open space of the cabinet

When a child becomes a toddler, their curiosity and high energy tend to get them into everything. Parents have to constantly be on the watch as well as make sure they have a safe place to grow and play. Life will never be the same. Not only does having a small child affect how you’ll spend your time and what you prioritize.

If you’re living in a small apartment or townhome, one thing you’ll quickly learn is that toddlers need a lot of space. Keeping a small child entertained, educated, and safe requires a lot of gear, and places to put that gear.

That’s especially relevant these days, when schools are virtuals and children of all ages are spending more time at home in virtual school. Parents have limited options when it comes to things like daycare.

So, you’ve got a toddler at home, and you’re likely also working from home. How do you maximize the space before it’s time to upgrade to a larger home and apartment?

The past year has forced people to adapt like never before. It’s been challenging, but there have been some upsides. One of them is that people have come up with some creative ways to get more functionality out of their living areas. That matters a great deal when you have a toddler.

Here are some ingenious ways you can maximize small living space with a toddler.

white vertical cabinet beside the toy storage drawers

Go Vertical Whenever Possible (and Safe)

Vertical storage is critical when you’re living in small spaces. Most traditional storage bins are short. They sit on the ground and come up to knee-level or waist-high.

Think of your run-of-the-mill chest of drawers or storage bins for toys. They don’t take full advantage of floor-to-ceiling space. A way to get more space in a toy room or a toddler bedroom is to find ways to use the full vertical space.

Now, before you start installing shelving units or run to the store to buy a tall storage container, you must consider safety issues. Toddlers can be surprisingly strong, and they love to climb.

Don’t use anything that has even the smallest chance of falling on top of your child. Luckily, most new tall shelving units and drawers come with wall attachments that make them much safer.

Think About Hanging Storage

Hanging storage is a fun way to give your toddler’s bedroom or a playroom a stylish twist. Online you can find hanging nets where you can store stuffed animals and other toys. Rather than store the toys in drawers, you can toss them in the net where they’re easy to get to when your toddler wants to play with them.

Consider a Bed with Drawers

When your toddler graduates out of the crib, you should think about buying a bed with drawers installed in it. The drawers are a wonderful place to store clothes, small toys, or things you want to give your toddler free reign with.

If you don’t have the money to buy a bed with drawers or you already have a bed lined up for your toddler, then explore some simple storage options to utilize the space underneath the bed.

See-through storage bins with wheels on them are a great place to start. They can be pulled out from under the bed and stowed easily, so a toy party of cleanup never takes long to get going.

Hang More Toddler Clothes

Kids generally have lots of clothing. Buying new clothes for a toddler is just so much fun. There are so many cute things to buy. And you get a lot of hand-me-downs from friends and family. What ends up happening, though, is that your drawers and what little storage space you have in a playroom or bedroom get taken up quickly.

Instead, explore installing another hanging bar in a closet to hang up more of your toddler’s clothes. Putting them in the closet will free up space in the room to the point where you could even get rid of a set of drawers and make more room for fun.

a preschool girl holding a brush painting the wooden table with white paint

Remove Closet Doors

If you’re having trouble finding space to store books, cars, dolls, or whatever else your toddler plays with, then think about taking off the closet doors in the room and installing some shelves inside. What used to be a place where things were jammed in out of sight can become a neat, organized shelf where your child can go for learning or fun.

couple in a storage facility bringing some boxes of different stuff to store

Think About a Storage Unit

Every year, more people are discovering how useful self-storage units can be in managing what’s inside of our homes. Storage units can be very affordable, and most of the time you’ll be able to find a storage facility within a few minutes’ drive from your place.

It’s a great place to keep things you don’t always use like winter clothing for your toddler. You can also keep toys, books, and other items that your toddler isn’t quite ready for yet but that you want to keep down the road. Likewise, you can store all of the things they grow out of for when (if) you have another kid!

Cubbies are Always Fun

Cubbies are always fun to have in a room because they’re easy to access and keep things organized. Cubbies are easy for your toddler to understand as well. They’ll quickly catch on to what belongs in which place. There’s also usually a flat surface on top of the cubbies where your child can play, store those completed toy sets, or color.

These are just some of the ideas you can use to maximize small living space with a toddler. The most important thing is creating a safe space where they can play and learn that’s also functional for your family and what you need to accomplish.

11 Reasons Why Every Retiree Should Have a Storage Unit

When most of us are in the middle of a decades’ long career, we often wonder what retirement will look like. Will it be like the movies where everything is peaceful and relaxing? Will we have the time and freedom to pursue passions that we’ve put off for so long? A lot of people have lists that they plan on tackling once they stop working and enter the golden age of life.

cute senior couple smiling at each other while sitting on the kitchen floor

That’s the dream. However, at some point, most retirees discover that reality is much different. People still have obligations, relaxing all day can quickly become boring, and there’s stuff, so much stuff.

We spend a lifetime saving money and buying nice things. What’s funny is that these “things” are what often end holding us back. People who always said they’d travel or downsize into a smaller place to have more financial flexibility find themselves trapped in a house full of “things”.

The tug of war between adult children trying to encourage their parents to let go of possessions they no longer need and older retired parents who want to hold on is an old story. It happens all of the time.

Everything doesn’t need to be a struggle, though. More and more retirees are using storage units to manage their possession and get more space and the freedom they need. Here are 11 reasons why every retiree should have a storage unit.

a happy grandpa showing money that he saved while renting on a storage facility

1. They’re Affordable

Most people are surprised at how affordable self-storage units are. For relatively very little each month, you can store the things that you don’t need access to every day. If you want to downsize but don’t know where to put your things, a storage solution is a great option.

2. They’re Close By!

You’re likely living close by without realizing it. A quick online search will show you plenty of storage options close to your home. That’s important for retirees who want quick access to their things. Driving a few minutes can get you to your storage unit and you can pick up and drop off whatever you need.

3. It’s a Great Place for Retirement Toys

Retirees use storage units to keep toys like woodworking tools, fishing gear, motorcycles, and whatever else they’re into. Why keep things at home in a cluttered garage when you can have them in a secure location off-site?

4. Make Space for the Grandkids

At some point, retirement means wonderful visits from the family living in other places. A self-storage unit helps to keep your home kid-friendly when the grandkids are in town. YOu can remove all of the fragile things that you’d hate to see broken or damaged. You can also break out the toys and other items that you only use when your family is in town.

5. Storage Units are Safe

If you’re worried about keeping your treasures safe, modern storage unit facilities have made significant security improvements. Now, you can count on CCTVs, locks, and smart features like mobile apps that give you access to the facility. You never have to feel anxious about whether your stuff is secure.

6. They Help You Stay Organized

If you’re already living in a smaller space, organizing a lifetime of things can be quite a challenge. With a storage unit, you have space outside of your home that’s perfect for staging. Organizing is usually much easier when you have a separate place where you can put things. It gives you space to think about whether you want a certain item in the unit or keep it at home.

grandparents with their grandkids at the airport

7. Travel with Peace of Mind

If you’re nervous about leaving all of your things at home alone while you travel, you’re not alone. It would be easy to target retirees while they’re away because it’s easy to count how many people live in the house. Reduce your travel risk by keeping valuables in a storage unit with 24/7 security.

8. You Can Try New Hobbies

Have you ever wanted to try something new but worried about whether you had the space for things? A lot of retirees want to get into a new sport or start crafting, but they need somewhere to put tools and gear. With a storage unit, you have all the space that you need to try new things.

9. They Give You Time to Decide

Throwing stuff away or giving it to someone else is very taxing. A storage unit gives you time to decide instead of feeling rushed to make a decision. Time is important for retirees. You want to know that you’re making the right choice.

beautiful house of an old couple with a sign that is for sale

10. They Help You Sell Your Home

If you’re downsizing in retirement, you’ll get a lot more money selling a home that’s clear of clutter. People who are looking to buy want to envision what it will be like for them to live in the home. They don’t want to see all of your old stuff. With a storage unit, you can pack everything into boxes and clear out the basement and other spaces to get top dollar for your home.

happy senior couple riding a bicycle in the park and enjoying life

11. They Offer More Freedom

Ultimately, a self-storage unit can give retirees more freedom. You have a low-cost solution that is safe and secure, and you can choose from there. Whether you want to travel full-time or finally get to installing that home gym, the options are endless.

Storage units come in all different sizes. Some are temperature-controlled and some offer increased security for high-value items. Once you have your things in the unit, you get to decide what to do with the rest of your life.

If you’re approaching retirement or want to change up the pace with your ongoing retirement, check out how a storage unit can facilitate the life that you want to live.

You’ve worked so hard to get where you are. Now you’ve earned the chance to do things on your terms. Take charge and live a little. Chase after the things you’ve always wanted to do and don’t look back!

8 Tips & Tricks to Maximize Space in Your Storage Unit

Every year, more Americans are discovering the benefits of using self-storage. In the past, a storage unit was where you stored things long-term or to help bridge you through a move. That still happens a lot, but more people are using storage units to supplement their lifestyles and add flexibility to their living spaces.

With a self-storage unit, you essentially have a secure off-site staging area where you can place things you don’t need all year. Small businesses use storage areas to hold inventory and they are a great place to keep recreational clothing, toys, and keepsakes.

If you’ve got a storage unit, you also know that they are usually close to home where it’s very convenient. Most people with storage units can pop over in a few minutes to fetch what they need or deposit new things.

couple with boxes on cart at storage facility

Getting a storage unit frees up more space in your home to use for leisure or to make room for someone who wants their own room. Say goodbye to cluttered garages and basements!

One of the keys to successful storage unit use is maximizing the space inside. After all, you want to make work and keeping things in your storage unit to be simple. It should make life easier, not add more chaos to your life.

