You rent a storage unit thinking you’ve got plenty of space. Then somehow, three months later, you can’t find anything and there’s barely room to walk. How does that even happen?

It happens because most people treat storage units like a junk drawer. Just throw stuff in there and hope for the best. And then they’re surprised when it becomes a chaotic mess where nothing is accessible.

Having worked with storage situations here on the island, I see this constantly. People paying for space they can’t actually use because they packed it so badly. It’s like… you’re literally paying rent on square meters you can’t access. That’s money down the drain.

The Vertical Space Thing Nobody Uses

Here’s what drives me crazy. People stack boxes on the floor until there’s no more floor space, and then they’re like “welp, unit’s full!” Meanwhile, there’s like two meters of empty space above their heads doing absolutely nothing.

Use shelving. Seriously. Metal shelving units are cheap, they’re sturdy, and they instantly multiply your usable space. You can fit probably twice as much stuff in the same unit if you actually use the vertical space properly.

But people don’t want to spend money on shelves because they’re thinking “I’m already paying for the storage unit, why would I pay for more stuff?” Because the shelves make the unit actually functional, that’s why. Without them, you’re wasting like 60% of the space you’re paying for.

And it’s not just about cramming more stuff in there. It’s about being able to see and access what you have. Boxes stacked six high on the floor? Good luck getting to the bottom one without unpacking everything. Same boxes on shelves at different levels? You can grab whatever you need without destroying your organizational system.

The metal shelving is better than wood here because… humidity. Wood shelving can warp, can get moldy, absorbs moisture. Metal shelving just sits there doing its job. Maybe gets a bit of surface rust if you’re in a non-climate-controlled unit, but that’s way better than warped wooden shelves collapsing.

Actually Declutter Before You Store (Novel Concept)

Why are you storing stuff you don’t even want? This is the question I want to ask like half the people who rent storage units. They’re paying money every month to keep things they’ll never use again.

I get it. It’s hard to throw things away. That’s emotionally difficult. But is it worth paying 2,000 or 3,000 baht a month to store a box of old clothes you haven’t worn in five years? Do the math. Over a year, that’s 24,000-36,000 baht to keep stuff you don’t want.

Declutter first, then store. Not the other way around. And I don’t mean just a quick glance through your stuff. Really look at what you’re keeping. Do you actually need it? Will you actually use it? Or are you keeping it because “maybe someday” or because throwing it away feels wasteful?

The sunk cost fallacy is real with storage. People keep paying rent on units full of junk because they’ve already paid so much that it feels wrong to get rid of the stuff. But continuing to pay for something you don’t need isn’t somehow better than cutting your losses.

Here’s a controversial take: if you haven’t thought about an item in six months, you probably don’t need it stored. If you can’t remember what’s in half your boxes without opening them, you definitely have too much stuff in there.

Sell stuff. Donate it. Throw it away. Whatever. But stop paying to store things you don’t care about. Use the storage unit for stuff that actually matters – seasonal equipment, important documents, furniture you’ll need when you move to a bigger place, whatever. Not your entire life history in cardboard boxes.

Plastic Bins vs Cardboard Boxes (This Again)

Okay, so I’ve talked about this before in the context of rain protection, but it applies to space optimization too. Plastic bins are better than cardboard boxes in basically every way.

They stack better because they’re uniform sizes and rigid. Cardboard boxes sag under weight, especially in humidity. Plastic bins don’t. You can stack them higher and trust they won’t collapse.

You can see through clear plastic bins, which is huge for organization. No more opening ten boxes to find your beach stuff. Just look at the bins and grab the right one.

They protect your stuff better from the environment. And on this island, that matters. Humidity gets into cardboard boxes. Bugs get into cardboard boxes. Mold grows on cardboard boxes. Plastic bins seal up and keep all that stuff out.

Yeah, they cost more initially. But cardboard boxes here degrade fast. You’ll replace them. Plastic bins last basically forever. So really, over time, plastic bins are probably cheaper AND they work better.

The only downside is they’re bulkier when empty. If you’re taking them home after unpacking, they take up more space than flattened cardboard. But if you’re keeping stuff in storage long-term, that doesn’t matter.

And please, for the love of everything, get bins that are all the same size. Or at least two or three standard sizes. Trying to stack different-sized random bins is like playing Tetris on hard mode. Uniform bins stack neatly and efficiently.

Labeling: Do It Right or Don’t Bother

Everyone knows they should label their boxes or bins. Everyone does it. And somehow, half the labels are useless.

“Miscellaneous stuff” – thanks, super helpful. “Things from old apartment” – wow, couldn’t have figured that out. “Various items” – I’m starting to think you’re trolling yourself.

Label specifically. Not just “kitchen stuff” but “kitchen – pots and pans” or “kitchen – small appliances.” Not “clothes” but “winter clothes” or “beach clothes” or whatever actually helps you find what you need.

And label multiple sides of each box or bin. At least two sides, preferably three. Because when they’re stacked, you might not be able to see the front. If all your labels are facing the wrong way, congratulations, you now have to move everything to read the labels.

Use a permanent marker that actually works. Those cheap markers that barely show up? Useless. Get a proper Sharpie or paint pen. Make labels big and clear. If you’re squinting to read your own labels, you did it wrong.

