One of the most common uses of self-storage units is the short or long-term storage of furniture. This could be because you are downsizing your home, in between homes, or perhaps you have inherited some furniture and are unsure what to do with it.
For whatever reason, if you are storing furniture, then you want to be certain that when it comes to retrieving it from storage, it is in as good a condition as when it was stored.
To help you successfully store your furniture, we have compiled some useful tips learned from our years in the storage game, all aimed at ensuring your furniture will remain in perfect condition when stored.
Tips for Furniture Storage
Furniture is expensive, often has sentimental value, and can be irreplaceable. A little care and attention before you place furnishings in storage can be the difference between years of further use and a trip straight to the landfill site.
1. Ensure the storage space is adequate for your needs
When looking for storage space for furnishings, several criteria need to be considered. Amongst them are:
- Size – The right size of space is critical. If too small, furnishings will end up stacked too high, which is dangerous and can cause damage, or furniture can also be damaged when squeezed into too small a space. Too large isn’t ideal either – if you are paying rent, then this is usually charged by area, and to fully protect your furniture, you may also need to pay for heating and, of course, larger areas relate to larger heating bills.
- Security – It may be tempting to use a large garden shed or garage for storage needs. This may save costs in the short term, but they do make a soft target for thieves.
- Environment – Damp and grimy storage will mean retrieving damp and grimy furniture no matter how much care you take. Ideally, you want to store furniture in a clean and dry environment with a stable temperature.
2. Thoroughly clean your furniture
The cleanliness of your furniture is essential for successful storage. It might not seem that big a deal to leave a little dust, staining, or the odd crumb tucked away in sofa crevices, but it is.
Dirty furniture can quickly succumb to mould, mildew, odours, and even pest infestations, and this can happen even in optimum storage conditions. A little care and attention in making sure that all furniture is wiped down, vacuumed, and polished as required, will help to keep your furniture in perfect condition.
3. Disassemble where possible
Disassembling furniture before storage is always a great idea. Much modern furniture is of the “flat-pack” variety, making it easy to take apart before storage.
Disassembling makes the furniture easier to transport and also takes up far less valuable storage space. Furnishings that transport and store easily are far less prone to being on the receiving ends of bangs and knocks that can scratch or otherwise damage expensive belongings.
One caveat is to make sure that all fittings like screws and nuts & bolts, etc., are also stored correctly. Simply pop them in a strong plastic food bag and tape them to the appropriate furniture.
4. Protect your larger furniture with dust sheets
Dust covers for storage are essential. This protects them from dust, the elements and also from scratches caused when shifting or retrieving furnishings.
While in some instances, plastic sheeting is suitable for delicate, antique, and most wooden furnishings, breathable dust covers are the best option. These can be lightly tied around the base of the furniture to secure the sheets in place.
5. Protect small and fragile items
Plenty of good quality bubble wrap (or an ecologically friendly paper alternative) is the order of the day here!
Make sure valuable and fragile items are well wrapped in plenty of protective layers to protect them in storage. If using boxes (more about boxes next), make sure there isn’t enough room left to allow them to move around. However, don’t squeeze them in too tight either!
6. Don’t skimp on packaging materials
It is easy just to cram stuff into any old box and secure it with the Sellotape last used for the Christmas presents. While this might seem like a cost-cutting exercise, it can lead to disaster.
Cheap and flimsy boxes and tape that refuses to stick at the first hint of dust should be avoided at all costs.
7. Organise your storage space properly
Just arriving on the day and haphazardly placing your furniture into your storage space is not the best way to maximise your space. Try to plan ahead, arrange for heavier items to be moved in first and distributed so as not to hamper you as you store the rest of your furnishings.
If stacking furniture or boxes, make sure that the heavier items are at the bottom and, of course, that the boxes can withstand being stacked. Also, fully utilise storage space like underneath furnishings, wardrobes, and drawers, which can all be used to store smaller items.
Proper labelling is also essential. Make sure that each box is labelled to clearly display a list of the contents or at the very least the type of content, i.e. glasses, kitchen utensils, etc.
Finally, always place more important items that you may need in easily accessible places.
…And Relax
Knowing that your valuables are safely and correctly stored gives you the peace of mind that your valuable belongings will be in tip-top condition when the time comes to retrieve them.
At U Store It, our facilities tick all the right boxes when it comes to the safe and secure storage of furniture. We even have climate-controlled units for highly delicate items.
If you need to store furniture for any length of time, we can help. Why not contact us today and find out we can help protect your valuable furnishings.
