Furniture is one of the biggest investments in your home, so taking the time to store it properly is well worth the effort. Whether you're moving, renovating, downsizing, decluttering, or simply need extra storage space, preparing your furniture before placing it into a storage unit will help protect it from dust, moisture, scratches, pests, and unnecessary wear.
Improper storage can shorten the lifespan of your furniture and lead to expensive repairs or replacements. By following a few simple steps, you can keep your furniture looking its best until you're ready to use it again.
At Elite Self Storage, we offer a variety of storage unit sizes designed to accommodate everything from a few household items to the contents of an entire home. If you're looking to rent a storage unit in Edmonton or St. Albert, choosing the right unit and preparing your furniture correctly will give you peace of mind while it's in storage.
Many people assume they can simply move furniture into a storage unit and close the door. Unfortunately, poor preparation can lead to warped wood, mold, mildew, rust, fading, cracked leather, damaged upholstery, and broken glass.
Taking a little extra time before storing your belongings helps preserve their condition, makes moving easier, and saves money in the long run. Proper preparation also allows you to maximize your storage space while making it easier to find and access your belongings later.
Whether you're storing furniture for a few weeks or several years, using the proper techniques will help protect your investment.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is putting dirty furniture into storage. Dust, food particles, moisture, and body oils can create unpleasant odors, stain upholstery, encourage mold growth, and even attract insects or rodents.
Before placing furniture into storage, clean every item thoroughly.
Wash wooden furniture using mild soap and water. Once completely dry, apply a quality wood cleaner or furniture polish to protect the finish and help prevent the wood from drying out while in storage.
Vacuum sofas, chairs, and cushions thoroughly to remove dust, dirt, pet hair, and food crumbs. Spot-clean any stains with an upholstery cleaner safe for the fabric, and allow everything to dry completely before wrapping.
Clean leather furniture using a leather cleaner followed by a leather conditioner. Conditioning helps prevent leather from cracking or drying out during long-term storage.
Clean and polish any exposed metal parts to reduce the chance of tarnishing or corrosion.
Use a quality glass cleaner to remove fingerprints and dirt from mirrors, glass tabletops, and shelving before carefully wrapping each piece.
No matter what type of furniture you're storing, make sure everything is completely dry before loading it into your storage unit. Even small amounts of trapped moisture can cause mold or mildew over time.
Taking furniture apart before moving it makes transportation safer and helps maximize your storage space.
Whenever possible:
Remove table legs.
Disassemble bed frames.
Remove shelves from bookcases.
Separate sectional sofas.
Remove glass inserts from cabinets.
Store screws, bolts, washers, and hardware in labeled zipper bags. Either tape the bag to the underside of the furniture (never directly onto finished surfaces) or place everything in one labeled container for quick and easy reassembly.
Disassembled furniture is also much less likely to be scratched or damaged during transport.
Proper wrapping provides another layer of protection against scratches, dust, and accidental damage.
Good materials include:
Moving blankets
Stretch wrap
Bubble wrap
Furniture covers
Packing paper
Foam corner protectors
Moving blankets work especially well for wooden furniture because they protect the finish while still allowing airflow.
Avoid wrapping wooden furniture tightly in plastic. Completely sealing furniture can trap condensation and create moisture problems that may lead to mold, mildew, or warped wood.
Bubble wrap should be reserved for mirrors, glass tops, metal furniture, and other fragile surfaces.
One of the best ways to protect your furniture is by selecting the right storage unit size. A unit that's too small may force you to stack furniture unsafely or cram items together, increasing the risk of scratches, dents, and broken pieces. Renting a unit that's too large, however, may leave you paying for space you don't need.
Before you rent a storage unit, list everything you plan to store. Think about whether you will need regular access to your belongings. Leaving space to move inside the unit helps protect your furniture during storage.
It also lets air circulate between larger pieces.
If you're unsure which storage unit size is best, use a Storage Unit Size Guide or speak with a storage expert before choosing your unit.
Before loading your furniture, properly prepare the storage unit.
Place a heavy tarp or plastic sheeting on the floor if desired, or use wooden pallets to raise furniture slightly above the concrete floor. Elevating furniture promotes airflow and adds another layer of protection.
Leave small gaps between larger pieces whenever possible to encourage air circulation throughout the storage unit.
Organizing the unit carefully now will make accessing your belongings much easier later.
Proper packing of a storage unit helps prevent damage while maximizing your available storage space.
Some helpful tips include:
Place heavy furniture against the walls.
Store heavier boxes on the bottom.
Leave a walkway for easy access.
Keep frequently used items near the front.
Store mattresses flat whenever possible.
Don't place heavy boxes on upholstered furniture.
Protect mirrors and glass by standing them upright against a wall using padding.
Taking a few extra minutes to organize your storage unit properly will help keep your furniture in excellent condition.
Trying to squeeze too much into a storage unit often results in damaged furniture.
Avoid stacking fragile items together or forcing furniture into tight spaces. Leave enough room for airflow and avoid leaning heavy objects against delicate furniture.
If your storage unit is becoming overcrowded, it may be worth upgrading to a larger storage unit size. Paying a little more for additional space is often far less expensive than replacing damaged furniture.
For long-term furniture storage or valuable items, climate-controlled storage units provide the best protection. A stable indoor environment helps reduce the effects of Alberta's changing temperatures and humidity, which can damage wood, leather, antiques, artwork, electronics, and important documents over time.
Climate-controlled storage is ideal for:
Solid wood furniture
Leather furniture
Antiques and family heirlooms
Artwork and photographs
Electronics and musical instruments
Important documents
If convenience is your priority, drive-up storage units make loading and unloading furniture quick and easy. Simply park your vehicle directly in front of your unit, making them ideal for heavy furniture, large household items, and frequent access during a move, renovation, or home staging project.
Avoid these common mistakes when storing furniture:
Putting dirty furniture into storage.
Storing damp furniture.
Wrapping everything tightly in plastic.
Forgetting to label hardware.
Overpacking the storage unit.
Placing furniture directly on concrete floors.
Stacking heavy boxes on upholstered furniture.
Choosing a storage unit that's too small.
Avoiding these mistakes will help keep your furniture in excellent condition while making moving out much easier.
Proper furniture storage starts with careful preparation. Cleaning, protecting, and organizing your furniture before placing it into storage helps prevent damage and keeps your belongings in excellent condition until you're ready to use them again.
Elite Self Storage offers a variety of storage unit sizes to accommodate everything from a few pieces of furniture to the contents of an entire home. Our flexible month-to-month rentals make it easy to rent a storage unit for moving, home renovations, downsizing, seasonal storage, or creating extra space around your home.
Our clean and secure storage facilities in Edmonton and St. Albert offer climate-controlled storage units, heated storage, and convenient drive-up storage options, giving you the flexibility to choose the storage solution that best fits your needs.
Not sure which storage unit size is right for your furniture? Our knowledgeable storage experts are happy to help you compare options and find the perfect fit.
Explore our Storage Unit Size Guide, find storage in St. Albert, or view storage units in Edmonton to rent a storage unit today.
