Before you move, you’ve probably done a lot of decluttering. Ironically, even though you’re moving less stuff, as soon as you’re in your new home, it feels like you’re living in a mess and once again are tripping over your stuff.
We hear you and understand, which is why we wrote this blog post. So, take a deep breath, read through these decluttering tips & ideas, and see if anything works for you!
Flatten Boxes
We love boxes! But they take up a lot of room, especially during the unpacking stage. They are holding your belongings inside them so when you take these items out of their prospective boxes, you’re now taking up twice the space all of the sudden. This can stop you from freely moving around a room, making unpacking seem like an endless annoying chore.
Post moving, empty one box at a time in the right room, flatten that box and move it into one area of your home or garage to temporarily store. As the flattened box pile starts to pile up, you can decide what to do with them - keep/store, donate to a friend, recycle, etc. By following this process, you can properly unpack without having to dodge or climb over boxes.
Organize First
Take the time to get your home organization infrastructure in place before you throw things into a closet. Think of this as a golden opportunity to assess your actual available space and what will go where. You can then buy the right hangers, hooks, shelves, etc., so that things are set up properly.
Yes, it’s more upfront work for you, but you will be grateful later on when you're feeling the benefits of an organized home!
Don’t Rush to Buy New Furniture
If you’re moving into a new home, the first thing you want to do is decorate it and make it feel like a 'home' and reflect your personality. But too often, people go to the store, make rushed choices and/or overbuy, and have regrets a few weeks or months later.
We suggest focusing first on moving your current belongings into your new home and living in the space for a bit to see what you really need or want. This will be easier on your wallet and your mind.
Buy a Labeler
Labelers are inexpensive and they save you time. They are also commonly an organizer's secret hack. If you know what’s inside a container or drawer, or what’s supposed to be inside a container or drawer, you’re more likely to keep things organized and separate. You can also more easily and quickly find what you are looking for without having to tear through things.
Having one of these will also stop you from overbuying things because you’ll be able to look at what you already have and realize quickly that you have 20 bowls already and really don't need one more.
Start a Storage Area
Unless you are a true minimalist, you will have things that need to be stored because they are seasonal, keepsakes, special collections, or items you are saving for later or future use. Upon moving in, designate a place in your home or garage to be your storage area. This will be the space where you immediately move all boxes you have designated for storage, which will help instantly free up some room in your main rooms.
As you unpack your stuff and settle in, try and think about other specific things (especially seasonal items) that you will not be using soon and pack them up in a box (don’t forget to label it), and move it to your storage area. You may likely come across some items that may have ended up in the wrong box as you unpack, which gives you the opportunity to easily move it into the right box or bin and into your storage area.
Not everyone has room in their home or garage for a separate storage area or even a large enough space for all their storage needs, so they rent a self-storage unit.
Self-storage units are a simple solution to get more space affordably and instantly. They truly are perfect for seasonal items, especially Christmas décor which are not in use 9-10 months of the year but can take up a lot of room.
Just as it is important to keep your home storage area organized, it’s also true for your self- storage unit. A tip we give customers is to take a picture of their self storage unit from time to time. This is not just for insurance purposes, either. It helps you stay organized and also to remember where you put something, which can quickly put your mind at ease late at night as you’re searching for that specific item or box and cannot find it. We take pictures and save to our favourites so we can easily find them.
For safe, secure, and affordable self-storage, consider Storage Solutions!
You can virtually tour our different storage rental facilities online and check out firsthand the many different sizes of storage units we have for rent.
If you're ready to rent a storage unit, you can rent 24/7 online through our website. It only takes a few minutes!
If you have questions about self-storage, contact us! We have lots of tips, advice and knowledge on self-storage so make sure to like or follow us on Instagram & Facebook. In addition to making renting easy, we also make it fun!
Good luck in your new home and happy unpacking!
Your friend in self-storage,
Storage Solutions