We’ve organized 9 tips and tricks that you can use to get more for your money and make organizing your storage unit a dream. Get more out of your space and get to what you need to easily by following these helpful hints.

1. Use Container Boxes

If you have to, even basic cardboard boxes are a great help in self-storage units. Even better, though, are stackable organization boxes that are see-through and easy to move around. Some come with wheels on them, so they’re easy to roll in place where you want them.

2. Find Some Racks

Racks are a great open-style way of storing things inside of your self-storage unit. Racks are relatively affordable and can be picked up at your neighborhood home improvement store. If you’re up for a little extra work to save a few bucks, then you can buy racks online that you then have to assemble when they are delivered.

man using storage shelves for office supplies

3. Use Shelves

A lot of passionate readers use storage units to house all of the books that they cherish and just can’t bring themselves to get rid of. Shelves are easy to install and a great way to showcase items that you use frequently. When they’re on display and easy to spot, you can even ask a friend to swing by and grab something if necessary.

4. Keep Similar Items in Different Parts of the Unit

A problem a lot of people have with crowded storage units is that, once a lot of stuff is inside, they don’t remember where they put things or how to get to them. Indeed, if your storage unit is stacked to the brim, it can be hard to move around let alone find a single item that you’re looking for.

Group items like clothing, toys, antiques, picture albums, etc. in designated areas inside your self-storage unit.

5. Use Labels

Labels are a great way to make moving through and sorting your self-storage unit easier. With a low-cost label maker, you can put labels on anything, whether it’s boxes that are stacked in a corner, or shelves so you know where to put certain items. Keep the labels updated so you don’t get disorganized.

6. Put What You Need to Get to in the Front

Keep important items near the front of the storage unit. You’ll hate having to go back deep inside of your storage unit every time you want to take a bike out for a ride. Before you start moving in, take note of the things that you’re likely to get out of more often. Hold off on putting them in the storage until there are some other things inside to take up space in the back. That way, you can pop over to your storage unit and grab the china you use when guests come over, beach toys, or whatever else you need.

7. Roll Material Items

Rolling up things like tablecloths, linens, and clothes is a neat trick to save space and maximize your available storage. By rolling up your clothing and other linens, you cut down on the amount of air that gets trapped in between items inside a box or on a shelf. If you want, you can even try storing clothing items in bags to prevent air from getting in. It’s a good long-term storage strategy because it keeps your stuff in good condition for longer.

8. Make a Storage List

Believe it or not, keeping a detailed inventory list of what you have in storage is one of the best ways to maximize space. You’ll know what’s in there and it will help you stay organized. You may have noticed by now a recurring theme of ours that staying organized is the key to getting the most out of your unit’s space.

Keeping an inventory list will make it easier to move things around without getting overwhelmed. You’ll have more confidence to stack things vertically as well, which will boost the amount of stuff you can get in there comfortably.

These are just some of the tips to maximize storage and get the most for your money. Done right, a storage unit is a wonderful way to manage the things you need on a seasonal basis or things you want to hold on to for kids or other family members down the road.

Small Kitchen Pantry Hacks

If you’re living in a smaller place with limited pantry space, there are things you can do to maximize your storage.

A small floor plan isn’t the only reason a lot of people are looking for small kitchen pantry hacks. Even if you have a larger pantry and plenty of cupboard space, odds are you could improve the way your things are kept.

2020 has been an interesting year, to say the least. We’ve all been stuck at home more than any time before in our lives. Like people do in most situations, we’ve tried to make the best of things.

One of the things we’ve seen over the past year is a massive interest in home cooking, baking, and getting back to the basics in our kitchens.

When the pandemic first hit, you couldn’t buy a bread maker anywhere! They were sold out in stores and it was also hard to find things like ice cream makers, pasta makers, and shortages even extended to kitchen utensils and other basic accessories.

It’s been great for passionate home cooks and families across the country, but now, with more “stuff” in your kitchen, you probably could use some tips on how to manage all of your new kitchen items.

Here are some ways you can maximize space and keep all of your kitchen stuff organized.

Use an Old Bookshelf

Most people have books sitting on a shelf that they’ll never read again. Unless you’re a massive book junkie or have a sentimental attachment to the books, donate them so someone else can read them!

Then, use the freed bookshelf in your kitchen as an extension of your pantry. Bookshelves work great in rooms or hallways adjacent to kitchens because you can showcase nice kitchen items like a mixer or nice dinner plates. They’re in a spot where they are easy to grab, which makes getting work done in the kitchen a breeze.

Hanging Shelves

If you have spare wall space in your kitchen, don’t let it go to waste. Installing hanging shelves or even a new cabinet is something anyone can do at home after a quick trip to the local hardware or home improvement store.

Check online to look at different size and color options and choose shelves that fit your kitchen design. This is a great chance to mix things up style-wise, and it doesn’t take specialized tools. You should be able to do it with the basic tools you’ve already got at home.

A Kitchen Island on Wheels

Wheeled kitchen islands are a great addition to smaller kitchens or kitchens with limited pantry space. You can move your wheeled island around whether you’re baking or need to create an impromptu prep station.

They come in different colors and all sizes, so you can easily find one to fit your kitchen dimensions. Wheeled islands are a great place to keep spices, mixing bowls, kitchen towels, and other staples you turn to often.

Put Shelves in Your Shelves

If you’re like most people, you have cans or bottles of oil sitting on shelves all over your kitchen. There’s likely a lot of wasted vertical space. A great way to organize your pantry and maximize space is to install small shelving units inside your kitchen shelves!

You can buy pull-out racks with wheels to make stacking things like sodas or soup cans much easier. It will let you fit a lot more into even the tiniest of spaces.

Use Clear Containers

different types and sizes of clear containers

Most people have been through a few rounds of kitchen organizing in their lifetimes. What happens is we get everything nice and neat, and it stays that way for a few weeks before madness returns.

Clear storage containers are a great workaround because they keep things compartmented and you can see what’s inside. There’s no more wondering what’s lingering in the back of your shelves or that corner cabinet space.

What’s more, you can label clear containers to store similar items. It also helps cut down on trips to the store to buy that one spice you need for a recipe that you can’t remember whether you have or not.

Use a China Hutch for Storage

kitchen hutch and a 6 seater dinning table

Maybe maximizing your kitchen pantry means finding innovative ways to expand your storage options. A kitchen hutch comes in very handy when you need more space to store dry goods.

Think about ditching that nice china set you got as a wedding gift that you rarely use. Be honest with yourself about whether you see yourself suddenly changing and throwing intricate dinner parties. Odds are things will be similar to what your lifestyle is like now. Instead, use the hutch for something more basic and efficient.

Stage Your Kitchen Pantry

There are millions of cluttered kitchen pantries across the country. But how often do we use what’s inside? Sure, we grab all the snacks that are in there, and there are several kitchen accessories that we simply couldn’t do without. But what about the waffle maker? How regularly are we using the pizza stone?

Instead of shoving everything in your pantry, think about more organized ways that you can store things you don’t use all that often. Put some kitchen items in the kitchen or under the guest bed, or in a self-storage unit that’s close by. You can still break them out when you feel like waffles on Sunday morning or have a hankering for a Neapolitan pizza.

Getting creative with kitchen storage is key to hacking a small pantry. Think about what you use and design your kitchen storage with that in mind. If we’re honest with ourselves, there is a lot in the kitchen that doesn’t get touched enough to warrant a prime storage location.

Better storage doesn’t mean you have to get rid of things, even if you only use them once or twice a year. Just don’t keep them in your pantry where something else would serve a better purpose. With a more thoughtfully-designed kitchen pantry, cooking and cleaning will become a more pleasurable experience.

12 Reasons Why A Storage Unit Would Make A Great Gift

What’s the very first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about storage units? If you’re like most people, you probably think of a storage units as a place for storing the things you don’t have room at home for but also don’t want to part with. But have you ever thought of gifting a storage unit to someone?

Why a Storage Unit Makes a Great Gift

A lot of people have the misconception that the storage unit is only used for storing furniture and knick knacks, but there are so many other things you can do with a storage unit. This versatility is part of what makes a storage unit the perfect gift for just about anyone on your list.

If your friend or a relative is ambitious and has a hobby but does not have enough space to execute their plans and devote time towards their hobbies, then self-storage units can be the ultimate gift. And those friends and family members that already have everything or are just hard to shop for? A storage unit can help you give them a unique, intangible gift that can’t be bought off of a store shelf – and something they may be longing for.

Here’s 13 unique and special gifts you can give in the form of a storage unit:

1. A Space for Creativity

A storage space makes the perfect gift for the artist or crafter in your life. Gift them a space where they can set up a table and spread out their beads, fabric, or art supplies and without having to pick everything up and put it away each time they take a break.

2. A Quiet Office Space

We all have that friend and wants to start his own business but at the same time does not have enough space at their home to start it or does not have enough budget to buy an office. If this is the case, then you can buy your friend a storage unit.

3. A Space to Zen Out

Giving the gift of a storage unit to a friend or family member that loves yoga or meditation (or could use some stress-relief!) is like giving them their own private oasis. The right size storage unit should have ample space for a yoga mat with enough room on for them to also stretch their arms our side-to-side.

4. A Winter Home for their Gardening Equipment

A person who loves gardening likely has (or would like to have) a variety of specific and oddly-shaped/bulky tools and supplies on hand so that they have everything they need to tend to their garden or plants. A storage unit will allow them to store all of their equipment in out of the way when they’re not using it.

Or, if they’re an apartment balcony gardener, having a storage space would help them maximize their outdoor space at home while giving them enough room in storage to stock up on flower pots, tools, and extra potting soil.

