Storage rooms often become the catch-all for things that don’t have a specific place elsewhere in the home. As we consume more and more and strive to stay up-to-date with the newest fashion trends and gadgets, over time, this can lead to overwhelming clutter and an oh-so-frustrating lack of space.
If finding what you need has become a time-consuming chore or you just want to prevent that from happening in your new home, roll up your sleeves and read on. With a dash of planning and our storage room organization tips, you can turn even the most chaotic corner into a tidy and efficient space for storing your belongings.
Here’s to easier access to items, increased storage capacity and a safer, more functional space!
Assess and Plan
Whether it’s for a business or in your personal life, planning always helps. It provides direction, establishes priorities and ensures efficient use of resources. Having a solid plan in place can even improve morale and motivation, so this should be your first step when organizing a storage room — don’t overlook it.
1. Evaluate your space
Assess the current state of your storage room and identify key problem areas. Look for spots where items are crammed together or stacked unsafely. Also consider whether the storage room is well-lit and properly ventilated.
2. Set goals
Define what you want to achieve and draft a step-by-step guide to help you get there. Maybe you want more space to store additional items, easier access to frequently used tools or simply better organization to help you and the rest of the family find everything easier.
3. Draft a layout
Based on the goals you’ve just identified, go ahead and create a simple plan or sketch of the desired layout. Drawing it out helps you see any constraints for placing shelves or bulky items, so that you can maximize your storage space, ensure easy access and allow airflow.
Decluttering Strategies
With a plan in place, you can move on to tidying up and, more importantly, decluttering. This is when you have to make thoughtful decisions on what stays and what goes.
4. Sort and categorize
The easiest approach to sorting is to divide items into five categories: keep, donate, sell, recycle and discard:
- KEEP what you use regularly or is of significant sentimental value.
- DONATE common items that are in good condition but no longer serve you, especially if they can have a significant positive impact, such as winter coats donated to a shelter or books to a local library.
- SELL valuable items you no longer need, like vintage clothing or collectibles.
- RECYCLE items that aren’t suitable for donating or selling but can be broken down into raw materials.
- DISCARD hazardous materials responsibly, along with everything that is broken or damaged beyond repair. Don’t forget about old batteries, dried-out paint or expired cleaning supplies.
5. Use the “One-year rule”
If you haven’t used an item in the past year, it’s a strong indicator that you don’t need it. This decluttering rule is particularly effective for clothing, gadgets and kitchen tools. Not ready to part with them yet? Consider renting a small storage unit as an extension to home storage.
6. Start with easy wins
Begin with areas or items that are easiest to declutter to build momentum and motivate you to tackle more challenging areas.
For instance, you can start with seasonal decorations, since they are often stored together, or you can identify empty boxes from electronics or appliances where the return period has passed. Then, you can work your way up to archived documents that need sifting through and boxes that have become catch-alls for random items.
Storage Solutions
Once you’ve decluttered your storage room, the next step is to implement effective storage solutions.
7. Choose adjustable shelving units
As your storage needs change, you can easily adjust the height of the shelves to accommodate different items, from small boxes to large bins. This flexibility is pure gold, especially if you have a small room with no other storage space available.
8. Consider wall-mounted racks and overhead storage
Make use of vertical space by installing wall-mounted racks for bicycles, ladders or garden tools. And if your storage room has high ceilings, install ceiling-mounted racks or loft-style shelving for items you don’t need frequent access to, such as seasonal decorations or camping gear.
9. Choose the right boxes, bins and containers
Sturdy plastic bins are ideal for storing seasonal items such as holiday decorations or summer beach gear, while delicate items are better off in breathable fabric boxes. Got important documents or photographs to store? Put them in acid-free boxes.
Organizing Techniques
Shelving, racks and bins aside, how can you organize everything in a way that maximizes space and makes it easy to find what you need?
10. Use labeling for easy access
If your bins are clear, you can see what’s inside without having to open them. However, some items are better stored in cardboard boxes or opaque bins that prevent light damage. The solution is to label all the containers clearly and on several sides, maybe even color-coding based on categories or frequency of use.
11. Zone the room
When you designate specific areas of the storage room for different types of items, you make sure that everything has a place and that similar items are grouped together. Circle back to the room layout you created in the planning phase and see how to best fill it in one zone at a time.
12. Create a digital inventory
To better manage your storage room long-term, especially if it’s a large space with many items, go ahead and take pictures of all labeled bins and boxes, keeping a list of what’s stored in each one. It can be a spreadsheet that you share with all other household members or you can create it in a home inventory app on your phone.
