Seasonal decor is a great way to freshen up a room’s look without the extra work of fully redecorating. Once the season has passed, however, those items are going to need a place to go. This can be a bit tricky when closets are already crammed with winter coats in July or when holiday decorations are stuck behind beach gear in December. Seasonal rotation is a great place to start, but unfilling and refilling already crammed closets with each season can get exhausting.
This is where a storage unit comes in handy. It’s a dedicated space that you can use to store and swap seasonal sports gear, decor, and clothing e to free up your personal space and enjoy the shifting seasons in peace.
Start With a Seasonal Inventory Check
Take a look at everything you have before moving anything or filling up boxes. Walk through each storage area and determine if each item is a seasonal item you enjoy or if it is something that is just taking up space. By separating what you want to keep and what you don’t, you are one step closer to having a better organized space. For those items that you are keeping, group them by season and label them clearly so they can be easier to find within your storage unit.
If you aren’t sure if a storage unit can fit your seasonal needs, here are some items that benefit from a seasonally organized storage unit:
- Holiday decorations
- Winter coats and snow gear
- Summer sports equipment
- Patio cushions and outdoor furniture covers
- Seasonal kitchen appliances
- School supplies and backpacks
Pack Smart to Properly Store Your Items
There are plenty of storage techniques to help you stay organized as you fill your storage unit. Clear bins, moisture absorbers, and garment bags are just a few examples of things you can buy to easily maintain the proper storage of your items. Exploring different storage unit options can help you choose the right size and environment for larger or awkwardly shaped items that need a little extra room. If you are worried about some of the more delicate items you have, many storage facilities offer climate-controlled units.
Create a Simple Rotation Schedule
A schedule can help take the guesswork out of deciding when to make the seasonal swap. By intentionally setting aside a few hours of your time to switch out seasonal decor, it will be easier to hold yourself accountable for making the switch on time. Don’t make the schedule too strict, however, since you will want to pick a day that has decent weather while you are switching things around. Many people tie their seasonal rotations to daylight savings time, school breaks, or the start of each quarter. Since there will be some time between each swap, be sure to keep a checklist for each bin and section of the storage unit so you know what belongs where.
Make Accessibility a Priority
Actually being able to reach the current season’s gear or decor should be your main priority. Whether you choose to map out different zones for each season, use stackable bins to make use of vertical space, or create different aisles for walking through the storage unit with ease, current-season items should be front and center. Placing each box or bin with the label facing out will also help you find the next season’s items easily. This kind of thoughtful, intentional placement can prevent digging through your belongings every time the weather shifts.
Maintain the System Year After Year
When making the next seasonal swap, take the time to review that season’s items. By reassessing what you actually used and donating or discarding the ones you didn’t, you can prevent any buildup of unnecessary items in your storage unit. If looking over the whole unit is too overwhelming, try to start with just one box and build from there. Over time, this will help each rotation get leaner and easier.