5. A Home-Away-from-Home Gym

Fitness equipment like a treadmill, elliptical, or rowing machine can take up a lot of space – space that your loved one might not have at home. Give them a space to pump iron, stash their pilates equipment, or, if the storage facility allows, plug in and use their larger pieces of fitness equipment.

6. Peace of Mind for the Frequent Traveler

Everyone has that friend who is always traveling to someplace or another throughout the year. The frequent traveler may be worried about leaving certain possessions unattended at home while they are away. Or when they are home, they may struggle to find adequate space to store their luggage.

Gifting a storage unit to your friend will allow them to store things offsite while their home is unattended, and provide the perfect place for their suitcases to rest until the next adventure.

7. Storage Space for Sentimental Items

It’s not easy to let go of the things we possess that belong to our loved ones. But if you know someone who has a lot of sentimental items taking up space in their garage, attic etc, a storage unit could be the perfect gift.

8. More Space at Home

These days, people buy and store a lot more than they used to. Maybe you know someone who buys in bulk to get the best deal like it’s a sport! But they might not always have room at home to store all those savings.

If you can’t give your bulk-buying friend the gift of a larger garage, consider gifting them a storage unit to stash their backstock, or anything else taking up room that they don’t immediately need on hand.

9. Room to Breathe During a Renovation

Remodeling a home is stressful can be stressful, and shuffling furniture and belongings out of one room and into another can be one of the most stressful things about it. If you have a friend starting or in the midst of a home renovation, a storage unit is a welcome gift that will help them feel organized and give them a sense of calm in the chaos.

10. A Place for More Books

A storage unit can be a great place for avid readers to store their books and magazines to clear space at home for the new ones coming in. It could even become a private library and reading room if your recipient is lacking the appropriate space and solitude at home.

11. A Space for their Side Hustle

We all have that ambitious friend who wants to start their own business or already has one going on the side. When they’re just starting out (or are involved in multiple business ventures), they may not have enough space at home to get started or enough room in their budget to rent an office.

If this is the case, renting a storage unit for your friend will give them some extra space to store their inventory or equipment or file and organize important documents and papers. It will also help them be able to relax at home by having their work space and equipment at a separate location.

12. A Secret Hiding Place

Nothing beats a storage unit at Christmas time to hide gifts from would-be peekers. Getting one for yourself is a no-brainer come December, but consider renting a storage unit for the generous people on your gift list who love to shop for others.

13 Top Tips for Organizing Pet Supplies

Fur babies come with so many positives, like unconditional love and great listening skills. But their fur, food, and toys can get out of hand and become one big negative mess without a plan to keep these pet supplies organized.

Having a pet can sometimes make staying organized a challenge. If you’ve tried to organize everything but it always seems to get out of order, or even if you’re planning to organize but don’t have enough ideas, then you’re at the right place. Read on for 13 of the best tips to help you organize pet supplies.

1. Try a Wall-Mounted Pet Accessory Organizer

Having a wall-mounted pet accessory organizer is perfect for outdoor pet accessories like extra collars and leashes, replacement potty bag rolls, and a raincoat if your dog wears one. Having supplies at hand by the door when you come and go can also help keep your floor clear of any debris that fido might track in. In order to avoid muddy paw prints on your floor and furniture, hang a towel on your wall rack too so that you can use it to wipe your dog’s feet after playing in the rain.

2. Designate a Food Station

Designate a cupboard, shelf, or basket for your pet’s food station where you can keep all the food supplies like any bowls and a can opener, their wet or dry food and treats, and any vitamins or medications your pet takes with meals. If you can, set up a placemat or bowl stand on the floor nearby to keep their eating and any resulting mess corralled to one small area of the house.

3. Make Your Furniture Pet Proof

Spotting pet hair on the sofa or easy chair every time you sit down is something most of us pet owners are familiar with. And if, like most pet owners, you’re sick of picking it off the furniture all the time, then you need to make your furniture pets proof.

There can be various ways to go about this, but one of the best ways is to use covers. The covers can be of various materials, and you should always go for pet friendly materials – which may include leather. Why leather? Because it’s easy to clean and doesn’t attract hair like softer fibers.

4. Reserve a Shelf or Cabinet for Everyday Items

In case you do not have enough space near your entry door to place a wall-mounted pet accessory organizer, then you can devote a separate shelf or cabinet at your place to keep all the everyday items that your pet may require at some point or the other. If you already have the wall space for a wall rack or another area where you can keep pet supplies, perhaps use a small section of your cupboard to keep backups. For instance, if you took your dog to the nearby park and forgot one of their favorite toys there, then you can rely on the backup that you have.

5. Use a Basket to Keep Grooming Supplies Together

Grooming plays a very important role in pet ownership, and can even be therapeutic for both of you. Having everything on hand in one place can make grooming easier for all pets and humans involved. Keeping bows, brushes, and other grooming accessories in one bin will also help corral any stray hairs that stick to these items.

6. Label Food Jars

If your pet has different kinds of foods in the morning and the evening, or if certain foods are only given on certain days of the week, try grouping these items according to their feeding schedule to make feeding time easy.

If you can label the shelf or bin where you’re keeping each type of food, this helpful extra step will set your mind at ease should someone else need to care for your pet while you’re away.

7. Create a Shopping Checklist for Your Pet

These checklists can be made according to your schedule and needs, whether you prefer buying pet supplies one a week, once a month, or whenever. Just like when shopping for yourself, using a checklist to shop for your pet’s food and supplies will help you make sure not to forget anything.

Also, by keeping a record of these checklists you can get a rough idea of how long the food you buy usually lasts your pet. This can help you plan your budget or know how much to buy when there’s a good sale.

8. Assign Feeding Stations

Have you ever crushed a piece of kitty kibble into the carpet or have land behind the couch instead of in your dog’s mouth? If you answered yes to either of these, then you know that sometimes pets + food = mess.

To keep pet food messes few and far between, try designating a space for a feeding station where your pet can enjoy their meals. The kitchen usually works best since the floor lends itself to easier cleaning.

PRO TIP- Create the feeding station near the place that you use for storing food supplies.

9. Keep Supplies for Long Trips In a Ready-To-Go Bag

A relaxing getaway can suddenly become stressful when you realize you forgot Fido’s harness or collapsible water bowl. Keep an extra supply of necessary items in a convenient overnight bag so that you have everything your pet normally needs all ready to go. This way, you don’t have to worry about packing your pet’s everyday items too early or remembering to grab them the morning you leave.

PRO TIP – Trips to unknown places can make pets uneasy. Keep a pouch of their favorite treats on hand in the car in case a little training or comforting is necessary when venturing in unfamiliar territory.

sleeping cat inside a tub with bath accessories

10. Keep Bathing Supplies in the Bathroom

If your pet doesn’t like to take bath and is always looking for chances to escape then this tip is for you! Running here and there looking for shampoos and scrubbers takes time, and leaves plenty of opportunity for wet pets to wriggle out of the tub. Keeping these pet supplies together in a small, waterproof caddy means you’ll have everything at hand so you can keep an eye on your pet at all times.

11. Schedule Some Time for Your Pet

Sometimes we get so engrossed in our everyday chores that we have to cut our pets’ walks or playtime short (or we might even forget!). But as committed pet owners, we value our pets like family. So, in the same way as you would put your child’s after school activities or coffee with your Mom on the calendar, try penciling in some quality time with your pets.

Having a regular playdate with your pet on your schedule will help make sure that you carve out quality time for them. Keeping this regular commitment with your pet also means that you’ll be using the ball chucker, cat stroller, or whatever recreational equipment you and your pet use on a more frequent basis. In doing so, you can get a better idea of what items might be worn and in need of replacement or which ones you may have one too many of.

12. Store All Toys in One Place

From dogs and cats to little kids and adults, everyone loves to play. And just like a toddler, pets get so excited at the first toy they grab, and then drop it anywhere when they get distracted by something else.

As with very small children, keeping all of your pets toys in one basket or toy box will make cleanup easier for you since everything goes back to the same place. And even easier for your pet if you can get them to master the trick of cleaning up after themselves!

13. Keep Your Pet’s Paperwork Organized in Its Own File

Pet paperwork usually includes a record of the dates on which your pet had routine vaccinations, receipts from any other veterinary visits, and their registration papers. Keep these papers organized in their own file folder or separate accordion file so that you can easily reference when their next vaccine is due or have their license on hand should you need it.

9 Tips to Make Profit Flipping Furniture

For those that love the thrill of the hunt, flipping furniture can be a fun way of earning additional income. If you’ve ever thought about flipping furniture, but aren’t sure where to start (or where you would even store your inventory?), then you’re in the right place. Read on for some helpful tips to get you started flipping furniture for cash!

How To Get Started Flipping Furniture

To get started, ask yourself the following questions about the furniture you plan to buy for resale:

How will you transport it?

Choosing transport depends upon the size of the furniture you plan to buy. This may be limited to the size of the vehicle you have right now. If that’s a small sedan, maybe you get started with chairs, coffee tables, etc.

If you decide that flipping larger pieces of furniture would be more lucrative in your local market, there are plenty of ways to move pieces from where you buy them to where you’re storing them. You can rent a pickup or even a box truck from places like Home Depot or U-Haul, get help from a friend with a truck, or hire help from a service like Task Rabbit.

Where will you store it?

Once you have decided what sort of transport system you require, the next step is to look for a perfect space to place the furniture. It could be your basement or garage, but even if you have the extra space, renting a storage unit can be the best way to go. The three main benefits to renting a storage unit for your inventory are

1. Privacy & Safety

Keeping furniture at your house until it sells will likely require you to give out your home address so that potential buyers can come to you to view the items they’re interested in. Storing and selling the furniture at a storage facility can provide a neutral, well-lit meeting place to conduct transactions.