Maximize Space
Making the most of your storage room means using every inch of available space wisely, but how?
13. Utilize vertical space wisely
By thinking vertically, with stacking bins and tall shelving units, you can free up significant floor space. Choose sturdy, stackable bins that can be securely placed on top of each other, and make sure your adjustable shelving units go all the way up to the ceiling.
14. Use doors and walls for efficient storage
Doors and walls offer prime real estate for storage that often goes unused.
- Hang over-the-door shoe organizers to store small items like cleaning supplies, tools or craft materials.
- Install pegboards or hooks on the walls for tools, garden equipment or other frequently used items.
15. Incorporate multifunctional furniture
Furniture that doubles as storage is an efficient way to maximize space in a storage room, especially if you also use the room for crafting and DIY projects. For instance, you can add a folding table and a bench with built-in storage underneath. Work and store, checked!
Maintenance Tips
Organizing your storage room is a great accomplishment, but make no mistake, keeping it tidy requires ongoing effort. Not as much as it did when you started this whole thing, but not a negligible amount either.
16. Schedule regular upkeep
To prevent your storage room from becoming cluttered again, set aside time every few months to go through it. Seasonal reviews make sure everything is still needed and properly stored.
To keep the space tidy without much effort, return items to their proper places after you use them. Whether it’s a tool, a holiday decoration or some other seasonal item, returning it to its designated spot right away prevents clutter from building up.
18. Conduct routine cleaning
Cleanliness is important not only for maintaining the space, but also for keeping your stored items in good condition.
- Dust shelves and sweep the floor regularly.
- Check for signs of pests as part of your regular maintenance.
- Notice any mustiness and address it promptly with a dehumidifier or moisture absorbers and make sure to ventilate the storage room now and then. If instead of a room in your house, you are renting a self-storage unit, see if you can get a climate-controlled one.
Safety and Accessibility
A well-organized space is a good start, but make sure it is both functional and safe to use. Your safety is non-negotiable, so it should be a top priority when setting up your storage space.
19. Store heavy items on lower shelves or the floor
Keeping heavy items low prevents them from falling and causing injury. They are also easier to lift and move when needed.
20. Keep walkways clear
Even if it’s a storage room that you don’t need to access frequently, when you do access it, the last thing you want is to trip over loose items or cables. A very cluttered space can also lead to falls and injuries as you struggle to carve your path. Just map out walkways in your room layout and keep them clear.
21. Place frequently used items at eye level
To reduce the need to reach or bend excessively, it’s a good idea to store items you use most often — like hammers, screwdrivers or cleaning supplies — at eye level or in easily accessible spots.
22. Use step stools or small ladders
Need to reach for items stored on higher shelves? Avoid standing on unstable surfaces like chairs or boxes, as you can easily fall off those. Just keep a small ladder or a foldable step stool in the storage room.
23. Secure shelving units and other storage solutions
Anchor tall or heavy shelving units to the wall to prevent them from tipping over, especially if your storage space is in a heavily accessed part of the house, like the basement or the garage. Got smooth or slippery floors? Place non-slip mats or pads under shelving units or storage containers to keep them from sliding.
DIY and Budget-Friendly Ideas
With a little creativity and some DIY ingenuity, you can create a well-organized storage space without breaking the bank.
24. Create custom shelving
Build your own shelves using inexpensive materials like plywood or reclaimed wood. Making them yourself instead of buying ready-made shelves allows you to create the exact dimensions you need, making it easier to fit into tight spaces or around obstacles.
25. Repurpose furniture
Look around your home for old furniture that can be repurposed for storage. An old dresser, for example, can be converted into a tool chest or storage unit for craft supplies.
26. Use budget-friendly storage options from dollar stores
Dollar stores are treasure troves of affordable storage options. Look for plastic bins, baskets and drawer organizers that can help you sort and store items on a budget. These stores also often carry hooks, adhesive strips and other handy items that you can use to maximize space without drilling holes into walls — particularly useful for renters.
27. Upcycle and reuse
Before buying new storage containers, consider upcycling items you already have. Glass jars, shoe boxes and plastic food containers past their prime can all be repurposed for storing smaller items like screws, nails, craft supplies or office supplies.
The same goes for labels. Instead of buying expensive label makers, create your own labels using materials you already have. Craft labels from cardstock, old file folders or even recycled packaging.
