Tips For Keeping Your Storage Space Organized

If there’s one big challenge involved with keeping a storage space, it’s organization. That’s because, as soon as you’ve got an out-of-sight place for storing goods, it’s all too easy to stash items anywhere and everywhere in that space. The problem? When your storage space isn’t organized, you can’t find items quickly. It doesn’t matter if it’s a storage unit or a basement closet, you can easily forget what you have. Without good organization, you’re not maximizing your investment.

With that in mind, to help you keep your storage space organized and efficient, here are some tips to remember:

1. Start from scratch. The ideal time to organize is at the beginning, when you have a blank slate. Are you getting a new storage space now? Perfect. This is a great time to get organized. At the same time, though, you can always give your storage space a refresh. Have you had your storage space for some time and want to start from scratch? Here’s what to do: Clear an afternoon to remove everything from the space. Alternatively, if clearing the whole space is overwhelming, tackle one half. Once you have an empty space or section before you, you’re ready to begin.
2. Sort what you’re storing. Whether you’re using a storage space for one type of item (outdoor equipment, clothing, possessions your kids outgrew) or an assortment of items (the contents of your home, a catchall for odds and ends) the first organization step is sorting. Put like items together. As you’re grouping related possessions, you can also start “give away” and “trash” piles for goods that need to go.
3. Map it out. After you’ve determined what types of items and groupings you’re storing, it’s time to make a game plan. Look at the amount of storage space available and decide how you want to keep your possessions in it. Will you add shelving to make use of higher space? Could bins or boxes better contain your goods? Get inspired at home improvement stores and determine what cabinets, pegboards, bins, racks, hooks, shelves, etc. will make better use of your space. Keep in mind that anything that needs to be accessed frequently should be reachable and convenient; anything else can be organized as you like.
4. Label, label, label. Whether you’re using boxes, bins, baskets or racks, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration by labeling everything you store. Weeks, months or years from now when you are looking for that one item, you’ll love being able to scan labels and know where it is.
5. Track it all somewhere. Because labeling every bin or box with each tiny item contained inside can be cumbersome, create a master list of what’s in your storage area instead. On this list, write down everything inside your boxes, from large to small items. Whether you make this list on paper or digitally is up to you.

The only thing better than extra space for storing out-of-season or out-of-use goods is extra space that’s usable, well-organized and efficient. To make the most of your public storage unit or home attic, basement or shed, put the five tips above into practice!