2. Added Security

Most secure storage facilities monitor their property with video surveillance. This not only helps ensure the security of your furniture while it’s at the facility, but also gives you the added security of knowing that if you’re conducting transactions at the facility, both parties will be on camera.

3. Space at Home

If you don’t have a garage, basement, or attic at home, then renting a storage unit for flipping furniture may be a necessity. But even if you do have the space, it’s nice to have some separation between your home life and your side hustle.

Will you repair or refinish it?

If you are looking forward to start flipping furniture, you may be thinking of making quick sales by sourcing pieces that are in great, ready-to-sell condition and moving them as quickly as possible.

But if you’re DIY-er that loves a good project, then buying-less-than perfect pieces at a bargain to repair or refinish for a greater profit might be the way you want to go. If that’s the case, the following items are just some of the basic equipment to have in your reseller’s arsenal.

Paint strippers for thick and thin paint
Power sander
Wood glue
Painting and staining supplies (brushes, paint thinner/remover, tray, dropcloth)
Staple gun

The Best Places to Find Furniture to Flip

It might take a while to get into the groove and find your favorite places to reliably source great furniture pieces that sell well for you. Great finds are often had where you least expect them, but here’s a few of the top places to start your search.

Flea markets

Buying furniture from flea markets can be a great place to get a good bargain but at the same time want something that is of good quality. But if you’re after a particular style or furniture from a certain area, be aware that you’ll need to get there early for the best selection.

Most of the sellers at flea markets are there with a goal of selling all the products that they have brought with them that day – the less they have to pack back up at the end of the day the better. So if you care about price over style, try wheeling and dealing later in the afternoon.

Craigslist

Most of the people these days look for Craigslist to red rid of the furniture that they do not want any longer. You can find great pieces of furniture at craigslist and with a lot of profit margin. Don’t forget to take advantage of the listings in the Free section, or search “curb alert” to take something off someone’s hands at no cost to you.

Garage Sales

Sales are being put up weekly at garages and yards everywhere, and if you live in a temperate climate this might be every weekend all year round. Depending on the item and the owner’s sentimentality or attachment to it, it can be difficult to haggle sometimes. But stick with it and you may also find furniture pieces of good quality that you may not find anywhere else.

Pricing: How Much To Re-Sell Your Furniture For

Deciding a price for your furniture depends upon various factors like how long have had it in inventory, the time it took you to repair or refurbish it, the cost of any materials used to do so, the cost of storing it, etc. You’ll also want to research the pieces you’ve just acquired (or are about to buy) to find comparable sales either in your area or a wider market.

eBay can be a great place to look up comps before deciding to make a purchase; search closed auctions to see if a similar furniture item has ever sold in your area. If you don’t mind shipping and plan to sell nationally, set the filters appropriately and see what’s sold and for how much.

eBay is also a helpful tool when it comes to pricing, because you can see what’s currently in the marketplace and how much others are asking for similar items so that you can plan your pricing strategy accordingly.

The Best Places To Sell Your Furniture

Once you have bought the furniture and refurbished it, now it is time for you to look for the platforms where you can sell your furniture. Here are some of the awesome places that you can refer to.

Antique Stores or Consignment Shops

Check around at your local antique stores. Antique stores are always looking for fresh inventory to sell to the right buyer. If you have the pieces they’re looking for, you could form a great relationship in which they buy from you to resell – a win-win for both of you!

Alternatively, some antique stores may have consignments space where you can sell. You may even have a local co-op in your area, where different vendors have a “booth” space to display and sell their wares.

Craigslist

Craigslist is still one of the number one places people look for local furniture deals. Selling on Craigslist will give you great exposure to buyers nearby, without having to worry about shipping or even delivery. (But it you’re willing and able to deliver to your local buyers, this could give you a leg up and help to close the sale.)

eBay or Etsy

If you want to reach a wider audience, and don’t mind dealing with shipping, online platforms like eBay or Etsy can be great places to make a profit flipping furniture.

gray chair with a beige throw pillow and blanket

Your Own Garage

You can make it a garage sale as often as you like at your place! Some people make a full-time living by hosting a yard sale every weekend the weather permits.

PRO TIP: Promoting your furniture on multiple platforms can help your items get more exposure, increasing their likelihood of selling. Just don’t forget to remove it from other platforms once it has sold on one!

Hopefully these tips have given you some solid ideas to start flipping furniture for profit. Being a reseller can be challenging, but often rewarding work. Keep at it, keep exploring, and have fun flipping!

7 Tips on How to Safely Store Couches

Has your living room started to feel cramped lately? Or have you got your eyes set on a stylish, comfy new sofa but don’t know what to do with your old couch? Either way, you probably want to clear some space and get your old sofa out of the way. Until you’ve found the right solution for your old sofa, you’ll likely need to store it.

Why Store Couches?

Why not just sell them or throw them out and get rid of the headache entirely? That would make sense if your furniture is altogether beyond use, and you don’t need it all. However, if your couch is worth something or it holds sentimental value, you might feel torn between keeping it and giving it away. Perhaps you have a near-adult child that will be ready for their own place in a few years, or a vacation home or cabin is in your family’s future. In either case, storing it is the perfect solution. You don’t don’t have to get rid of it, and you can get it out of your way, too.

7 Tips to Safely Store Your Couch

1. Consider Your Storage Options

Storage units come in all shapes and sizes, with different amenities to consider depending on your local climate and the materials your couch is made of.Think of how big your couch is or how many pieces there are. What are the couch’s dimensions, not just on its own but also with whatever cover or padding you’ll place around it? What other furniture or things will you store along with the couch? All this will help you determine which storage unit size will be best for you. Furthermore, you’ll also have to think about the material of your couch and how long you plan to store it. For instance, if you’ve got a leather couch and you’re thinking of more long-term storage, you might want to look into a climate-controlled storage unit. In these units, you can protect your couches from moisture, humidity, and other weather elements. Other than that, when choosing a storage unit, renting at a facility that is clean and well-maintained can help ensure your couch stays clean, too.

2. Clean Your Couch

With your storage unit selected, it’s time to prepare your couch to go into storage. It’s important to thoroughly clean your couch before storing it away. Depending on the type of couch, use the right tools and cleaners to clean it thoroughly. Most importantly, make sure you dry your furniture completely before storing it – and especially before wrapping it with any protective materials. This will prevent the growth of mold.

3. Disassemble Your Couch

It’s not much of an issue if you’ve got a small couch, but larger couches can be a big headache to move and transport. Not only are they hard to move, but there’s also a higher chance of damaging them. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to try and disassemble it as much as you can. Remove the cushions. Detach the legs. Keep any screws or bolts separately in a labeled bag. The couch will be easier to transport when it has fewer parts.

4. Wrap Your Couch

To keep your couch as safe as possible from damage and deterioration, it’s wise to add another layer of protection. This can be in the form of an additional sheet or blanket over the sofa. If you’re storing other things alongside your couch, the sheet will prevent them from scratching or tearing your couch during the transport. However, whatever you do, don’t use a plastic sheet to cover your couch, and more importantly, don’t wrap it too tightly. A plastic sheet won’t let the furniture breathe and can eventually trap moisture and lead to mold. You should use a plastic sheet under the couch, though, as an added measure to protect the legs.

5. Position Your Couch Properly

If you’ve got a lot of things to store, you might be tempted to place your couch vertically in the storage unit to make more space. This might even work in the short run, but in the long term, storing a couch like that can damage its inner foam, coils, and the overall shape by putting stress on the frame. Not to forget, if it slips and falls, it’ll sustain even more damage. Therefore, it’s always ideal to keep the couch horizontal. Be sure to leave a few inches of space between the couch and wall for airflow.

6. Keep Your Couch Above Ground

Another essential tip to safely store your couch is to keep it off the ground. You can use bricks, pallets, or even a simple plastic sheet, as mentioned earlier, to slightly raise it above ground.

7. Don’t Stack Heavy Things On Top of Your Couch

Stacking items on the sofa can have a negative effect if left that way for long periods of time, such as when in storage. It can damage your couch and affect its shape. To avoid dents, sagging, and other wear and tear, don’t stack a lot of stuff over it while in storage. If you are running out of space in your unit, we would suggest going for the next size up rather than cramming everything in one area and damaging your couch. Home furniture, such as a couch, can be hard to let go at times.

Whether it’s the memories attached to it or because you paid a lot of money for it, thankfully getting rid of it isn’t the only option for furniture you’re not using right now.

A Handy Guide to Create Space For A Home Office

Whether you permanently work from home, or would simply like a home office for days when you do bring the work home with you, it takes some consideration to select the right space to set up. Finding room for your home office can be as simple as adding a desk and chair to an empty room that is already available, or placing your laptop on a center table and getting to work. However, if you want to make space for a dedicated home office, here are 9 tips that could come in handy.

Spare Room

Let’s start with the most obvious option. If you have a spare room that is not being used at all, or is maybe being used for storage, then it would be the most likely space to set up a home office. If the room is completely empty, you can maximize the space and introduce your interior design skills to make the space your own. The first two things to consider are a moderate desk and a comfortable chair.

Save the embellishments for last and apply them as the space allows; these would include lamps, centerpieces, plaques, calendars, etc. You may think that some of these embellishments are vital to your creative juices, but an overcrowded desk and workspace is likely to restrict your flow as well.

Unused corner

Sometimes a spare room is not available or simply not an option. However, corners can sometimes be wasted space in a home, but they are also ideal places for aptly shapes space savers and can also be your new home office. This could be a space in your living room, dining room, bedroom, or any other space that has a free corner that wouldn’t be too distracting.

