Inexpensive Storage Solutions for Apartment Residents

There are many perks associated with apartment living. For starters, renters needn’t worry about the hefty property taxes synonymous with homeownership. Secondly, electrical and utility issues are the responsibility of property owners, meaning renters won’t have to shell out their hard-earned money every time a problem emerges. However, if there’s one downside to living in an apartment, it’s the lack of space. Even the most spacious apartments tend to be smaller than houses, which can be a point of contention for renters with a fair amount of possessions. Fortunately, outside storage solutions don’t have to put a dent in your personal finances. If cost-effective storage is what you’re after, take care to consider the following options.

Rent a Storage Unit

If you want to avoid cluttering up your apartment with items for which you have no consistent need, considering renting a storage unit. For a small monthly fee, you’ll be able to store a wide range of possessions that serve no purpose outside of taking up space. Old clothing, outdated electronics, and sentimental items from your childhood are all prime examples of items that can comfortably be placed in outside storage.

Additionally, since most storage facilities provide patrons with around-the-clock access to their units, you should have no trouble retrieving stored items or placing new items in your unit, regardless of what your schedule looks like. Lest you think renting a storage unit will constitute a financial burden, you’ll be pleased to learn that cheap storage units can be found with ease in any part of the country.   

Basement Storage

Some apartment buildings use their basements as storage areas and provide each resident with a certain amount of space. While some property owners provide this service free of charge, others require residents to pay a monthly fee. Similarly, certain landlords provide tenants with storage closets that are separate from their individual units. If you’re interested in either of these options, have a talk with your landlord or your building’s property manager. Just keep in mind that if neither of these options was discussed with you when you moved in, there’s a good chance that they aren’t free – assuming they’re available at all.    

Invest in Shelving Made for Small Living Spaces

As anyone who’s occupied a compact living space can attest, getting creative with storage solutions is an absolute must. In order to make the most of the limited space you have, thinking outside the box is often a necessity. Case in point: shelving that emphasizes height over width. This type of shelving can provide you with the same amount of storage space while taking up considerably room. Wall-mounted shelving is another practical storage solution for people living in small apartments. However, since some tenancy agreements forbid wall-mounted items, you’d best check with your landlord before proceeding to put up these shelves.  

Friends and Family Members

If all else fails, consider reaching out to friends or family members with ample space to spare. For example, if anyone in your inner circle has a roomy basement, attic, garage or barn that’s largely unoccupied, ask if they’d be willing to allow you to use this space for storage. It should be noted, however, that this option offers far less security than a typical storage unit. If any of your items incur damage or are stolen while being stored at the home of a friend or family member, you may have very limited options when it comes to recourse. Additionally, confronting a loved one over an improperly stored item is liable to place a strain on your relationship.

Should you decide to go this route, make sure to offer the person something in the way of compensation. Whether it’s giving them a little bit of money or making a promise to return the favor, don’t let their kindness go unreciprocated. 

 

There’s a lot to be said for apartment living – and renting vs. owning in general. Still, if there’s one notable drawback to apartment life, it would be the space constraints. With the vast majority of apartments being considerably smaller than houses, people with ample possessions may have trouble adjusting to a comparatively compact living space. Luckily, finding practical, inexpensive storage solutions for excess items needn’t prove difficult or time-consuming.