How to Store Furniture in a Storage Unit the Right Way

Whether you’re trying to free up space at home, keep things safe during a move, or simply preserve furniture you’re not using right now, storing it properly makes all the difference. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to prep, protect, and store your furniture so it stays in great shape.

Choosing the Right Storage Unit Size

Before you start wrapping and packing, your first big win is choosing a storage unit that actually fits what you’re storing – without paying for space you don’t need. When you match the right unit size to your furniture, you avoid cramped conditions, accidental scratches, and the dreaded “why won’t this sofa fit?” moment.

Here’s a quick breakdown of some popular storage unit sizes to help you visualize your options:

• 5×5 (Small Walk-in Closet): Perfect for a small dresser, a couple of chairs, and a stack of boxes. Choose this if you’re storing only a few pieces.
• 5×10 (Studio Apartment’s Worth): Great for a queen-size bed, sofa, dresser, and boxes. Keep in mind that a queen mattress fits, but a king mattress will have to be stood up vertically, due to the difference in length.
• 10×10 (One-Bedroom Apartment Contents): Big enough for major appliances, dining sets, and several larger pieces.
• 10×20 (Multi-Bedroom Home Contents): Ideal for large sectionals, multiple bedroom sets, and everything else from a larger home.

If you want a clearer picture, this storage calculator gives you a good indication of what fits. As a rule of thumb, go for a unit that’s a little bigger than you think you need. This gives you more room to move things around, and makes loading, unloading, and accessing your belongings actually easy.

Preparing Furniture for Storage

A little prep now saves a lot of frustration later. Follow these steps to make sure your furniture goes into storage in the best condition and comes out looking the same.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Set yourself up for success by having the following handy:

• Moving blankets or furniture pads: Essential for protecting furniture surfaces from dings, scratches, and scuffs during moving and while in storage.
• Plastic stretch wrap: Great for items like dressers or tables, or as an outer layer over moving blankets. It helps hold padding in place and protects finishings on furniture surfaces against dirt or damage.
• Bubble wrap: A must-have for anything delicate like mirrors, glass tabletops, or fragile decor items, providing cushioning against jarring or chipping.
• Mattress & sofa covers: These plastic covers protect against dust, moisture, and dirt during transportation and in storage. If you’re planning to store your items over the long-term, look for breathable options that allow air circulation to prevent potential mildew.
• Dust covers/clean bedsheets: Another layer of protection you can use to cover items and keep them clean.
• Packing tape: Strong packing tape is needed to secure moving blankets, plastic wrap, and seal boxes well.
• Small plastic bags: Crucial for keeping bolts, screws, and other small hardware organized so they don’t get lost when you take furniture apart.
• Marker: For clear labeling of boxes and hardware bags, making it easier for you to find things and put furniture back together later.

All of these packing supplies protect your items’ surfaces, prevent scratches, and help keep everything organized until it’s time to take your furniture out of storage and set it back up again.

Step 2: Clean Your Furniture

Storing furniture that hasn’t been cleaned can trap odours, attract pests, and turn existing small stains into permanent ones. Given these risks, it makes sense to take a few extra minutes to wipe down or vacuum your furnishings, depending on their materials, before they go into storage.

• Wood & plastic: Wipe down with a mild cleaner and dry completely. For wood, a layer of polish adds extra protection.
• Leather: Use a proper leather cleaner plus conditioner. Allow the material to fully dry.
• Fabric/Upholstery: Vacuum thoroughly to remove food crumbs and dust. Treat stains with an appropriate upholstery cleaner, but be sure your pieces are 100% dry, since moisture is your enemy.

Step 3: Disassemble Furniture Whenever You Can

You’ll be able to save space and better protect your furniture simply by breaking things down:

• Remove table, desk, and couch legs.
• Take apart bed frames, headboards, and footboards.
• Put all screws, bolts, and accessory hardware like hex keys into a labeled bag and tape it directly to the matching furniture piece.

Step 4: Properly Wrap Your Furniture

This is where you use plastic wrap to create a protective barrier against dust, moisture, and scratches.