After locating that perfect corner, the next step would be to get a small L-Shaped desk to fit right in. Measure the available space before you start shopping. Try not to get too fancy as this space is likely to be small and you do not want to overcrowd it with an unnecessarily extravagant desk. Try to get a small chair that can be pushed all the way in when not in use so that it doesn’t constantly stick out in the room. It would be best if the chair is adjustable and if an armrest is necessary, try to get one that can also be adjusted to allow the chair to go fully under the table. However, while these features are amicable for the purpose of space-saving and aesthetics, your first consideration should always be comfort. Your chair should offer back support and comfortable padding for your derriere.

Hallway

Having an office in your hallway is not exactly space-saving, but when you have no space to begin with, its the perfect solution for a home office. Hallways are often empty except for the occasional pairs of shoes or coat rack. But with a long narrow desk and a small comfortable chair, it can be the perfect place to set up your office space. Try to get a desk with more space going off to the sides and less coming out towards the front.

Closet

If your closet is already completely overstuffed with comforters, shoes, handbags, and too much clothing, then this may not be the solution for you. But if you are short on space and your closet is not being fully utilized, it can be the perfect way to make space for a home office. You can close the closet door when you are not using the office and if the closet is too small to the point where your desk and chair sticks out a little, that is still ok, you can simply put up a curtain that will blend back into your room’s decor while separating your home office from the rest of the room.

Portable home office

A portable home office can be as simple as a folding table or a small full-size desk on wheels. This is especially handy when you use a laptop as opposed to a desktop. You can also use a chair that you already own like a dining room chair or vanity chair. Then once you are done, the desk can be rolled back into an area where it is out of the way or is used for something else until you are ready to pull it back out. It may not allow you to have embellishments such as table lamps and a vase of flowers, but it will definitely help you to get some office work done even though you do not have a dedicated office space.

Basement

Some basements can seem cold and grungy, and the tiny windows and limited lighting doesn’t improve its air of gloom. But a basement can make a good home office with a few decor adjustments. Firstly, select an area that has ample space away from any clutter or pipes or storage items, then install an area rug that suits your style and taste. Now select and place your desk and chair with your back towards the wall so that you can look outwards towards the door or window. You probably won’t see much of anything, but you won’t feel as couped-up. Select a nice table lamp or plaque, or vase, or whatever makes you happy and have it close by. You can even have a floating shelf where you can add additional tools or embellishments to make the space more comforting and efficient.

Attic

Similar to the basement, you will have to select a dedicated space to make your own. Attics tend to have more windows and natural lighting than basements, but can still feel claustrophobic. So it’s up to you to adjust your furniture and incorporate your own flair of decor and aesthetics to make it feel like your own efficient office space.

Garage

If you have a garage but don’t own a vehicle, it’s likely that your garage is being used for storage. All you would be required to do, is organize your storage space and limit it to one side of the garage and adjust the order side to be your office space. However, if you do own a car, a garage home office will require a little more finesse to make it work depending on the size of your garage and the size of your vehicle. A floating office shelf would probably be best. It would need to be the perfect height to allow you and your chair to come and go, and also be wide enough to hold a laptop and possible a mouse or keyboard as well.

General tip

Aside from finding the space to set up as your home office, you should also take other things into consideration. Ensure that you are installing your desk near an outlet. This is especially important if you are using a desktop and not a laptop. You want to minimize the use of extension wires which can be a trip hazard or just add to the clutter in a small space. On that same note, try to be close to your modem if you use a wired internet connection, or at least be close to your router if you use wifi. Another thing to consider is how to blend into your existing decor. If you do not have the luxury of a spare room, you will most likely be sharing the space of an existing room with existing furniture. Try to purchase office furniture and decor that fits in with the furniture that is already situated in the room. This way your office seems like its a part of the room rather than a random addition.

Get On Up: 11 Tips to Simplify Your Summer Move

Moving from one place to another is never easy, but if you prepare for it well and pack properly, it can lessen the burden. It is reported that most people choose to move in the summer. While the summer heat may make the process even more unbearable, most people move in the summer because it is more ideal in terms of time and availability, especially when children are involved. Summer marks the time between the end of one school year and the beginning of another and if switching schools is necessary, this would be the best time. Also, children are on holiday and can spare more time to help with the packing and preparation. Here are 11 tips to help with packing for a move in summer.

1. Secure Packing Supplies

Before you even start organizing or packing, you should start sourcing boxes. You can start doing this up to a month before your move. You can source boxes from your supermarkets, liquor stores, and other places that receive items in bulk. They tend to have clean boxes of various sizes and often do not have any reservations in giving them away or saving some for their customers. While you are at it, pick up a few rolls of packing tape, markers, and bubble wrap.

2. Organize and categorize

Go through your items and make a list of what will be going with you and what will remain behind. This includes everything from furniture and clothing to books and toys. Once you have broken them down into those two categories, go ahead and do a further breakdown into what can be donated or sold and what needs to be discarded.

If possible, you can go ahead with the donation from a month before and put the items that need to be discarded in the trash at that time as well. If you are unable to discard or donate before you start packing, you should create a specific pile for those items so that they do not accidentally get packed up.

3. Put Your Documents Together

During summer when its peak moving season, you want to ensure that everything is easy to find because any mistake or losses during that period can be a pain to recover or replace. Locate and compile all documents such as travel documents, medical documents, school documents, files relating to your new home, and anything thing else that you may need to access before you fully unpack in your new residence. You should also have some cash that you may need for stops along the way or to tip movers if applicable.

4. Reserve Your Moving Company

Many people move in summer, so its best to reserve your moving company early. However, you should do some research and/or get recommendations from families and friends to ensure that you select a company that is most suited for your needs. Check to see if the companies are registered before considering them and find out their payment plans and processes. Some will ask for a deposit when you book while others will ask for full payment.

This is also the perfect time to see which days are cheaper as weekends can sometimes be more expensive than during the week. Also, check their list of services to see if there have any services you can combine or utilize to make the process easier, such as packing and unpacking or the supply of packing equipment. Another thing to pay attention to is their policies including their insurance and the way they handle damages and packaging. Some companies only accept boxed packages and won’t allow the transportation of bags or baskets.

5. Create a Schedule to Disconnect Utilities

Based on your moving date, set a time to schedule disconnection of your electricity, cable, gas, etc. You want to ensure that you are not racking up extra bills to pay after you have left. You can mark off a day on the calendar or set a reminder to call each company to have the service disconnected. If there are any equipment to be returned or picked up, ensure to make a note of that as well and put it into the schedule.

6. Update Your New Address

If you generally make purchases online or have your physical bank statements sent to your address, you should update these accounts with your new address at least a week before you move. This way, the next bill will go to your new address and if you make a purchase online, it is less likely to be accidentally sent to your old address. This will minimize or eliminate issues with forwarding or returns.

7. Label and Number Your Boxes

It goes without saying that you should label your boxes, but to make things easier, you should be thorough. Label the boxes with the category of items as well as the room that they are packaged from. For instance, you can have “decorations from living room. Box #1”. Also, number each box so that you know exactly how many boxes you should have and which boxes are missing if that should ever occur. Once the boxes are numbered, make a list of the box number as well as its contents. This also makes it an easy reference for unpacking and recovering loss.

8. Acclimate Your New Home

If you have access to the new home or can contact someone to access it the day before you arrive, have the home aired and then have the AC turned on, so that it is nice and cool when you and your family arrive. If this option is not possible, try to turn the AC on as soon as you enter so that it starts cooling down while you get comfortable.

9. Pack with the Heat in Mind

Many things do not do well in heat, but will be fine for the trip to your new home. However, electronics or more susceptible to heat damage, so you should ensure that these items are packaged properly and packed in the moving truck last. You should check if you have the original boxes and use those first. If, not, try to use a box that is as similar to the original packaging as possible. When the truck arrives at the new residence, ensure to remove, unpack, and inspect these items first.

10. Consume Your Groceries

Use the last two weeks before you move to utilize groceries that were already bought. Try not to buy new groceries unless they are products that can be used up within a day or two. If there are things that cannot be packaged for the trip and you can’t use them up by yourself, you can maybe host a moving party and cook for friends or neighbors to utilize them more quickly, or give them away if that is an option.

11. Avoid Heatstroke

Last but not least, ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the entire process. Bring water on your journey and take breaks periodically. You should also try to book your mover early in the morning so that you can start moving before the sun is high and extremely hot.

9 Tips to Keep Your Stored Rugs and Carpet Looking Their Best

Rugs and carpets enhance the aesthetics of any room and bring a warm and inviting touch to the place. However, like other home décor items, experimenting with rugs and carpets transforms the ambiance of the room. You might want to replace your oriental rug with a vibrant piece to give a fresh look to the place. That’s an amazing idea, but the question is what you would do with the old carpet or rug. The best solution is to store the old carpet or rug.

If you want to know the important steps for effective storage, you are in the right place. Here are some tips for storing rugs and carpets safely so you can use them in the future.

1. Clean It

First and foremost, clean the rug or carpet properly before putting it in the storage. It may sound a little weird, but trust us, it saves you from a lot of hassle. If you don’t clean it, the stains, dust, moths on the carpets and rugs may cause deterioration while it is in storage.

2. The Right Way to Clean Different Fabrics

Analyze the fabric to choose the right way to clean the rugs and carpets. The label also includes cleaning tips, so follow those if they are mentioned; otherwise, vacuuming the rugs and carpets is the best option.

