How to Store Furniture in a Storage Unit

Evaluating Your Storage Needs

Before you do anything else, make a list of all the furniture you plan to put in storage. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but knowing everything you’ll need to put in the unit will save you time when you’re choosing a size and planning how everything will fit.

• Measure each piece: Write down dimensions to help you determine how much space you need. Keeping these notes on your phone makes them easy to reference later.
• Note special storage considerations: If your vintage sofa is too delicate to store standing up, for example, it’s probably going to take up more room.
• Determine your storage duration: If your furniture will be stored for more than a couple of weeks, consider how humidity, precipitation, and temperature swings could affect certain materials.

Selecting the Right Storage Unit

Now that you know what furniture you're storing and how much space it will take up, it's time to pick a unit size or moving container size that's big enough to fit everything. Use your measurements to create a layout, making sure to leave room for air circulation and an access path. Keep in mind that some pieces of furniture, including sofas, can be stored vertically to save space. Though this is probably not a good idea if you're using a moving container.

Unless you're putting furniture in storage for just a few weeks or you’re storing sturdy, weather-proof items like patio furniture, yard decor, and sports gear, you'll probably want a climate-controlled unit. Consistent humidity and temperature levels help prevent mildew, warped or swollen wood, and cracked leather.

You should also ask about security features as you're evaluating different storage facilities. Furniture is expensive, so it doesn't hurt to choose a unit that's protected by cameras, alarms, and access gates.

Preparing Furniture for Storage

Clean your furniture a few days before you bring it to storage. Wipe down hard surfaces with a mixture of water and mild soap, and let it dry completely — even a tiny amount of moisture can turn into mold or mildew in a storage unit.

You can also help your movers transport furniture to your storage unit by disassembling bigger items. Take the legs off tables, remove drawers from dressers, and break down your bed frame. Then, label each part, and place hardware into clearly labeled plastic bags.

Although it might be tempting, avoid wrapping your furniture entirely in plastic. A bit of stretch wrap to keep moving blankets or drawers in place is okay, but because plastic isn't breathable, it can cause moisture damage to the finish or the structure.

Storing Different Types of Furniture

There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to storing furniture. For maximum protection, adjust your packing and storage strategy to suit the type of material and the fragility of the furniture.

Wood Furniture

The biggest risks to wooden furniture in storage and moving containers are moisture and accidental surface damage. Moving pads can help on both fronts, since they'll prevent moisture buildup better than plastic covers and will also guard against scratches and dents.

Here are the steps to take to store wood furniture safely:

1. Coat wood with wax to keep moisture from seeping into the grain
2. Wrap wooden pieces loosely with moving pads
3. Secure pads with tape or a single layer of stretch wrap

Upholstered Furniture

Upholstered furniture is highly susceptible to mold and mildew in storage, especially if kept in place for a long time. Here's how to prevent damage to your upholstered furniture:

1. Vacuum thoroughly
2. Use stain cleaner to treat discoloration
3. Allow plenty of time for drying
4. Wrap in moving blankets, old sheets, or blankets. Completely avoid any kind of plastic, including stretch wrap.

Leather Furniture

Before you move leather furniture into a storage unit, invest some time in upkeep. Otherwise, your expensive leather couch or chair will end up dusty, cracked, or molded. Here are the best steps to take for storage:

1. Wipe with leather cleaner or a mix of water and vinegar
2. Apply leather conditioner to prevent drying and cracking in storage
3. Cover with blankets or dust covers

Glass and Fragile Items

If you have furniture with mirrored panels, glass tops, or other delicate components, blankets might not be enough to keep scratches at bay. Try this instead:

1. Cover the glass with a layer of thick cardboard
2. Remove glass panels, if possible
3. Wrap panels in several layers of packing paper and bubble wrap

Packing and Stacking Strategies

Once your furniture is clean, dry, and wrapped, you're ready to store it. If space allows, do a test run at home. Recreate the storage unit by outlining the perimeter on your floors with tape, and experiment with different configurations of furniture to find the best fit.

Use these furniture storage tips for safe, space-efficient packing:

• Store sofas vertically to save floor space
• Don't stack too much weight to prevent frame damage
• Leave space between each piece of furniture for airflow
• Position furniture away from the storage unit walls

Even in a climate-controlled unit, it's a good idea to lift furniture off the floor using wooden pallets. You can also elevate smaller pieces using industrial shelving units.

As you place each piece in the storage unit, shake it gently. If it wiggles too much, adjust it to reduce the risk of tipping and shifting.

Additional Protection Methods

If you own high-quality furniture, you might want to invest in extra protection. Breathable furniture covers and wraps can keep dust and moisture away. Plus, they might stay in place more reliably than moving blankets.

If you’re especially worried about moisture, you can slip a few silica gel packs under your furniture covers to help absorb excess humidity and prevent mold from forming. You can also place moisture-absorbing canisters around the storage unit to draw out any excess water vapor.

Some parts of furniture, including corners and edges, are particularly delicate. Use extra padding to protect the edges of your coffee table or the wooden carvings on your antique nightstand. Quilted pads work well, but you can use any breathable fabric.

Climate-Controlled vs. Standard Units

One of the biggest decisions you'll need to make when figuring out how to store furniture in a storage unit is whether to choose a standard or climate-controlled facility.

Standard storage units are a lot like an outdoor shed or an unheated garage — the conditions inside the unit depend on the weather. In other words, if it's hot and humid outside, it'll be hot and humid inside. These affordable units can help you save money, but they're only a good idea if you're storing plastic, metal, or patio furniture that's not vulnerable to moisture and temperature swings.

If any of your furniture items have wood, fabric, or leather components, a climate-controlled storage unit is the safest option. These units feature specialized HVAC systems that maintain steady levels of heat and humidity. They're more expensive, but they provide extra protection for mattresses, upholstered furniture, wood pieces, and high-end items.

Comparing standard storage and climate-controlled storage for furniture

Finalizing Your Furniture Storage Plan

Your furniture is an investment, which means it's worth protecting. If you're moving, understanding how to store furniture in a storage unit correctly can prevent costly damage to your prized pieces. Storing furniture takes some planning, but the extra preparation is worth it. By selecting the right storage unit and preparing, packing, and placing furniture carefully, you can ensure that each item comes out damage-free and ready to use.