Put the big furniture and the things you’ll need least at the back, keep the things you’ll want first near the door, and leave a narrow walkway so you can reach everything without unpacking the lot. Stack upwards on solid pieces, label every box on the side, and keep a simple list at home. A unit set out like this is easy to find things in, whether you visit once a year or every week.
A layout that works
- Back wall: large furniture, such as wardrobes, sofas on their end where it’s safe, and bed frames taken apart.
- Sides: stacks of sturdy boxes, heaviest at the bottom, and freestanding shelving for smaller things.
- Down the middle: a walkway, even a narrow one, so you can reach the back.
- By the door: anything you might need soon, such as seasonal clothes, paperwork or tools.
Lift everything off the floor on a pallet, boards or a layer of strong boxes, and leave a small gap at the walls so air can move.
Make things easy to find
- Label each box on at least two sides with what’s inside and which room it came from, so you can read it without moving the stack.
- Number the boxes, and keep a list at home or on your phone of what’s in each.
- Keep boxes of a similar size together so they stack straight.
- Take a quick photo of the unit when you’ve finished packing.
Shelving
Freestanding shelving, racking or a tool chest is a great way to use the height of your unit. Just choose units that stand safely on their own, as nothing can be fixed to the walls, floor or ceiling. Put heavy things on the lower shelves.
For business stock
If you’re running stock from your unit, set it up like a small stockroom: shelving in rows, your bestsellers nearest the door, new deliveries behind the older stock, and a folding table as a packing bench. You can pick and pack your own orders at the unit from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Keep it in good shape
Pack everything clean and completely dry, use breathable covers rather than sealed plastic for furniture, and look in now and then. If your needs change, you can move to a bigger or smaller unit when one is free.
Not sure how much space you’ll need to do all this? Call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
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