After vacuuming, proceed with the other cleaning steps. If it’s a synthetic material, you can wash it in a machine or clean it with a steam cleaner. Carpets and rugs made of natural fiber like wool, and hemp, etc. should be cleaned with carpet shampoo cleaners and a sponge.

Clean fur and sheepskin rugs without water, just put some talcum powder on the entire surface and leave it for some hours. Then brush off the powder and repeat this cleaning process if necessary.

3. Protect It From Insects and Moths

Imagine that you open the rug after a few months, and it’s all gone bad. The bad part is that you can’t get it back to its original form once it is destroyed. So, it’s no use crying over spilled milk.

While in storage, carpets and rugs are a favorite treat for moths and other insects, so don’t forget to put some pest-repellent powder before putting them into storage. Otherwise, you might get less-than-desired result as mentioned above.

4. Roll It

We know everyone wishes to protect their rug and carpets, even when they’re storing them. So, here is another tip that helps you keep them safe. Folding the rugs or carpets can cause creases and wrinkles on the fabric. If you have visited carpet showrooms, rugs are always kept rolled there. That’s the professional way to keep them safe.

That’s what we learn from this example; always roll the rugs to keep them safe. There is also a rule to roll the rug, which is to start rolling it from the bottom. You might be unsure about how to determine which side is the bottom side. Here is the solution:

Run your hand on the fiber and see which direction is with the grain and which is against the grain.
Start rolling from the side, which is with the grain as that’s the bottom part and continue to the other side.
When you are done, secure the roll with a tight rope to prevent it from opening.

5. Wrap It

Did you think rolling the carpet or rug piece is enough? If that’s your perception, you are wrong. What if it catches dust and dirt while in the storage? Remember, your goal is to protect the rug/carpet in the best way when storing it to be able to use it again someday. So, it’s recommended to wrap it in a brown craft paper, which should be big enough to wrap around the roll two times. After wrapping it, put a tape to keep the paper in place.

To further secure it, wrap the rolled carpet/rug in a polyethylene bag and put tape again.

Don’t ever use a plastic sheet to cover the rug or carpet, since it restricts breathing of the fiber.

6. Position Matters

If you are a clumsy person, you might dump the carpet roll in the storage and leave it that way. The position of storing the carpet or rug really matters, so never keep a rolled carpet or rug in a lying position.

Always keep the roll standing and above from the ground as the floor might get flooded or catch moisture, which damages the carpet/rug. You can use a wooden pallet to keep the carpet or rug at least six inches above from the floor. Otherwise, if you have a table or shelf, put it on that to keep it away from the floor.

7. Don’t Put Stuff on Top

Never stack anything on top of a stored rug. Heavy boxes, bags, cartons, and other stuff can affect the shape of the rug/carpet.

8. Where to Store It?

It is important to keep the carpet/rug away from direct light as it can fade the colors.

Talking about the storage area, you need to store them in a dark and well-ventilated place. The best option for storing the precious carpets/rugs is a climate-controlled storage area. Garage, attics, attract pests, whereas cupboards lack ventilation, neither of them is a suitable place for storage.

However, if you don’t have any other option, you can store it in the garage or basement and place a dehumidifier to keep pests away. Also, cover the windows to prevent light from entering the space.

9. Check It Regularly

It is best to check your rug/carpet once every 6 months. However, if the carpet/rug is valuable, check it every month to make sure it is in good condition. We suggest you unroll and vacuum the carpet/rug to get rid of any dust particles.

Also, check for any signs of bug infestation. You can also spray insect repellent to keep it safe from insects in the long run. Not to forget, vacuum the storage area as well, so it gets free from dust and insects.

Then, wrap the roll again and put it back in standing position, and you are done.

We hope you implement these tips when you have to store a carpet/rug next time so that it comes out as good as it was before. Make sure you don’t miss any steps because all these are equally important in increasing the lifespan of carpets/rugs. Also, share these tips with family and friends and let them know these easy hacks to store rugs and carpets safely.

9 Ways to Help Your Friends with a Big Move

Relocating is a significant event in an individual’s life. When it comes to moving, the vast majority of us need assistance from our friends and family. They are an intrinsic part of our lives.

Helping a friend or a family member isn’t that hard. We’re all occupied with something or the other, however, we can make an attempt to assist them with little and specific tasks which shows them exactly the amount of love we have towards them. Here are some ways through which a friend or a family can make relocating easy for their loved ones.

1. Gathering information

The principle phase of moving is finding a place to live. This requires a lot of time and effort. The first and foremost thing you should do is to prioritize your wants. Some people might be looking for a backyard in front of their house while others might be looking for a pool or a tennis court.

Our family and friends are just a call away. We don’t have to give second thoughts before calling them. They are supportive when it comes to moving. At first, they might feel sad that you are moving but eventually, they will understand and provide you with a lot of information regarding the place you are planning to live.

During this period, sometimes we get so much engrossed in finding places that we might miss out getting suggestions from the children because they are the ones who get the most affected. Another thing that you can do is to take them along with you whenever you go out looking for an apartment of a house so that they can provide some input.

2. Help you label your stuff

When it comes to moving, you can never have enough boxes and sometimes just for the sake of packing, people end up shuffling things in a box. To make things go easy, friends and family can help you label your stuff. This will make it easy for you to unpack your stuff as soon as you reach your new place.

Another advantage of labelling boxes is that you won’t have to unpack everything at the same place. Doing this you would create a mess at your new place. This is something that can be eliminated. For instance, all the boxes that should be opened in the kitchen and in this way, you will be able to unpack everything without much burden.

3. Host a goodbye party

Hosting a goodbye party can be an incredible way of marking an end to the incredible phase that you spent with your friends and family before moving to a new place. This gathering with your loved ones will allow you to have work with all of them one last time collectively. You can address all those who are present at the party. You can just expect the party to be full of fun. There will be some sadness and tears as well.

4. Help them get rid of clutter

Hardly any hectic task isn’t made better with the addition of a buddy. This is the ultimate advantage that an individual can get while they are packing their stuff before moving. We can’t call packing a fun task. It becomes difficult to decide where to start from but if you have your family and friends by your side, then things can be made a little easier and packing would no longer be a hectic and boring task. The first thing to get rid of the clutter should be to decide whether you want particular stuff at your new place.

5. Be in regular touch

Just the physical presence can bring a lot of change. Your friend who is moving might have a decision framework that they would like to follow they also might prefer doing it alone and be fine doing it, however, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t love to have somebody to spend time with while they complete everything.

If your friend won’t mind a bit of distraction, then you can ask if you can come by and just sit and talk with them while they work. It will make things easy for them as they will be able to do work at a fast pace and at the same time, you and your friend can spend time with each other.

6. Gift them things that they might need at their new place

Few things need to be replaced with the old ones once you are relocating. You can also gift your loved ones some gifts that might be useful to them at their new place. In this way, you can show your love and care towards them as the gift will always be close to their heart. Anything like grocery, decorative material that they are looking for their new home can be given. Another advantage of gifting such things is that they won’t have to spend extra money.

7. Bring them food

It might be difficult to cook food at the time of packing stuff in boxes and after relocating. Before relocating, some ready-made meals should be kept in the freezer. Even after relocating, getting the meals on the dining table would be hard so a friend or any family member could make dinner and bring that over to the place. Instead of the glass plates, disposable glasses and plates should be used so that they won’t have to wash them again and again.

8. Extend a sympathetic ear towards your friend

Your friend will positively have a lot of misgivings and stresses, desires and expectations regarding the approaching relocation. Tell your friend that you’re going to miss them and their relocation won’t affect their relationship and won’t cut off your unique bond. Make all such efforts to ease their anxiety. Ask them to keep some time for themselves and you should make sure that you are making the best use of this time. Family and friends provide as much support to their loved one who is planning to relocate.

9. Look for a well-established moving company for your friends to hire

Helping a friend or family member move away may appear to be a lot harder than it seems but if everything will be well organized beforehand, then such things can be carried out easily.

There are a couple of things that can be considered before choosing a moving company:

Read moving reviews, surveys online, surf moving websites and compare how much they charge.
Make sure that the moving company is trustworthy.
Allow your social network to give you suggestions or recommendations.

All Well Kept: 11 Practical Ideas to Store Bedding

Blankets, quilts and duvets are key items for comfortable living, but they also very seasonal. You don’t need a heavy wool blanket in the summer, just like a light duvet won’t get you much comfort in the winter. Storing your bedding effectively or swapping out blankets may take some effort, but it shouldn’t require buying additional storage bins or furniture. Using items you’re likely to have around the house already, all it takes is initiative and some creativity.

Since every abode is arranged differently, there is no one formula for organization and storage. However, some ideas are universal and can apply to any size apartment or house. So, if you are looking for some ideas to store your blankets and other bedding, then take some inspiration from these hacks.

Baskets should be used to store and separate your linen

This is the first and foremost idea that arises in an individual’s mind when they think about storing their bedding. One needs to be aware of the ways of keeping your linens. There are a couple of factors that should be kept in mind. For instance, just for the sake of storing people sometimes keep their linen in baskets randomly and later on, they forget which linens are stored in which basket. This can be avoided by marking your baskets as per your requirements.

Another advantage of using baskets to store your linens is that they can be easily moved from room to room when it’s time to change the bedding.

Store quilts in pillowcases

This hack doesn’t require any additional product from outside your home. It helps in organizing your bedsheets effectively and efficiently. It is a practical way to store the bed sheet that needs to be put on the bed every other day.

Not just a single bed sheet but a couple of bed sheets can be contained inside a pillowcase. This is an easy way to keep more things in a single place. To make things simpler, a label can be put on to differentiate between the occasions on which it should be needed.

If you own a shallow cabinet, then the sheets that are often used should be handy and the sheets that are not required much can go on the end.

