Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by CREW Editorial
As space becomes more of a premium, especially in population-dense areas in Ontario, more Canadian homeowners are looking for storage solutions. Maximizing storage has become an important part of managing spaces for homeowners, renters, and entrepreneurs or businesses alike. As a result, finding effective storage to solve a range of modern lifestyle challenges is becoming a rising Canadian trend.
Various strategies for maximizing space and decluttering are very effective, but more Canadians are still finding a need for extra storage, turning to solutions like Self Stor Storage.
Maximizing Space for Efficient Storage
Experts stress the importance of regular decluttering to manage and make the most of living spaces, including getting rid of unnecessary items, organizing to free up space and using strategies that make it easier to keep things tidy.
Making use of vertical space, such as with shelves, cabinets, or wall-mounted storage units is an effective solution for maximizing both space and accessibility.
Experts also recommend multi-functional furniture pieces. These can include items like ottomans with built-in storage or beds with drawers, allowing users to combine storage and functionality.
Clear storage containers with labels are another useful tactic. This makes it easier to identify stored items, simplifying the process of finding what you need. Additional tools like specialty organizers and rotating devices can further improve organization.
Managing seasonal items, such as by rotating holiday decorations or winter gear into accessible but out-of-the-way spaces, like under-bed storage containers or high shelves, helps keep living areas clutter-free.
For many people needing extra storage, renting storage units with a secure and affordable company like Self Stor Storage is a practical option to create more space.
When to Use Cost-Effective Storage Rentals
Storage units offer tailored solutions for a range of needs, catering to homeowners, renters, and business owners alike. Whether it’s decluttering a home, maximizing space for renters, keeping belongings when travelling, or managing inventory for businesses, storage units provide customizable options. From variable unit sizes to climate-controlled environments and flexible rental periods, these solutions ensure personalized storage that meets specific requirements effectively.
To make it easier to judge how much space you’ll need, a size guide, like this one from Self Stor, is helpful.
Seasonal and Occasional Equipment and Furniture
Using storage units is particularly beneficial for storing seasonal and occasional equipment and furniture, such as snow blowers, lawnmowers, winter sports gear, camping gear, and more. Instead of cluttering your home and garage, opting for a storage unit allows for a more organized approach, ensuring easy access to necessary items without overcrowding living spaces.
Opting for Smaller Homes
Many people are looking for smaller homes, even as their family grows, especially in high-cost areas, as they are more affordable and easier to manage. Smaller homes offer simplicity in living arrangements and can be a practical choice. However, there can be challenges in accommodating equipment and extra items without sacrificing living space. Storage solutions offer a cost-effective alternative to upsizing their home simply to accommodate some extra belongings. This approach is cost-effective and space-efficient. It’s essential, though, to avoid using storage instead of decluttering.
Renovating, Relocating, and Transition Periods
When moving, storage units can provide an alternative to having to buy a new home before putting the old one up for sale, which can lead to needing a bridging loan, as well as the financial and liability concerns of owning two homes simultaneously. Alternatively, some people find themselves between homes, where the old one is sold before they take possession of the next. Being able to store your belongings while renting a smaller temporary residence is a cost-effective and practical solution.
During renovations, storage units allow items from the rooms undergoing renovation to be kept safely, rather than squeezing them into other spaces, which can lead to dents and scratches, as well as leaving you with two unusable rooms.
In cases of prolonged housing transitions, such as waiting for a new home to be completed or searching for a new home when suitable options are limited, a storage unit offers flexibility and convenience. Additionally, during significant life transitions like divorce, estate settlements, or merging households, renting a storage unit temporarily stores belongings until long-term plans are finalized.
Preparing for Real Estate Transactions
During a sale, owners or realtors can use storage for storing non-essential items to clear out cluttered properties. Opening up living spaces, with minimal, carefully-selected furnishings for a clean and inviting environment, allows potential buyers to envision themselves in the space more easily.
Realtors or landlords looking to spruce up a bare home, on the other hand, can store a few key pieces to stage it; an empty area can make it as difficult as a cluttered one for renters and buyers to imagine living in. Having neutral, attractive furnishings and other items ready to stage a place can be a big advantage.
Seasonal Work and Extended Travel
For those who travel frequently for work, such as those with seasonal jobs that require a move every six months for work, renting accommodations and putting items in storage when moving to the new work location, to be ready for them when they return, can be cheaper and easier than moving everything each time or maintaining two accommodations permanently. This also helps those planning to travel or work abroad for an extended period.
Business Storage
Businesses can store excess office furniture, archives and files for retention, and office supplies for short or long periods to free up office space for actual work. Similarly, small businesses that need to stock inventory or rotate big items can use storage for these items. Storage units provide dedicated spaces to store inventory for online sellers, too, helping them manage inventory better and enabling more efficient order fulfillment processes. Contractors and tradespeople can store tools, equipment, and materials securely between jobs, as well.
In these cases, storage expenses may be eligible for tax deductions, making this option even more cost-effective.
Special Items and Items of Sentimental Value
Inherited antiques, collections, and acquired art are often more appropriately kept in climate-controlled storage. Those who are planning for retirement and are downsizing often wish to store items of sentimental value or to have items ready to be passed down to family members also often find storage units helpful.
Key Storage Unit Features
There are several key aspects Canadians are looking for in their storage unit solutions. A convenient location, close to the home or on the way home from work is a big advantage.
As Canadians are often looking for storage facilities as a financially smart strategy, cost-effective units that offer good value after all fees or charges are included are a top pick. With thefts on the rise, more Canadians are focused on security, looking for facilities with robust measures in place, such as surveillance cameras, gated access, and on-site security personnel. Additionally, for items sensitive to environmental conditions, units that offer climate control features are also popular, preventing damage from temperature fluctuations. Flexibility, with convenient access, extended hours, and easy payment options are other key features.
Modern Living Trends
As modern Canadian living trends towards smaller housing, urban condo living, and increasingly complex lifestyles, the demand for storage facilities has surged. These facilities offer a solution to the challenge of limited space by providing secure and accessible storage options for individuals and businesses alike.
With more people preferring to live clutter-free lives and seeking alternatives to stuffing belongings in cramped garages or apartments, storage units offer a cost-effective means to declutter living spaces. They also cater to various business needs and provide solutions to other modern challenges.
As a result, storage facilities have become an integral part of modern living, offering the flexibility and convenience needed to adapt to changing lifestyles and preferences, where space for living is prioritized over space for storage.
A key, rising storage solutions company that is emerging on the market to cater to these modern Canadian needs for flexible storage is Self Stor Storage. With convenient locations in Ontario, they offer robust security features, climate-controlled units, and other key features.
Their mission to offer good value for money has led to their strong success, especially in their new Mississauga location which has seen its unit occupancy double in just two years, and an ability to retain long-term tenants. They also have other successful Toronto-area locations, including Guelph, Etobicoke, Richmond Hill and North York. Because of their quality storage solutions and excellent value, they have been selected by ThreeBestRated® as one of the best storage options in the area.
