Tips for Packing Your Valuables Before Moving

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Are you moving soon but worried about packing your valuables? Don’t worry—we can help! Our tips will ensure that your valuables, collectibles, and irreplaceable items make it to their new home in one piece.

Make a List

Before you break out the boxes and bubble wrap, you should consider making a thorough list of all your valuables. An itemized list will help you better organize your packing and unpacking and tell you where everything is going.

Secondly, it could be valuable for insurance purposes to prove if things were lost or broken while in transit. If there’s damage on a valuable item before transit, make a note of it so that you know it didn’t happen during the move.

Pro Tip: Consider taking pictures of your valuables to go along with your list to show their condition before being packed away.

Invest in Quality Packing Supplies

If you want to ensure your valuables make it from point A to point B, you’ll need to invest in quality, sturdy packing supplies. You may have some available boxes that have been sitting in your basement—those are fine for your other things, but for your valuables, you’ll want the best of the best.

New moving boxes are the way to go, along with plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts, if needed. When protecting your most prized possessions, a dusty old box won’t cut it.

Don’t Skimp on Protection

When it’s finally time to pack your valuables before moving, our best tip would be to go all out on protection and cushioning. You’ll want the box and packing to hold your valuables without jostling or shifting, so pack as much bubble wrap, packing paper, or packing peanuts as you can.

Pro Tip: Double tape the bottoms and tops of your boxes to ensure they don’t break open while moving.

Get Backup Copies of the Irreplaceable

Not all valuables are about monetary value, but are sentimental and personal to us. For irreplaceable valuables like pictures, tapes, and films, consider getting a photo digitization service to make digital copies for you.

A digital copy may not be the same as the real thing, but at the very least, it’s insurance should anything be lost or damaged in transit. Plus, digital copies don’t fade or mold or get dusty—they stay in the same condition as the day you made them for as long as you want them.

Buy Insurance

For those incredible valuables that would mean severe financial distress should they be broken or misplaced, insurance is the best way to protect them and yourself. Things get damaged while moving, but you don’t want to be left with nothing to show for your broken valuables.

Call your insurance carrier about your homeowner’s policy to see if you’re covered before the move, or get insurance from your moving company. Some examples of valuables that should be insured include jewelry, fragile antiques, fine art, and electronic equipment.

Tips and Tricks for Organizing Your Garage

Garages tend to collect all the bits of junk we don’t want in our homes year-round, in addition to tools, sporting equipment, and outdoor gear. Without a proper organization scheme, you might forget what you already own and end up wasting money on duplicate items. Discover these tips and tricks for organizing your garage that will help you know exactly where everything is.

Utilize Shelves

Shelves are a garage organizer’s best friend. If your garage doesn’t come with built-in shelves, you can always buy some from a local hardware store. Think carefully about the size, depth, and weight requirements necessary to hold your gear before choosing which type of shelving to purchase.

Consider Hanging Storage

While most people have seen garage shelves along the walls of other people’s garages, they may not be aware that hanging storage options also exist. The benefit of hanging shelves is that you don’t need to sacrifice space for a vehicle on the garage floor, which is usually what happens with other kinds of shelves.

Centralize Most-Used Gear

If you’re like most people, storage real estate in your garage is at a premium, making it important that you keep the tools you need regularly close at hand. Next year’s garage sale items shouldn’t be in the prime storage spot, and neither should seasonal decorations or seldom-used equipment. The places in your garage that are easiest to access should be reserved for things you need on a weekly or monthly basis.

Label Everything

There’s nothing more annoying than organizing your entire garage only to forget where you put something. To avoid any confusion, group similar items together and label them. You can make cheap and easy labels out of masking tape and a sharpie, which you can then put on boxes, crates, and even shelves.

Create Zones

If you own a lot of tools, sporting gear, and other outdoor equipment, you may find it helpful to segregate areas of your garage by hobby or activity. Put all your landscaping equipment near the lawnmower, your tools by your workbench, and everything else into groups on shelves. To maintain this organization, make sure to share the layout with other household members.

Install Additional Storage Space

Sometimes, there’s just not enough space for all your gear and vehicles in your attached garage, so why not add some extra space? With a metal garage, you can have all the storage space you need in whatever configuration you choose. Some distributors will even ship it and install it for free!

We hope these tips and tricks for organizing your garage have been helpful. Cleaning a garage becomes more difficult the longer you leave it in disarray, so get started today!

7 Ways to Get More Storage Space in Your Small Bedroom

Living in tiny apartments is very popular nowadays since it decreases home maintenance costs. It also takes less time to clean small homes, which is significant in the era of busy modern lifestyles. The biggest downside is the lack of space in them. Since even bigger homes sometimes have relatively small bedrooms, this article will focus on ways to get more storage space in a small bedroom.

1. Custom-made built-in shelves and wardrobe

If you are considering renovating your home, your small bedroom deserves extra attention. Investing in built-in shelves and wardrobes that you can fit into sections of this small room will reward you with extra space in the long run. Built-in custom-made furniture will capitalize on every piece of space in the corners of your room, leaving the central area as accessible as possible. Together with furniture makers, you can design the shelves and wardrobe to be floor-to-ceiling and slightly less deep than they commonly are. If your bedroom has a slanted ceiling, custom-made furniture is your only solution. 

