My Savior? A Storage Unit!

Last week I posted last about how much I love walk-in closets.  Until I have my very own walk-in, preferably a small bedroom,  I have the majority of my clothes in a storage unit.  A bit extreme?  Yes, but there are certain things like those eight pairs of boots from my boot storage DIY post that I do not need during these extreme months of heat. About half of the items in my unit  are seasonal items ranging from clothes to Christmas decorations and the rest consists of items I only need or wear occasionally, like this long dress I wore to this gala or my ski jacket.

• SECURITY/LOCKS:   That black faced dial you used in high school is just not going to cut it. Many locks are rated on a 10 point system with 1 being deterrent security and 10 being ultimate security. While I do not have any priceless works of art or state of the art electronics but I chose to lock my unit with level nine a stainless steel Master Lock Padlock. This may be overkill but it makes me feel better about all of my belongings being safe.

• MAKE A LIST:  Create a list of the items that you are going to be storing – this not only allows you to choose the right size unit (I realized a 5×5 was more than enough for me!) it also serves as a helpful reminder for what is in there.  In receiving one particularly tempting email about quilted vests a quick glance at my storage inventory list reminded me I have three! 

• CLIMATE CONTROL:  I voted yes but this is up to you –  climate control at most facilities means that your unit maintains a steady temperature of 55–80° using central air conditioning and heat.  While one large provider only suggests a unit with climate control if you are storing furniture, photographs, discs/records, and electronics I decided to opt-in to protect my leather and fur in the crazy range of New York City weather.  And just to be safe, I still use mine with DampRid tub just in case!   

I do not think storage units are just for people with small apartments though – I know one person who actually use theres so they can park *gasp* their car in the garage.  If you have ever driven down the West Side Highway you have seen ads for Manhattan Mini Storage and while that is not the one I chose, it is a viable option, but there are literally hundreds of others.  Thanks to shows like Storage Wars on A+E they are ones popping up all of over the United States from NYC to LA.  Wherever you live, I think they are a great solution to a tidier home and peace of mind!