New Year’s Storage Resolutions 

Decluttering is the key to destressing, and there’s no time like a brand-new year to take charge of all your stuff. So what are you waiting for? Pick your next free morning or afternoon, and dive right in, starting with all the leftover holiday decor. Goodbye, Christmas — make way for Valentine’s Day! 

What’s your biggest New Year’s resolution? Here at Otto Self Storage, we often hear that better organization is at the top of our customer’s wish lists when the New Year rolls around. A dedicated self-storage unit is a must when it comes to being at the top of your organizational game. 

See Ya in December, Holiday Decor

Last house on the block to take down your Christmas lights? Still have a menorah in the window? Don’t despair. Today you’re taking the first steps to streamline the whole holiday decorating experience for your future self. And your climate-controlled self storage unit beats the garage, basement, or attic any day when it comes to seasonal decor.

How do you usually go about decorating your tree? Does your family put up heirloom ornaments first? Do you decorate by theme or color? Or is your crowd determined to squeeze every ornament on the tree each Christmas? Knowing what kind of holiday decorating you do is a great step if you’re the type to categorize ornaments in your head as they go on the tree. Consider stashing them away this year in the same categories to make next year’s decorating a cinch. Categories — and separate bins — might include:

• Heirloom hand-me-downs
• Things made by the kids
• Glass ornaments or other fragile pieces
• Plastic ornaments and unbreakable decor
• Ornaments by color or sizes

Your self-storage unit has plenty of room for even the largest inflatable Santa or outdoor Nativity scene — put it to use! Don’t neglect that old artificial tree, either. A proper tree storage container is necessary to keep it looking fresh for the future. Wreath containers protect beautiful faux holiday greenery. You can also get large spools to wind holiday lights on for easy installation next year.

The No-Blame Gift Game

We’re betting you wound up with some gifts that you know you’ll never use — that 6-inch-tall carved wooden gnome, for starters! Be ruthless when it comes to reclaiming your space and your sanity. There’s no need for guilt. The happy fact of the matter is that someone will be glad to take that gnome off your hands. 

Terrific ways to unload unwanted presents include the Facebook Marketplace or other giveaway groups. Or keep it old school and simply make a trip to Goodwill or Salvation Army. You can also post on social media and see if any friends might be gnome collectors. You never know! If you get no takers and you’re turned away by Goodwill, there’s no shame in disposing of anything you can’t use. Your house is your haven, and you have every right to ditch anything that doesn’t belong.  

Let Your Closets Breathe

The start of a new year is a great time to assess your home storage situation. Be bold: Empty every closet. You’ll be amazed at how much space you can reclaim by this one (admittedly daunting) task. Trust us. The effort will be more than worth it. You might find that you no longer need at least 50 percent of what you’ve got stashed away. Life situations change, and sometimes we forget to loop in our closets. If those rollerblades or gardening tools taking up your hall closet are no longer your go-to items, let them go. You’ll breathe a happy sigh of relief every time you open one of your airy, smartly organized closets. And anything that doesn’t fit neatly into a closet at home is a perfect candidate for your self-storage unit.

Tackle the Basement

The basement is never the best place for storage, thanks to damp, clammy conditions that bring on mildew and mold. But most families wind up stashing all sorts of things down there in no man’s land — and as a result, basement items are some of the most forgotten and forlorn. Brave the spiders and the chill, and your future self will thank you. 

Ditch any textiles or old cardboard boxes with water damage or mouse droppings. Store important family items or old taxes in proper containers in your secure, protected storage unit, so you never have to worry about them again. Take to Facebook or Goodwill to rehome neglected items like old tools, play equipment, or suitcases. The basement is an excellent place to keep items unaffected by moisture or cold temperatures or items you need to get to regularly. Or this might be the year when you actually finish the basement to add more precious living space to your home. 

Start a Home-Based Business

Getting organized is just the start for your New Year. Have you been dreaming of starting your own business? Clear out that extra room and make yourself a home office (or reclaim that corner of the dining room table). Store extra office supplies in a climate-controlled unit, so those boxes of paper, envelopes, pens, and ink cartridges will be as fresh as the day you purchased them.

Take Up a New Hobby

Taking up a new hobby, especially one that comes along with some clunky equipment, like skiing or pottery can take up a lot of space. It’s a lot easier to follow your passions when you’ve got a self-storage unit in the mix. 

In St. Charles or the surrounding area? Decide your new goals, and talk to us about a self-storage unit just the right size for you. We’re happy to help you start the New Year with a brand-new attitude — and a brand-new plan for smart storage that will last for years to come. 

Otto Self Storage Has You Covered

There’s no better time than the New Year to sort out your storage needs. Otto Self Storage is committed to amazing customer service that the big names in self storage just can’t beat. For storage solutions with a great experience in the New Town, St. Peters, Bridgeton, or St. Louis areas, give us a call, browse locations online, or drive by one of our storage facilities to get set up with a brand new storage unit. Want to know more? Check out our storage tips and FAQs. We look forward to hearing from you!