• Couches: Start with a layer of moving blankets or old sheets, then add a breathable sofa cover or plastic sheeting as an outer layer. This way, the plastic doesn’t trap moisture directly against the upholstery, which can lead to condensation and mildew.
• Chairs: Dining chairs can often be wrapped in pairs, whereas armchairs should get their own individual wrap for full protection.
• Mattresses: Only use proper mattress bags or breathable storage covers.

Step 5: Extra Tips That Make a Big Difference

• Use pallets: Lift your furniture off the ground with wooden pallets to avoid any potential moisture from the floor.
• Repurpose household items: Old sheets and towels work great as padding and dust covers for extra protection.
• Label everything: The more, the better.
• Take photos: A quick snapshot helps you remember which items you’ve placed in storage.

Special Care for Different Furniture Types

Some pieces of furniture require a little more care and protection in storage than others. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Beds and Mattresses

• Disassemble your bed frames fully. Wrap headboards/footboards with moving blankets to protect their surfaces.
• Mattresses should go in mattress bags.
• Store both mattresses and box springs flat if possible, to help protect their shape. If you stand them sideways to save room, make sure they’re resting on a long, sturdy edge to prevent bending or sagging over time.
• A 5×10 unit is the best size for a queen mattress set. To store a king mattress, you can stand it up vertically, but it will take up most of the space.

Couches and Sofas

• Store sofas on their feet if you have room.
• Vertical storage placement works too – just pad the arm that rests on the floor.
• For leather couches, condition the material before storing to prevent dryness cracks, and avoid putting anything directly on the leather surface to prevent marks.
• If you’re planning for long-term storage, use climate control for leather or high-end pieces as a safeguard against mold, mildew, or other deterioration.

Outdoor Furniture

• Patio set: Clean everything thoroughly to get rid of dirt, grime, or any organic residue. Make sure it’s all completely dry before storing.
• Cushions: Wash and fully dry cushions before storing them in breathable bags or sealed plastic bins.
• Lawn furniture: Stack plastic chairs to save space, and treat any rust spots on metal furniture before storing.

Appliances

• Refrigerator: Defrost, clean, and dry it completely to prevent mold and remove any lingering food smell. Leave the door slightly open to let air circulate and prevent musty odours from developing inside.
• Washer/dryer: Make sure all hoses are drained and the insides are dry. If your washer has transit bolts, use them to secure the drum.

Arranging Your Storage Unit Like A Pro

How you load your items into your storage unit is just as important as how well you’ve prepared and packed things in the first place. A well-organized unit gets you most use out of the available space, while providing better protection for your goods and ease of movement around them. Let’s look at how you can achieve this:

Step 1: Maximize Your Storage Space

• Put heavy or sturdy furniture and appliances at the back of the unit and along the walls. These pieces create a solid, stable base to stack other items.
• Place large, flat items vertically against the walls to really save space and use the unit’s height effectively. Unless you have enough room to store them flat, this measure can also apply to mattresses and sofas.
• Disassemble bulky furniture whenever possible to save room

Step 2: Protect Your Items

• Place your lighter and more delicate things on top, not under heavy items.
• Use extra padding like blankets or bubble wrap between your stacked items to prevent rubbing or pressure damage.
• Definitely avoid putting heavy boxes on soft surfaces like sofas, as this can permanently damage the upholstery.
• Mirrors and glass picture frames should always be stored on their edges, never flat, to prevent cracking.

Step 3: Keep Your Storage Unit Accessible

• Leave a small walkway down the center of your unit so you can reach things easily.
• Label your boxes clearly on multiple sides.
• Draw a simple layout map of your unit’s contents – you’ll be surprised how useful this is later, especially if you’re renting a large storage space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to storing furniture in a self-storage unit.

 

Store Your Furniture the Right Way – Starting Today!

Storing your furniture properly comes down to appropriate preparation, protection, and smart organization. When you take the time to better prepare your furniture for storage, you’re preserving the value of your pieces and extending their lifespan, so every step you take now pays off later.