Hey there! If you’re reading this, you’re probably staring at a pile of stuff that needs to go into storage and wondering how the heck you’re going to make it all fit. I get it – I’ve been there myself more times than I can count. Let me share what I’ve learned from years of packing storage units (and making plenty of mistakes along the way).

1. First Things First: Take a Deep Breath

Before you start throwing boxes in willy-nilly, let’s talk strategy. The biggest mistake people make? Not having a plan. I remember helping my cousin move last summer – we just started tossing things in and ended up having to completely empty the unit two days later when we realized the Christmas decorations were buried behind the sofa.

Here’s what actually works:

1. Walk through your unit first – Get a feel for the space.
2. Make a mental map – Where will big items go?
3. Think about access – What will you need to get to most often?

2. The Right Stuff (No, Not That Movie)

You wouldn’t bake a cake without ingredients, right? Same goes for packing. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Boxes that don’t suck – Flimsy boxes collapse (learned that the hard way).
• Real packing tape – That cheap dollar store stuff? Forget about it.
• Bubble wrap/newspaper/old towels – For protecting your breakables.
• A good marker – Sharpies are your friend.
• Furniture blankets – Because scratched wood is the worst.

(Quick plug: At County Line Storage, we actually sell all this stuff at reasonable prices so you don’t have to hunt around town.)

3. The Art of Tetris (Storage Edition)

Now for the fun part – actually packing. Here’s how I do it:

• Big items first – That couch isn’t going to magically fit later. Put large furniture along the walls.
• Create aisles – Nothing worse than having to move 15 boxes to get to the one in back. Leave yourself some walking room.
• Heavy stuff low, light stuff high – Basic physics, but you’d be surprised how many people stack their encyclopedia collection on top of empty boxes.
• Use vertical space – Stack up to the ceiling (within reason), but make sure it’s stable. I once had a tower of boxes collapse at 2 AM – not fun.

Pro Tips From Someone Who’s Messed Up So You Don’t Have To

• Take pictures of how you’ve arranged everything. Future you will thank past you.
• Label everything – And I mean everything. “Misc kitchen” isn’t helpful when you’re looking for the blender.
• Leave air space around items that might be affected by humidity.
• Put frequently used items near the front. That holiday decor you only need once a year? Toss it in back.
• Cover everything – Dust finds its way into everything. Old sheets work great.

What Not to Do? (From Personal Experience)

• Don’t just throw loose items in – it becomes a nightmare to find anything.
• Don’t pack the unit completely full – you’ll always need to get something from the back.
• Don’t forget to check our hours at County Line Storage before you plan your packing day.
• Don’t stack heavy boxes where they might fall and crush something.
• Don’t leave food items – unless you want to meet some interesting new insect friends.

Final Thoughts

Look, packing a storage unit isn’t rocket science, but a little planning goes a long way. The key is to think ahead about how you’ll need to access your stuff later. I’ve packed units in a hurry and done it the right way – trust me, taking the extra time up front saves hours of frustration later.

Remember, we’re always here at County Line Storage if you need advice or supplies. Now go forth and pack like the organized champion you are! And if you do end up creating a storage disaster? Well, that’s what reorganization days are for – we’ve all been there.