Do you have more stuff than you know what to do with? Spending your hard-earned money on different things makes it hard to let them go. Then it ends up cluttering your home, and you must rent a storage unit, right?
These less-than-convenient facilities are there to give you breathing room by packing all extra items away until needed, but you have to drive to them every time you want something. It is a hassle, but fortunately, there are other solutions for storing your stuff.
It’s time to get out of that storage unit across town and have better access to your stuff. If you want to pack away some of your extra household items or business supplies, consider the alternative storage ideas and get back freedom of movement in your home.
Here are six alternatives to storage units.
Alternative #1: Storage Container Rentals

Here is the perfect solution to your problem. A portable storage container lets you quickly get those extra items out of your home. Your rental container is delivered right to your door, so you can load it up at your leisure. When you are ready, you call them up, and they take it to their facility to store.
Companies have no-tilt trucks to carefully pick up and transport your container, so nothing gets damaged, and most companies have secure, gated yards and climate-controlled storage facilities. Then when you want it brought back, they will do it for you. And if you want to keep the container at your home for a while, you also can do that.
Storage container rentals work great for moving, temporary storage for renovations, office relocations and any other storage reason you have. It is the best of all storage London Ontario solutions.
Alternative #2: Organize your belongings
As you accumulate stuff, it tends to get shoved into your garage or a spare bedroom, and the clutter isn’t stored most effectively. Then you end up getting a storage unit to get it out of the house. How about going through your unorganized chaos and fixing it?
Start by clearing out the space and deciding where you want things according to priority. Get some boxes and load them up because they stack well and save space. This also allows you to purge any unwanted items that you forgot about. If you haven’t used it in 6 months, donate it, recycle it or trash it.
Alternative #3: Storage with a friend

This works great for game shows and even better for storing extra items. Call family and friends to see if anyone can take some of your belongings to their place. They may have an unused outbuilding or space they will let you take over. Don’t make it a permanent solution because kindness wears thin after a while, and you don’t want your stuff to overstay its welcome.
Alternative #4: Shed storage
If you have the property to build on, you can put up a shed for your extra belongings. This makes sense if you stay at your residence long-term because it can be difficult to move a shed.
If you are handy, get some lumber and construct it yourself. If not, there are plenty of kits and pre-assembled ones you can get delivered. Once in the yard, fill it up and lock it up.
Alternative #5: Remodel your home

It’s nice to have your stored items close to home, so why not build on your existing structure or finish an unused space?
This could be an attic or an unfinished basement. These are untapped spaces that you could get up to snuff, so they become an in-house solution to your storage dilemma. If you don’t already have one, you could build a garage big enough to fit your vehicle and have storage space. While you have to put out the money for the remodel, you will save by not renting a large storage unit over time.
Alternative #6: Old Shipping Containers
Shipping containers are popular because they give you instant square footage to store things. Many buy and set them somewhere on their property for a secure, rugged storage solution.
While they fit the bill, there are some issues:
- Space: A shipping container is big, so you need room to house it.
- Cleanliness: You can buy a new one, but they are way too expensive. Older ones are more affordable, but you need to be cautious about what it was used to haul.
- Unsightly: A container sitting in your backyard doesn’t look that appealing, but if you are crafty, you can paint a mural on it.
Investing in a huge shipping container may not be worthwhile unless you have the extra cash and room for it.