Under the bed storage boxes

DIY hack- you can make the under-the-bed drawers in case you feel that linen closets don’t fit in your budget.

You’ll never need to recall which basket or box you put away your quilt. By storing it under the bed drawer, it also becomes handy and even children will find it easy to take their favorite quilts without the help of parents.

Keep your bedding closet fresh

Nothing can destroy your bedding, quilts and blankets faster than moths. To protect your linen closet from moths, you need to keep it fresh. Before storing your linen, you should wash them and let them dry under the sun. One thing that needs to be ensured is that the linens are clean and dry. Even if you find that the quilts are drenched, don’t go on storing it. There are a couple of methods that can be considered.

• Hang lavender sachets in the bedding closet so that they can keep up the delicate, simply wash smell.

• Apart from lavender sachets, baking soda can be put in your linen closet to assimilate terrible smells.

Store in a dark and dry place

Bedding closet is an ideal place to store your bedding but in case you feel that they may cost you an arm and a leg, then you can simply make use of the dark and dry place at your home and keep your linens safe.

If you think that only a few people can take care of their linens, the easy answer to this is no. If you handle your linens with care, then you can also be an expert. It is also suggested to iron the white bedsheets from both sides before storing them.

Protect your bedding from dust

An ultimate way to protect your linens from catching dust is to keep them in a fabric-friendly bag. Before putting any linen in a bag, you need to ensure that the linen is clean and dry. Even if you find your washed linens damp, do not go on storing it.

It is considered a good practice to keep the bedsheets, quilts and blankets in a dry and dark place to avoid the risk of catching dust.

On the wall or over the door hanging organizers

On the wall or over the door hanging organizers is the easiest way to store the bed sheets or linens that are often used every day. One thing that should be ensured is that the bed sheets or linens that you require every day should be kept in front of your eyes.

Avoid plastic

Although plastic is advantageous in our everyday use, it is creating a disturbing risk to nature. It is a non-biodegradable substance that cannot be decayed by any means. To protect our earth from such risks, the responsibility lies in the hands of each one of us.

While you are planning to store your linens, you should eliminate the use of plastic bags. There are many alternatives that can replace plastic.

Zipper bags

To avoid plastic, zipper bags can be made easily at home. There is a simple DIY method which you can do and make a bag out of it. You just have to find those clothes that you do not wear anymore and with the help of a sewing machine, you can stitch a bag and can attach a zipper to it. In this way, you will be able to make a zipper bag in which you cannot just keep a single bed sheet but it can hold a lot of bed sheets and quilts.

Roll the quilts if falling short of space

An extraordinary space-saving approach for storing your bedsheets, quilts and blankets is to roll them. This proves to be useful especially with shallow racks.

Try to organize your linens by category

When you have your bed sheets, quilts and blankets arranged and sorted out, you can keep it into various baskets and categorize them by labeling. There are quite a few ways through which you can organize your linens by categories. For instance, you can categorize your linens based on color, size or even occasion. In this way, you won’t face any sort of problem when you will be looking for bed sheets for a specific occasion.

Tips On How To Make Your Loved Ones Feel Comfortable While Caring For Them in Your Home

Parents play an important role in shaping our lives. They have worked hard just to make us what we are today. Caring for parents should be the topmost priority of a child. These days, it’s evident that people are engrossed so much in their work that they do not find enough time to spend with their parents. As a result of which, they employ caretakers for their parents. They will take proper care of them but there will always be a lack of love, care, affection.

Some people are taking care of their parents, grandparents or even sometimes their elderly relatives. They might sometimes find it difficult to do this task. It can also become a challenging task but it’s an individual who can make things easy go. Along with looking after the elderly people, there are few things that you as a caretaker should keep in mind. Just like you are finding it difficult, in the same way, your parents or grandparents may also find it onerous to depend upon their children or grandchildren. Even if we are not doing it today, then at some point in our life we will.

If some elderly person is living with you, then there is a need to prepare or sometimes rearrange your home to make them comfortable. Along with the tips for what is to be done, some other things are there that should not be done.

To make the elderly people fit at home, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Strap chairs with high backs

Backless dining chair having sharp edges can be replaced with strapping chairs with high backs. Problems like backache start to arise with growing age. If the chairs that you are having are not elder-proof then you should replace at least a couple of chairs with high backs so that it will become easy for the elderly people to sit and enjoy food.

Another thing that you should keep in mind while replacing the furniture should be that the size of the furniture should be according to the size of the person who will be using them in future. It is suggested that you should take your parents or grandparents along with you while you are planning to buy the furniture.

Some people find it difficult to get in and out of their sitting position. For such cases, lift chairs are suggested.

Comfortable chairs for reading

We surely have seen our parents or grandparents reading newspapers every day in the morning. They might also suffer from backaches. It’s is suggested that they should read while sitting at a comfortable place, as a result of which, arm-less, backless and low chairs should be avoided. Going for chairs with high backs will make it easy for elderly people to get in and out.

For people suffering from severe backache, joint pain, comfortable high back chairs should be recommended.

The ultimate solution for storage

Backaches, joint pains are the most common problems that elderly people suffer from. Storage should be at a reachable height. Storage drawers below the bed should be replaced with cabinets or almirah having shelves wherein things can be kept easily. If the storage drawers are built below the bed, then elderly people will find it difficult to bend down and it will involve a lot of stretching.

When you are planning to buy a cabinet, you should keep a couple of things in mind:

The handles of the drawers of the cabinet should be of bright color and easy to slide.
The almirahs should be see-through doors which will enable the elders to spend less time to find things that they need.
The storage closet should be made of sturdy material so that it does not tip over.

hands cradling image of elderly couple in sphere

The bed should be comfortable

Backaches and joint pains are common among elderly people. As a result of which, they might find it difficult to sleep. A good mattress will aid with the alignment of the spine and may sometimes reduce the backaches and joint problems they are facing.

Before going to buy a mattress, you should consider the priorities of the elderly people for whom you are buying the mattress. Apart from the mattress, the back of the bed should be comfortable so that they can support their back with it.

Apart from the things that children should consider while providing a comfortable environment, they should also focus on the things that should not be done and avoided.

Lighting should not dim

Apart from the joint pain, weak vision is another such problem that is prevalent among elderly people. If the room, kitchen and drawing room will be well lit then there should not be any problem with finding things. A lamp can also be placed on the side table which should be kept next to the bed. It will be easier for elderly people to move in and out of bed at any point in time.

white haired man sitting in wheelchair by bed

Get rid of slippery floors

You should get rid of slippery floors because you may sometimes slip while walking. Even at night when they will feel thirsty and they need to go to the kitchen, but if the floor will be slippery then they will fall and might hurt themselves.

Or else, even if you are in a hurry and moving around the house you may fall due to the floor being slippery. So, such floor tiles should be avoided.

Edgy tables should not be on your priority list

While sitting in or getting up from the chair, elderly people may hurt themselves. When older people get hurt they can feel the pain at a much bigger magnitude as compared to the younger people.

As a result of which, edgy tables should be replaced with the round ones.

The rooms should not be filled with extra furniture

All the extra furniture from the room should be removed so that it will be easy for elderly people to move around the house with no troubles. Only the necessary furniture should be placed in the room.

These were the factors that need to be taken into consideration. By rearranging the furniture and other things at your place, the ultimate goal is to create a safe and cozy environment for your loved ones. You should understand that they are at an age when they need care and love. Another thing that we need to keep in mind is that just like the way they used to look after and care for us, they deserve the same care to be reciprocated.

Tidy Up: How to Organize Your Laundry Room

All of us like wearing clean clothes but the task of getting your clothes clean and neatly ironed is a task in itself! Laundry is the one chore that by far is not liked by most of us but is an essential part of our “to-do list.” The initial thought of even making space for a washing machine is something that makes us regret this weekly – or biweekly? — chore. You just need to devote some time initially to set up your laundry room and make this chore simpler and something that you look forward to and not procrastinate on.

Make Space

The first thing that you should do is designate a space for your washing machine. This space can be in the form of a laundry room in your house, or an unused, small corner that can be made into a makeshift laundry corner. You can also look at converting an empty closet into a laundry space just by making some fittings and adjustments. It does seem like a daunting task but it’s not a very complex task to make space for a washing machine and the utilities which are required when we clean our clothes.

Space-Saving Accessories

In case of a small laundry space, you could look at buying some extra hangars and compact trolleys. These compact trolleys can be the type with wheels as they are easier to move around. Also, these trolleys come with partitions, which can be used for color, whites and another category of clothes. You could label these trolleys and all the family members can put their clothes in the respective compartment for cleaning. You could look at putting up some lightweight extension rods, on which you could hang some hangars. These hangars can be used for hanging your delicate clothes as soon as they come out from the machine, keeping them wrinkle-free which also helps further in ironing them out cleanly.

woman draped in towel loading washing machine

Organize Your Laundry Space

Once you decide on how much space you can spare for your laundry, sit down and write down all the things that require washing and cleaning periodically. You can look at keeping all the cleaning and utility supplies in one place, which you quickly pick up to start doing your laundry. You could keep your washing detergent for shoes, a small sewing kit, some fabric softener, stain removal liquids, lint roller, etc. All the supplies or things which are related to your laundry work can be neatly stacked together. You could fill a glass jar with the detergent; makes it easier for you to know when a refill is required. Pick up some ready-made labels and label all the cleaning supplies and the various bottles and boxes.

