4 ways to store your belongings during a home renovation
If you’ve ever renovated a home (or you’re in the middle of one right now), you’ll know that while the end result is exciting, the in-between can feel…a lot.
Dust everywhere. Half-packed rooms. Furniture piled into corners. And that constant feeling that your home is no longer working the way it should.
One thing I’ve learned, both personally and from chatting to so many of you, is that having a proper storage plan during a renovation can completely change the experience. Not just practically, but emotionally too. When your things are out of the way and protected, everything feels a little calmer, including your nerves.
So today, I wanted to talk through the storage options worth considering if you’re renovating, and share a newer approach that many homeowners (especially women balancing busy lives) are finding surprisingly helpful.
Why storage makes such a difference
During a renovation, your home is in a temporary state of chaos. Even if the work is contained to one room, the knock-on effect tends to spread, and you really don’t want any of your personal belongings becoming damaged from dust or other building materials.
Clearing items out properly helps to:
- Protect furniture, clothes and keepsakes from dust and damage
- Give tradespeople the space they need to work efficiently
- Make the rest of the house feel more liveable
- Reduce that constant low-level stress of “everything being everywhere”.
Below, you’ll find the 4 best ways you can store some of your possessions.
How to store your personal items when you’re renovating your home
1. Keep items in the house (when you can)
If you’re doing a small renovation and have a spare room, you might be tempted to simply move everything out of the way and shut the door.
This can work in the very short term, but I’ve found it rarely stays tidy for long. Rooms fill up quickly, and before you know it, you’re stepping around boxes and wondering where on earth everything went.
If you ARE going to take this approach, then be organised. Put everything in boxes, and anything that’s fragile should be wrapped and protected. LABEL YOUR BOXES, people, so you know what is where.
Then, properly stack the boxes instead of just chucking things in. Heavier and more sturdy boxes should go at the bottom, and at the back of the room. Similar for any furniture you’ve had to move or take apart. Lighter things can go nearer the front.
Don’t take this approach if you need this room for access, or if you’re going to constantly be moving things around in there and rooting in the boxes for things. It should be a ‘shut the door and only reopen it when the reno is finished’ situation.
2. Make use of your garage and shed (or even those of your neighbours)
Garages and garden sheds are often the first places we turn to when space gets tight. They’re convenient because they’re on-site and free, however, there are some considerations to take into account.
A garage is ideal for things like bikes, tools or garden furniture, but they’re not always ideal for the things we care most about. They can be damp and musty places, and they get very cold in the winter, which means you shouldn’t really store clothes or furniture in there. It could be a great place for your glassware, however, and other little knick-knacks that are made from durable materials, like ceramic.
Think of these spaces as support storage, rather than somewhere to put everything.
3. Use traditional self-storage units
Self-storage units are a well-known option and can be useful if you’re renovating a large portion of your home. They’re ideal for storing very large items, like beds and sofas, so they’re very handy when you’re renovating your entire house (or at least multiple rooms).
You will need to consider the cost, however, and also the logistics. Packing the car, driving to the unit, unloading…then doing it all again when you need something back. The other cost to consider is the van hire fees if you can’t take all your belongings in the car.
When you’re already managing a renovation (and possibly work, family and everything else), it can feel like one more job on the list.
4. Choose storage by the box
In the last few years, a newer type of storage has become more popular, particularly with people living in their home while they renovate. It’s called storage by the box, and it’s designed to be as low effort as possible.
Instead of renting an entire storage unit, you store items box by box.
How it works
- Storage boxes are delivered to your home
- You pack them in your own time
- The boxes are collected and stored securely
- Transport and insurance are usually included
- You only pay for the boxes you actually store.
If you need something back, you can simply request that specific box.
Why this works so well during a renovation
What I love about storage by the box is how well it fits around real life.
You don’t need to organise transport, you don’t need to commit to more space than you need, and you don’t need to make endless trips to a storage unit when plans change (because during renovations, they always do).
For many people, it ends up being a more affordable option too, because you’re not paying for empty space. Everything is insured, and your home stays clearer and calmer while the work is going on.
What should I put into storage?
From my own experience, these are the things that make the biggest difference when they’re out of the way:
- Sofas, armchairs and dining chairs
- Rugs, curtains and cushions
- Artwork, mirrors and decorative pieces
- Books, paperwork and sentimental items.
Clearing these out properly can make even a major renovation feel more manageable.
