You have one or several pieces of furniture you absolutely adore, but there’s a problem. The pieces just don’t fit in your current home. Perhaps you’re downsizing to a smaller place but aren’t ready to part with cherished pieces. Maybe you have inherited beautiful furniture from relatives but don’t have space for it, or you’re redecorating and want to preserve quality pieces that don’t match your new aesthetic but could be perfect in a future home.
Whatever your reason, you don’t have to sell or donate furniture that holds sentimental value or might be useful down the road. A self-storage unit is the perfect solution, offering a clean, secure environment to store your furniture for as long as you need.
The key to preserving your valuable furniture is knowing how to store furniture in a storage unit. With the right preparation and storage tips, you can maintain your furniture in excellent condition for years.
Why Choose a Storage Unit for Long-Term Furniture Storage?
Before you learn how to store furniture, you’ll need to decide where to store it first.
You might be tempted to store extra furniture at home. But do you really want to clutter your garage or basement with that giant sectional, queen-sized bedroom set, or your grandmother’s dining room table? Home storage is best for items you use regularly and can be stored compactly to optimize your limited space. Plus, taking up your garage or basement with furniture storage means you might have to park your car in the driveway, or you’ll be giving up that man cave, craft room, or kid’s play area in the basement. Choose furniture self-storage instead.
Storage units come in many sizes that can hold anything from a few select pieces to an entire household’s worth of furniture. They offer a controlled environment that can protect your furniture from moisture, extreme temperatures, and pest infestations. You can also enjoy features like wide doorways, drive-up access, and free courtesy carts that make it a cinch to move your furniture into storage.
Plus, many storage facilities offer security measures like gated access, surveillance cameras, and well-lit areas to help keep your pieces safe.
How to Prepare Your Furniture for Storage
If you plan to use your furniture in the future or want to hand it down to the next generation, take the time to prepare it properly for long-term storage. Here’s what you need to know about how to store furniture properly.
- Clean your furniture: Start by removing all dirt, dust, and stains from your furniture. For wood pieces, use furniture polish designed for wood. For upholstery, vacuum thoroughly and treat any stains with quality stain remover.
- Disassemble when possible: Take your furniture apart if you can for easier moving and storage. Remove the legs from tables and sofas. Take bed frames apart and remove cushions from chairs.
- Add protective coatings: Treat leather with a leather conditioner to prevent cracking. For wooden furniture, apply a protective wax or oil to help prevent moisture damage.
- Wrap your furniture: Cover upholstered items with breathable cotton sheets or specialized furniture covers. Use moving blankets or bubble wrap for your wooden pieces to prevent chips and scratches.
How to Store Furniture in a Storage Unit
Now that your furniture pieces are prepared and ready to head out, take a moment to plan how to store your furniture in storage. A good plan will help you optimize the space in your storage unit, keep your furniture safe, and make it easy for you to find your pieces when the time comes to use them.
- Make a map: Determine where the larger pieces will go in the unit before storing anything. This will make the moving process go a lot more smoothly. It’s usually a good idea to put heavier items at the back.
- Use pallets or blocks: Keep furniture off the floor of your unit with the help of wooden pallets or blocks. This can help protect your furniture from potential moisture damage.
- Store mattresses flat: As tempting as it might be, don’t store your mattresses on their sides. This may damage their internal components.
- Use your vertical space: Use as much of your storage unit as possible, including the vertical space, by stacking chairs seat to seat and storing tables with tops vertically when possible.
- Create pathways: Give yourself a way to access all your furniture by creating pathways between pieces. This will also promote air circulation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Furniture
If you’re willing to invest in furniture self storage, don’t put your furniture at risk by making common storage mistakes. These mistakes can damage your pieces or cause them to age and break down sooner than necessary.
- Plastic covers: Don’t use plastic covers to protect your furniture. They can trap moisture, which can lead to mold or mildew. Always use breathable fabric covers instead.
- Poor stacking: Try not to stack heavy furniture on other pieces. While this might save you a little space, it can damage or warp the bottom piece of furniture.
- Dirty furniture: Don’t skip cleaning your furniture. Storing dirty furniture can lead to stains setting permanently. Stains, crumbs, and other debris can also attract pests.
- Storing against walls: Try to avoid leaning or placing furniture against walls. This can expose your furniture to temperature fluctuations and potential moisture.
- Poor disassembly: When disassembling your furniture, make sure to pack all the hardware together, label it, and attach it to the piece. Do your best to keep all pieces of the same item together. Nothing would be worse than taking a furniture piece out of storage and then being unable to put it back together again.
- No climate control: For valuable or antique pieces, choose a climate-controlled unit to keep the temperature and humidity levels stable and help preserve the furniture.
Keep Your Favorite Pieces for the Future with Furniture Self Storage
Now that you know how to store furniture in a storage unit, you can maximize your storage investment. By preparing your furniture, storing it properly, and avoiding common storage mistakes, you’ll ensure that your furniture stays in excellent condition for the long term. Maybe you plan on using your furniture in your next home, or you imagine your children or grandchildren using it in their home. Whatever your reasons, self storage is one of the best ways to preserve your furniture in the future.
Not sure where to invest in furniture self storage? Try Price Self Storage®. We offer a great selection of storage unit sizes, so you can store a single piece of furniture, a full room, or your entire household. Many of our locations offer units with drive-up access, which can come in handy when unloading large, heavy pieces. We also provide climate-controlled units for your most valuable pieces at select locations.
Ready to live uncluttered while keeping the furniture you love? Find your nearest Price Self Storage location today.