2. Rent out a storage unit

The simplest way to get more storage space in your small bedroom is to reduce the amount of your stuff in it. Understandably, the notion of getting rid of your belongings can sound very stressful. Fortunately, you don't have to part with them for good. You can rent a storage unit and house your possessions, clearing up space in your room. Once you do that, make sure you take the necessary steps to maximize the space. You might want to add more stuff there later, so optimizing it from the get-go would be the best way to make the most of a storage unit. 

3. Bookcase built into your headboard

Book collectors will love this idea. You could design your headboard into a unique and highly practical bookcase. Not only does this design look compelling, but it will also get your precious volume closer to your heart! Most of us find reading most convenient before going to sleep, so putting books inside the headboard makes a lot of sense. When it comes to the actual design of your overhead library, it can take many forms – from a semi-circle to the usual square. The only downside to this idea is that finding the exact model you want in a store might be challenging. This type of interior design piece that will create more storage space in a small bedroom will probably have to be custom-built. But it will pay off in the long run with its undeniable practical value. 

4. Double-duty furniture

In a world of tiny bedrooms, no piece of furniture does only one job. A door can have a built-in mirror, which can also serve as a jewelry box. If there is an ottoman, you can use its internals to store socks, for example. Also, consider installing a window bench with drawers you can use as a reading nook and storage space for whatever fits. The idea is to turn all the free space within the furniture into a unique storage area. Let your creativity loose, and you will surely produce fantastic ideas related to this topic. If you are moving from one home to another, try to ensure your unique pieces get the attention they deserve. The only way to guarantee that is to hire professionals such as Divine Moving and Storage that will safely transport all your furniture from one location to another. 

5. Minimalist approach – furniture that is compact or foldable

Minimalism has become popular almost alongside the rise in popularity of small apartments. To some extent, these two notions follow the same line of thinking – less is more. However, we would like to add that the "less" should be able to neatly fold up and get out of the way in case you need even more space. In small bedrooms, the foldable chair is a good space saver. You might need a chair if you like to spread the clothes for the next day somewhere. But once you are ready to go and the clothes are on you, folding the chair and putting it behind the wardrobe would be helpful. You could even get a foldable bed if your bedroom is super tiny. A lamp can be extendable too since you can put lighting on the walls of your room. Generally, a minimalist way of living is suitable for small spaces, so consider trying that approach. 

6. Utilizing the area under the bedwill guarantee you more storage space in a small bedroom

As we mentioned before, it is wise to utilize all empty furniture crevices and turn them into storage space. The area under your bed deserves extra attention since it can make a huge difference. Not all beds have the ability to serve as storage, so think very carefully when you are buying one. Most beds have a mechanism that allows you to easily lift the mattress and put whatever suits you in the storage compartment below. There are beds with a giant drawer underneath, which is helpful, but this design requires that you unblock the space in front of it so you can open it. Also, there are designs with an elevated bed mattress and plenty of drawers from the bottom section on all sides. Generally, the bed occupies a large portion of the room for most bedrooms, so using its interiors is crucial for increasing storage space. 

7. Decorative baskets and chests that will be used as storage

Decorative items don't have to serve only the esthetic purpose in a room. Nice-looking baskets and chests can be beautiful and practical at the same time. Arrange them around your small bedroom and fill them with objects you don't know where to put. For example, wooden chests can hold extra pillows and blankets. Decorative baskets are suitable for all those small items you haven't the slightest idea where to put – from spare buttons to wallets you are not using. There is a large selection of these useful decorative pieces in online shops, and you can find plenty of classic models. bedroom

Final thoughts

Struggling with too little storage space is a common problem. Nevertheless, with good planning and creative furniture design, you can get more storage space in a small bedroom than it initially seemed possible. Put your mind and imagination into it, and soon, you will safely store your belongings and visually expand your bedroom area, giving it a decluttered look - a win-win situation.

Ways Homeowners Can Add Storage in Their Homes

No matter the size of your house, it always feels like we're running out of room to store your precious items. Sometimes these items hold sentimental value and it's hard to give them away. Instead of giving away or selling your items, think of creative ways to store them in your home! Here are four ways you can add storage to your house seamlessly. 

Install Behind-the-Door Shelves

No one pays attention to the back of a door. Behind your door, you can install shelves or hooks to store your items without creating an eyesore. If your child is running out of room to store their toys, you can display them on a built-in shelf. If you're running out of space in your home office, you place your supplies and files behind the door. 

Installing behind-the-door shelves is a nifty idea for those who need additional storage space but still want their room to look seamless and stylish.

Think Vertically, Not Horizontal

Often, people store items horizontally. By keeping things vertical, you can make more space. Without buying new shelves, cubbies, or baskets, you can create more room for your books, tools, utensils, and more by storing them vertically.

Essential tip: When re-organizing your items, store the items you often use at the top and the more frequently used items in the middle.

Caddies Are the Way To Go

Some of us left caddies in our college dorm, but we're here to tell you that caddies are a great way to free up space, especially in small rooms. You can use a caddy in the kitchen to store your potatoes and onions, or use your caddy in the bathroom to store your luffas and exfoliant pads. 

When in Doubt, Take It Outside

Outdoor sheds don't have to be an eyesore! You should purchase a shed if you need more space for much larger items like holiday decorations, paints, materials, or garden tools. You can spruce up your shed to make it look like an extension of your home by giving it a fresh coat of paint, decorating around the area, and keeping your shed organized.

Finding ways to add storage to your home can seem daunting, but it's not that complicated when you think about it. From innovative storage furniture to building shelves to outdoor sheds, there are many ways to store your items without throwing them away.