7 Common Storage Unit Mistakes

clayton • May 6, 2025
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So you’ve rented a storage unit. Congrats! You now own a glorified closet that comes with four walls, a rolling door, and the power to make or break your sanity. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned organizer, it helps to follow best practices recommended by industry leaders like the Self Storage Association , the national authority on all things storage.

1. Using Trash Bags Like You’re on a Speed Round of “Storage Wars”

The Oops: You’ve packed half your stuff into old grocery bags and stretched-out Hefty sacks.
The Fix: Boxes. Real boxes. Preferably the same size so you can stack them without engineering a leaning tower of mystery. Bonus points if you label them—unless you enjoy opening “kitchen stuff” to find your Halloween skeleton.

Man standing in a storage unit filled with moving boxes, an armchair, and a lamp.

2. Packing Boxes Like You’re Smuggling Bowling Balls

The Oops: One box weighs as much as a baby elephant, another is full of air and crushed dreams.
The Fix: Heavy stuff = small boxes. Light stuff = big boxes. Use packing paper to fill gaps unless you like watching your boxes collapse in slow motion like a Jenga tower.

3. Bringing All Your Junk “Just in Case”

The Oops: You’ve convinced yourself you might need that broken lamp from college someday.
The Fix: Newsflash—if you haven’t used it in two years and it doesn’t spark joy or at least function as a decent doorstop, it’s time to part ways. Think of your unit as a VIP lounge. Only the worthy get in.

Yellow tape measure forming a question mark.

4. Guessing on Unit Size Like It’s a Carnival Game

The Oops: You eyeballed your stuff, chose a unit size at random, and now it’s either a sardine can or a warehouse.
The Fix: Stack your items at home, measure them, and use a facility’s size guide. Better to measure twice than rent twice.

Stack of unstable cardboard boxes teetering precariously, with motion lines indicating imbalance.

5. Stacking Stuff Like It’s a Jenga Championship

The Oops: You’ve got a blender on a lamp on your wedding dress on a pile of unread books.
The Fix: Stack with logic. Heavier boxes go on the bottom. Fragile or squishy things go on top. And no, your couch is not a shelf—it’s a couch. Keep it comfy, not crushed.

6. Blocking Everything Important With a Wall of “Why Did I Keep This?”

The Oops: You need your winter coat but first have to tunnel through holiday décor, tax papers, and a canoe.
The Fix: Leave a path. A literal walkway. Store frequently-needed items near the front and keep your aisle clear. Yes, this means being a little less chaotic on day one. Trust us, it’s worth it.

7. Forgetting That Furniture Comes Apart

The Oops: You heave an entire dining table into your unit like you’re starring in your own moving montage.
The Fix: Take it apart. Yes, it’s annoying. But disassembling tables, bed frames, and shelving will save you a ridiculous amount of space—and maybe even your lower back. Tape the screws to the pieces or you’ll be playing “What did this bolt come from?” in six months.

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