In winter and well into spring, Seattle experiences its rainy season. This time of year is great for staying indoors, curling up on the couch, and warming both hands over a steaming cup of tea. If you do end up needing to be out in the rain, it’s best to always have an umbrella on hand and stay alert for slick roads and sidewalks. The same goes for your belongings at home. It’s always best to have something keeping your items nice and dry, even if that means putting them inside during the worst of the rainy weather.
As the season continues and you need to pull in more and more items inside and away from the persistently gloomy weather, your home can slowly shift from cozy to cramped. To keep away overflowing closets and garages so full they aren’t able to fit your car anymore, you need to have a seasonal storage strategy on hand.
This is where a storage unit can help. Storage units can help give you the additional room you need during the wet season and ease the pressure and stress that trying to find a place for everything in a crowded home can create.
Choosing the Right Containers and Packing Materials
Getting the right containers and packing materials can sound deceptively simple. After all, a box full of stuff is a box full of stuff, right? Not so much. Containers that are uniform in size and shape can stack more easily, making the most of available space. Having a labeling system can make finding what you’re looking for a breeze when you can no longer remember which box holds which thing. Proper packing is essential to keeping your items organized and easily accessible, after all.
If you are struggling with getting your belongings ready for storage, here are some great supplies to help you get started:
- Easily stackable containers
- Shelving units
- Labels and inventory sheets
- Vacuum-sealed bags for clothing
Organizing Seasonal Items Ahead of Time
There’s no need to wait for the rainy season to prepare your items for storage. In fact, getting ahead of the curve and organizing your summer gear as well can make rotating your seasonal belongings easier. When trading winter sports gear and holiday decorations for camping gear and gardening supplies, it can be easy to want to grab what you want out of your storage unit and leave without any thought to next season’s gear. However, your future self will thank you when you take the time to create designated zones for your belongings and easily walkable hallways between them. This way, you can easily find what you need to take out and know where to put everything back into storage.
If you aren’t sure if your current storage setup in your basement, attic, closets, or garage is working to the best of its ability, here are some signs your home storage setup needs improvement:
- Musty odors around stored belongings
- Overflowing closets and garage shelves
- Difficulty finding seasonal items
- Water stains or damp areas in the basement
- Piles of unused belongings taking over living spaces
Finding More Room During Seattle’s Wettest Months
You can always turn to finding convenient, additional storage space in Seattle with climate-controlled features to keep seasonal belongings dry, organized, and out of the way so you can make room inside your home. This is especially helpful if you are worried about your items being out in fluctuating temperatures and climates. If you live in a small home or an apartment with limited storage options, keeping a storage unit year-round can often be a better fit than keeping one solely for the rainy season. No matter what your storage needs are, it’s best to start organizing your belongings for rainy season storage now.
