The holidays are a favorite time of year for many of us—bringing romantic notionsof horse-drawn sleigh rides, hot chocolate by a cozy fire, building snowmen …And maybe a touch of mayhem.With Halloween behind us and the rest of the year’s festivities ahead, we’re inthat in-between stage akin to those awkward teenage years.It’s an annual quandary. Should you tuck away Halloween decorations while stillembracing fall décor for Thanksgiving? Or maybe you’re already belting outholiday tunes and hanging Christmas stockings.Whichever camp you’re in, you’re likely surrounded by storage tubs and boxes.It may all look like one big, muddled heap—but we know—it’s organized chaos.Until the phone rings …Your relatives are finally taking you up on your offer and are coming to visit forthe holidays! They excitedly share that they’ll arrive in a few days.Cue the panic as your rose-colored perspective of your controlled hodgepodgenow resembles a giant jumble.Mortified at the thought of your houseguests—even if they’re family—discovering your cluttered mess, you frantically try to shove everything you caninto a closet and attempt to shut the door, hoping it stays closed.No such luck. Now what?Before you turn into a whirling dervish, tossing things randomly here and there tohide the havoc, we have a solution sure to restore your sanity and peace.Please meet your new hero—your storage unit.A sense of relief washes over you while envisioning an immaculate home and anorganized storage space filled with your beloved possessions available as youdesire.But as you begin to take stock of everything you’d like to store—bulky furniture,odd-sized seasonal décor, and clunky outdoor gear—confusion takes hold.How will you fit everything safely into the unit? And once it’s all inside, how willyou access what you need without having to move a ton of boxes or furniture?Suddenly, that image of everything avalanching on you the minute you open thedoor grips your mind. Will your storage unit become just another “closet door”that you hope stays shut?Have no fear! Todd Plastino, owner and operator of four Central Coast self-storage facilities in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, has tips and tricksto help you properly load and organize your storage unit and optimize space!Plastino presents two main considerations before moving anything into yourstorage unit.First, utilize your storage space’s volume, not just its floor space. Second, leave aclear aisle in the middle to more easily reach things.Here are Plastino’s key storage solutions to maximize your space. Put frequently-used items near the front of your storage space. Store sofas, tabletops, mattresses, and large bulky pieces vertically (on end)to save floor space—just make sure all fabrics and leather are protected. Place fragile glass and mirrors between mattresses. Store garden tools and hoses in empty trash cans. Use all available space in furniture drawers and appliances such asrefrigerators, washers, and dryers.With these smart strategies, your storage space will be orderly and efficient.Now that everything’s sorted out and you’ve transformed your home into aserene haven, we bet you’re excited to roll out the welcome mat for those luckyhouseguests!They’ll be impressed, marveling at how you keep it so neat and tidy.Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with us. Wink, wink.