Space Saving Fittings

It is not a very difficult job to drill some holes and put up a couple of makeshift shelves, hooks and rods in your laundry space. These fittings would only help in organizing your laundry space further. You could park your ironing table in a small space between the washing machine and the wall or even hang it with the support of some hooks over a laundry wall. The shelves can be used to keep your labeled supplies, and the hooks can be used to hang your cloth cleaning brushes, ironing table etc. You could buy some eco-friendly lightboxes to keep your small towels and put up a shelf for the bigger towels. You could fix wall-mounted racks, which can be used to dry your delicate innerwear. Also, pick up a laundry bag, match it off with the laundry room décor and put it in a corner for the kids to put in their play clothes and extra-dirty laundry.

Beautify Your Laundry Room

It is never advised to put anything on top of a washing machine, so ensure that you make an enclosure around it.. This enclosure can be a wooden one, which can be used as a platform to fold your clothes while the laundry is being done. You could also think of putting a laundry guard around the machine so that the clothes do not keep falling off behind the machine. Pick up some light movable laundry basket containers, which can be used to segregate the clothes before they are put up for drying. Look at buying some matching boxes and accessories which would make this corner look pretty and organized. Replace all your huge plastic and cardboard boxes with transparent glass jars for your laundry supplies.

Cozy Corner

In case you are doing laundry once a week, it could take up a long time sorting clothes from colors from the white ones. Then, washing your clothes separately and drying them takes up some time. How can you put this time to effective use? Install some makeshift shelves where you could stack some books of your choice, throw in a bean bag and make yourself comfortable and read until your laundry is done. As an alternative, you could put up some speakers in the laundry room, plug them – or pair with Bluetooth — your phone and play some music of your choice. Adding these small perks could make you enjoy this household chore and also give you some personal time to relax.

Make Some Charts

Laundry is very simple and can be taught to your children too. To teach them, you would just require making some charts and pinning them up on a soft board. These charts can explain the time and speed settings of your washing machine. You could also specify the quantity of detergent required when putting on the machine. These charts can be quick and easy to read laundry instructions which can be followed by your adolescent children. This way they would be helping you out with the household chores and you can use that time for something more important. You can also make a stain chart with their respective remedies for your reference so that you know what to use in case you come across a stain on your clothes. Stains can be of ink, grease, tea, coffee, oil etc. You could also put up some small instructions on how to clean lint, delicate clothes, etc.

In today’s world, there are enough user-friendly options for buying space savings laundry accessories. You could shop online and get enough accessories for your laundry room to make it spacious and at the same time a proper storage room. Laundry is not a chore that you should be scared of anymore or procrastinate doing. You can plan and make this chore a relaxing time for yourself.

Foot on the Pedal: Tips for Moving and Storing Your Treadmill or Stationary Bike

Exercise is a vital part of your life if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle. Gone are the days when people would be rarely diagnosed with heart disease and diabetes. Fast food is marketed towards the baby boomers, Gen X and millennial consumers at a rapid clip. The importance of daily exercise can’t be overstated – and we all know that it’s about consistency.

The motivation to reduce the risk for developing diseases should be an organic desire and a way to ensure your bones and muscles function and don’t fail as you age. You can simply go for a walk in the morning and instantly decrease your chances of suffering from diabetes. Likewise, you can stretch and practice yoga.

Another option is to buy sports equipment, and exercise whenever you want. Exercising on a regular basis is the key to strengthening your heart muscle and keeping your blood pressure where it needs to be. You will feel rejuvenated if you exercise for even 15 to 20 minutes every morning. You might not be able to wake up early in the morning and do brisk walking. It’s okay if you’re not an early riser.

For the people who don’t want to wake early in the morning, but want to get the benefit of exercising, purchasing fitness equipment is the preferred route. However, this equipment can be bulky and a hassle to move from place to place, especially if you’re moving residences. People generally find it difficult to move and store objects they don’t often use, so here are some tips that you can go along with while moving and storing your fitness equipment.

Treadmill

Every treadmill is different, whether in size, prize or weight. Some are easier to move, while others are a headache and half. Generally, treadmills are made to be more mobile than ever. We’ve comes up with some tips to keep in mind when moving your treadmill.

Tips on how to move a treadmill without hassle

Before you think about moving your treadmill, it is important to disassemble it. At this stage, the instruction manual is something you’ll want to dig up and keep handy. In case your treadmill can be folded, perform the following steps.
The treadmill should be unplugged and the safety key should be removed carefully.
Once you are done with unplugging the treadmill, you can fold the wire.
Fold the treadmill.
Be careful when transporting your treadmill down a flight of stairs. Ensure that you are not hurting yourself, bend your knees appropriately and don’t overburden your back.
Rent a truck to simplify the move.
Make sure that you cover the treadmills with blankets, because while moving the truck may toss your treadmill against the side, and cause damage. Make sure it’s adequately wrapped.
Re-assembling the treadmill should be seamless if you follow the manual carefully. Pro tip: If you can’t find the manual, try searching for it in Google by inputting the make and model number.

If you don’t have a treadmill that can be folded, follow these instructions:

Similar to the foldable treadmill, unplug it and fold the cord.
If the treadmill can be folded, ask for assistance from a helper so that you will be able to hold one end and s/he hold the other.
Keep your foot on the wheels of the treadmill and ask your helper to do the same on the side where s/he is standing.
By doing this, you will be able to balance the treadmill and once you have balanced it, you can now remove your foot from the wheels instructing your assistant to do the same.
You can now easily lift the treadmill and keep it in the truck that will help you to transport it to your new residence.
Don’t forget to cover your treadmill with blankets so that it doesn’t get damaged.
Once at your new residence, you can unload it and assemble at a place where you want it to be.

Expert tips on how to store your treadmill

Surely there are people who will never think they have enough space to keep sports equipment, and these folks prefer to avoid setting up their home gym.. One will always find it difficult to get a things done, but if you are clear in your head that you want it, then nothing can realistically prevent you from getting your gym in order. Here are some tips to draw from whenever you think that you don’t have enough space to keep your fitness equipment.

A foldable treadmill is ideal as an option for smaller spaces because when you fold it, and it’s not in use, you can arrange the space as you see fit.
Keep the treadmill at a place where you can clean it every day so that dust doesn’t settle. Try to keep a mat under it and protect it with a treadmill cover.
Make sure your treadmill is secured at a leveled surface.

Indoor Cycling Bike

Most of us are busy as it is – we just don’t have the time to get to cycling whenever the motivation happens to strike. However, by cycling just for 25-30 minutes a day, you can protect yourself from diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, depression, and obesity. This is also why more people are reaping the benefits of indoor cycling bikes — they can get the feel of cycling from the comfort of home. This equipment is also much more compact than gym equipment and is’s easy to store.

Tips for Moving an Indoor Cycling Bike

Carefully unscrew the pedals of the cycling bike.
Keep the screws where you can easily find them you so that they don’t get misplaced.
Your cycling bike is compact it’s easy to transport, so you can simply rent a truck to move it around.
It’s a good idea to cover it with blankets so that the bike doesn’t get damaged during the move.
Now that you have your cycling bike at your new place, you can simply unload it from the truck, reassemble it and keep it in a designated storage area or even your living room or bedroom.

Now it’s ready for you to use for the morning or late night exercise routine.

Tips for Storing an Indoor Stationary Bike

The cycling bikes are very compact and generally don’t require much space. You can put it anywhere, whether it’s your bedroom or your living room.

If you have a long enough balcony or patio, you can always set up your cycling bike there and enjoy the outdoor workout.
Like most gadgets around the house, your cycling bike requires maintenance. Keep it in a place that you can clean every day. Another alternative is to buy a cover so that dust doesn’t accumulate.
It’s not a bad idea to keep that indoor cycling bike near your office – or in your office — so that you can get work an exercise routine into your day stay inspired to maintain an active lifestyle.

Invest in Some Shelving Units

Use the Right Containers

Keep Purses Off of the Floor

Keep Purses Upright

Fill the Purses with Stuffing

Choosing the Right Storage Unit

Clean Your Bags Before You Store Them

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Giving Shoes the Room They Need

Finding the Right Storage Unit

Containers for Your Shoes

Keep Your Shoes Off of the Ground

Cover Your Shoes

Organization is Key

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Monthly Rentals

Weekly Rentals

Annual Rentals

Taking Over Someone’s Lease

Seasonal Promotions

Canceling Your Storage Unit

Knowing How Long You Need

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Keep a Dedicated Gym Space

Using Vertical Space

Buy Gear that Fits Your Space

Keep Heavy Equipment Away from Wood

Use Baskets & Cover Gym Equipment with a Blanket

Storing Your Gym Equipment in a Storage Unit

Cover Your Gym Equipment

Store Small Items in Boxes or Plastic Tubs

Keep Things Off of the Ground

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Buying Dividers

Sectional Couches

A Clothes Rack

Using Plants to Divide Space

Curtains

Bookshelves

Install a Barn Door

Buy Some Folding Screens on Wheels

Take Advantage of Vertical Space

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How Technology Saves You Space

Keeping Things Tidy Improves Your Office

Choose the Right Furniture

Desks

Office Chairs

Use the Wall for Storage

Buy Some Noise-Cancelling Headphones

How to Create Space at Home for an Office?

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Use Vertical Storage as Much as Possible

Door Hanger Shoe Racks

Install Wall Shelves

Storage Bins in Closets

Hang More Clothes

Use Shelving Units

Hang Bikes & Other Equipment

Get Creative with Space

Under the Beds

Furniture with Storage

Hooks & Pegs

Above Doorways

How to Use Self-Storage Units to Free Up Space?

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Deciding You Have Too Much

You Feel Like You Can’t Keep Things Clean

You Hate Your Living Space

You Can’t Find What You Need

Other People Make Comments

Feeling Embarrassed to Host Guests

You Park Your Cars Outside