We know that the UK can be cold and wet most of the year round, with occasional sunny spells in summer. The cold months tend to last longer than the warm ones, so when the sun does shine, Brits really make the most of it to soak up some much-needed Vitamin D. It’s always a relief to finally make it through the darker days however it can be challenging to navigate the four seasons and the weather changes. The weather is not too extreme, but it does keep us on our toes particularly when it comes to wardrobe choices. The colder months call for heavy, thick clothing for warmth, while summer days only require shorts and a T-shirt.
During the warmer weather, no one wants a closet full of clothes that won't be worn until winter rolls around again. So, before getting frustrated about having a bunch of winter clothes taking up space, we should ask ourselves: where can we safely store them? The answer is self-storage!
In this blog, we'll discuss why self-storage is the best solution to start decluttering before summer arrives.
We all love our thick and warm jackets, but they take up a lot of space in our closets. We tend to cram them in without considering how much room they actually occupy. This works fine during the colder months when we rotate our coats, but when summer arrives, it's hard to dig out our favourite summer outfits underneath all the winter clothing. Not to mention other items such as winter blankets, bed throws, tracksuits, scarves, hats, gloves, and the rest.
Amidst the winter gloom, we have the holidays - a time for family, food, celebrations and lots of decorations that we only use during this time of the year. But where do we store that light-up Santa & Rudolph set, the stockings for each family member, the special dining table sets that we only use for special occasions and all the other décor when the festive season is over? Storing them away in the cupboards just leads to more clutter, especially since UK homes are known for having limited storage space and are on average smaller compared to those in other countries.
Our home is a peaceful sanctuary that reflects who we are. To fully enjoy it, we should keep it organised, decluttered, and comfortable. Did you know that clutter can impact our mental health? It has been linked to higher stress levels, reduced ability to focus, poorer air quality, and more. Besides simply maintaining a tidy space, we want to move seamlessly from one season to the next, feeling relaxed and content in our environment.
Storing winter items away will not only free up space for more seasonally appropriate items, but it can also benefit our health and wellness. It's simple, easy, and worthwhile. So, what's holding you back?
Think about the amount of space and headaches that can be saved by storing winter items. The following items need to hibernate when not in use:
Bulky clothing: Coats, sweaters, boots
Heavy blankets: Winter duvets & throws
Christmas decorations: Trees, ornaments, lights
Winter holiday equipment: Skis, snowboards, sledges
Heating devices: Heaters, electric blankets
By storing items, not only are you making space in your home and keeping your mental health in check, but you're also keeping your things safe and protected while not in use. It's a win-win situation! We have some tips to ensure that things are well-organised within the storage, making them easy to retrieve and allowing you to pack as much as possible into each storage unit you have.
A great tip is to clearly label boxes and bags by room, item type, or use so that they can be easily identified when needed.
Vacuum-sealed bags are an excellent solution to keeping groups of clothing together, away from damage and will help save a considerable amount of space.
No one wants to store dirty items of clothing otherwise they may have a funny smell when you retrieve them, this also goes for larger items. Also saves the hassle of having to clean everything when winter makes its return.
Ensure your winter shoes maintain their shape with the help of shoe inserts. This particularly helps if you’ve stacked shoes on top of each other.
To avoid anything dropping out or boxes breaking, make sure they’re sturdy and can handle larger items. You also want to label these clearly, so they don’t get mixed up with boxes of clothes. Again, makes the re-sorting easier.
It’d be awful to open the boxes of decoration, ready to put the baubles on the tree the following year and you realise they’re smashed! When storing them make sure they’re wrapped well with bubble wrap or tissue paper to avoid breakage. Shop boxes and wrapping materials in our Box Shop.
Storage units can often be tall, and you want to maximise the height as well as floor space, so we’d recommend using shelving units to be able to stack things higher up.
Ever stored something and then panicked because you thought you lost it? No need to worry with a good inventory list. It will help you stay organised and keep track of what’s been stored away in each storage container.
Self-storage units offer a practical solution for storing your winter items. There are numerous benefits to storing your belongings in a self-storage unit, such as flexibility, convenience, enhanced security, space-saving, preservation of mental health, and improved organisation. Your items are monitored by CCTV, stored at the appropriate temperature, protected from pests, and accessible whenever you need them. With all these advantages, why wouldn't you choose to store your seasonal belongings in a self-storage unit?
Depending on your needs and number of belongings, different-sized storage units would be more appropriate. If you’re hesitant about how much storage you’d need, we’d recommend starting with a smaller unit and upgrading if necessary.
Hopefully, now you understand the many benefits of self-storage offering a practical, secure, and convenient solution for storing winter items. Think you’re ready to declutter your home and make space for spring? View our self-storage solutions and find the right unit for your needs.