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Getting ready to move a bunch of your stuff into a storage unit? In Tips For Organizing in a Self-Storage Unit, Part 1, I delved into tips for packing boxes and bins. Getting your bins and boxes as tightly and efficiently packed as possible is your first step to ensuring that you make the best use of your storage space. But next, you need to carefully arrange your bins and boxes in that space in order to conserve it. Here are some storage tips and tricks to help you do that:

• Consider putting down pallets before you add your bins and boxes. This will reduce the chances of ants and other pests climbing up into your boxes—although it will not eliminate the possibility. Using plastic containers for storage instead of cardboard boxes can also help with this. This also will help you to prevent problems like rot and mold. While you are at it, you can scatter moth balls and moisture absorbers around the unit.

• Make sure that you create some kind of walking space so that you can get to the back of your storage unit if necessary. This doesn’t have to be more than a narrow channel, but you need something.

• Larger boxes should go on the bottom, and smaller boxes should go on top (or in a stack with other same-sized boxes). Smaller boxes should not go underneath larger boxes, as this is not a stable arrangement.

• Either dismantle any furniture you are storing, or make use of the space inside and underneath it. Store items inside drawers, and stack boxes underneath desks or tables.

• There are probably some items you will want to access on a regular basis. If so, take pains to put these items close to the front of your unit, within easy reach. Otherwise you will be force to clamber around and/or move a lot of boxes to try and access these items. This will create a mess, and may also be dangerous (the last thing you need is to have heavy boxes or furniture collapsing on top of you while you scramble to the back of your unit).

• Strongly consider moving your stuff in and out of storage yourself. First of all, this will save you money. Secondly, you may actually be more efficient with space than a mover, because you are intimately familiar with your boxes, bins and furniture. You have had time to think about how you will arrange your space. Thirdly, movers are notorious for breaking things, no matter how clearly you label them as “fragile.” Fourthly, they have no idea which items need to be stored in front. If you take care of your storage move yourself, you will get far better results.

Now you know some tips and tricks for organizing boxes and plastic bins for storage in your unit. Hopefully you can use these tips to save money. If you can get everything you need to store into a smaller storage unit, your efforts will literally pay off every single month for the indefinite future!