A move is coming up, you are going abroad for a while, or you are renting out your flat? Then you may need space to store your furniture. Here we explain the different storage solutions for furniture, where to find the best provider for your needs and what to watch out for when storing furniture.
If you want to store furniture, four options are available: a classic storage room, self storage, a furniture custody service, and a container.
If you already know which solution is right for you, storabble shows you all available storage rooms near you — a neutral comparison platform for storage rooms in Spain.
To store your furniture you can rent a classic storage room or a self-storage unit, use a custody service, or store it in a container. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each solution, and how do you find the best provider for your situation?
Many residential buildings still have vacant storage rooms that are perfect for storing furniture.
Advantages: there are thousands of vacant storage rooms, so chances are good you will find one exactly where you need it; they are usually let by professional property managers; it is the cheapest option (around EUR 20 per m² per month); and you can access your furniture at any time.
Disadvantages: usually no professional security measures (video surveillance, security staff); barrier-free access for moving furniture is not always given (goods lift, ramp); the rental contract can take a few days; notice periods apply; and a deposit may be required.
If you want to store your furniture conveniently nearby, do not need the space from one day to the next and do not depend on ultra-flexible notice periods, a classic storage room makes the most sense, especially cost-wise. Make sure you can move your furniture in without obstacles and that the room is dry. Check on storabble whether you can rent a storage room near you.
Self-storage units are professional storage rooms with round-the-clock access, purpose-built to serve as external storage. Usually many units are built into the same building and rented out individually.
Advantages: landlords specialised in storage; high storage quality (video surveillance, controlled temperature and humidity, sometimes staff on site); flexibility (most units can be rented immediately, with very short or no notice periods); access to your furniture at any time; and barrier-free loading.
Disadvantages: mainly available in urban centres; somewhat higher cost (on average around EUR 25 per m² per month); and a deposit may be required.
If you need to store your furniture as fast as possible and prefer flexible terms, or want a place purpose-built for storage with very high storage quality, a self-storage unit is the right choice. You can find and compare the available self-storage units on storabble as well.
Fun fact: scientific studies confirm that storing belongings in self-storage units helps tenants cope better with stressful periods of change.
You know you will not need the furniture and boxes for a longer period and they are not temperature-sensitive? Then warehouse custody may be right for you. These warehouses are often run by moving companies: you bring your belongings, the provider draws up a detailed inventory and takes care of placing and managing them. Clarify the temperature conditions beforehand; the spaces are usually checked regularly for moisture, pests and dust.
However, you can only access your stored items after prior notice, and moving them in and out usually costs extra. For short storage periods that adds up; overall it tends to be somewhat cheaper than self storage. A good option if you are well organised, do not need your belongings short-term and can plan ahead.
If you are renovating your house or flat and only need to store your household goods temporarily, a container can be a good choice: it fits in the front yard and saves you the moving van and long transport routes. Construction, logistics and specialist companies rent out these containers including delivery and pick-up.
Storing furniture in a container is also a valid option if you want to keep your belongings in a warehouse for a longer period: once the container is full, you have it picked up and transported to the desired location, where your belongings are protected from weather and moisture. Another big advantage is the generous capacity: a standard container easily holds the entire household of a medium-sized home.
Container costs vary greatly, especially depending on delivery and pick-up. It is best to ask a company near you for prices directly.
Before renting, list the furniture and items you want to store and note their dimensions. The required space is easy to underestimate; if the room is too small, reaching your belongings gets difficult. And to avoid paying for too much space, keep a good overview of your inventory. We can help you calculate the storage room size you need in the linked guide.
Do: disassembling furniture before storing saves space; label the parts or their boxes; screws and other accessories can be taped directly to the furniture.
Don't: avoid damp rooms at all costs; do not store valuables or art with your furniture, as most landlords explicitly forbid it (due to insufficient insurance sums).
Place the heaviest pieces at the very back: they are rarely moved and should not block the way to lighter items. If you store other things alongside furniture, wrap the most delicate pieces generously in bubble wrap. With fridges, freezers and kitchen elements, make sure no food remains inside — otherwise unpleasant odours develop that soak into the stored furniture and are very hard to remove. And do not stack anything heavy; toppling stacks cause accidents.
Keep a walkway of at least 30 cm free so you can move between your things and find what you need right away — otherwise you have to empty half the room first. When loading and unloading, bring some tools (a screwdriver, tape) in case furniture needs further disassembly to fit into your car, and cleaning supplies to wipe off dust when retrieving items.
If you want to store furniture cheaply, know what drives costs up. Generally, the larger the unit, the lower the cost per square metre — if you expect to store more in the future, the extra space can pay off. Also, storage rooms in big cities are considerably more expensive than outside; choosing a different district can save real money. Finally, the rental duration matters: short-term rentals for temporary storage tend to be comparatively pricier.
Search on storabble now for the perfect storage space near you, and see our guide on storage room costs for prices.
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