Color coding is extra but it works really well if you’re that organized. Blue bins for beach/water stuff. Red bins for important documents. Green bins for outdoor equipment. Whatever system makes sense to you. Then you can spot what you need at a glance.

Some people get fancy with inventory spreadsheets and apps. If that’s your thing, great. But honestly, just good clear labels on everything is 90% of the battle. You don’t need a complex system, you just need to be able to find stuff.

The Aisle Strategy (Yes, This Matters)

Leave an aisle. I cannot stress this enough. Leave. An. Aisle.

I see units packed wall-to-wall with boxes, no path through the middle, stuff stacked from floor to ceiling with zero access. And then the person needs something from the back and they’re like “oh no, I have to unpack the entire unit.”

Yes. Yes you do. Because you packed it like an idiot.

Leave a walkway down the middle of your unit. Doesn’t have to be huge – like 60-80cm is enough for one person to walk through. But that aisle means you can actually access all your stuff without moving everything else first.

Put the things you might need to access on the sides of the aisle. Things you definitely won’t need until you move out can go in the back. But at least you can reach them if you need to.

This does mean you can’t fit quite as much stuff in the unit. That’s the tradeoff. But a unit that’s 80% full and functional is better than a unit that’s 100% full and completely useless because nothing is accessible.

Think about traffic flow too. If you’re going to be coming to the unit regularly to swap stuff out – like seasonal equipment or business inventory – organize it so the frequently-accessed stuff is near the front. Don’t bury your snorkel gear under a year’s worth of archived paperwork.

Heavy Stuff on Bottom, Light Stuff on Top (Apparently Not Obvious)

This should be common sense but I see people violate this constantly. Heavy boxes on top of light boxes. Then the light boxes get crushed. Shocking.

Books are heavy. Tools are heavy. Dishes and kitchen stuff can be heavy. Those go on the bottom of your stacks or on lower shelves.

Clothes are light. Linens and towels are light. Pillows are light. Those can go up high without crushing anything below them.

If you’re using shelving, the weight distribution matters even more. Overload a shelf and it can bend or collapse. Most of those metal shelving units have weight ratings – actually pay attention to them. Don’t put 50kg of books on a shelf rated for 30kg and then act surprised when it bends.

Also, heavy stuff is easier to lift from lower positions anyway. You’re not going to want to lift a box of tools over your head to put it on a top shelf. Physics and your back both prefer heavy stuff stays low.

Furniture Tetris and Dead Space

Furniture is awkward to store because it takes up so much space and you can’t stack stuff on it easily. But there are ways to make it work better.

Stand things vertically if you can. A mattress leaning against a wall takes up way less floor space than one lying flat. Table leaves can go vertical. Headboards, definitely vertical.

Use the space inside furniture. Drawers in a dresser? Put stuff in them. You’re storing the dresser anyway, might as well use the interior space. Just make sure it’s light stuff so the piece isn’t ridiculously heavy to move.

Couches and chairs – you can sometimes stack boxes on them if you’re careful. Put something down first to protect the upholstery, but that surface area doesn’t have to be wasted space.

Hollow furniture like ottomans or storage benches are great for storage units. They’re literally designed to hold stuff inside them, so use them for that.

Dead space is the enemy. That weird gap between the top of your shelving unit and the ceiling? Put something there. The space under a table? Fill it. Every cubic centimeter you’re paying for should be doing something useful.

But – and this is important – don’t pack things so tight that air can’t circulate. Especially in non-climate-controlled units. Some air movement helps prevent moisture buildup and mold. So use the space efficiently, but not so efficiently that you’ve created a hermetically sealed pile of stuff that’s going to get musty.

Seasonal Rotation Actually Makes Sense Here

Living on a tropical island, you’d think everything is the same year-round. But that’s not really true. Rainy season is different from dry season. Some people need different equipment at different times.

If you’re storing seasonal stuff – diving equipment you only use in certain months, rain gear that’s essential during monsoon season but unused the rest of the year, whatever – rotate it based on what you actually need.

When rainy season is coming, move your rain protection stuff to the front of the unit. Move your beach equipment toward the back. Then switch it around when dry season hits. This way, the stuff you need soon is always accessible.

It requires visiting your unit a couple times a year to reorganize, which some people don’t want to do. But if you’re storing stuff you actually use regularly, it makes sense to keep it organized by season.

Holiday decorations are another seasonal thing. If you’re one of those expats who goes all out for Christmas or whatever, those decorations can be stored in the very back of the unit 11 months a year. Then in December, you can dig them out. No reason for them to take up prime real estate near the door.

The Moisture Problem (Because Everything Here Has a Moisture Problem)

Even if you’re in a climate-controlled unit, you should still use moisture absorbers. The humidity here is no joke. It finds its way into everything.

Those DampRid containers or similar products – spread them around your unit. In corners, on shelves, near anything particularly moisture-sensitive. And check them regularly because they fill up fast in this climate.

Silica gel packets are good too, especially inside individual bins with electronics or documents. You can buy them in bulk online for pretty cheap.

Don’t wrap everything in plastic thinking it’ll protect against moisture. Sometimes it does the opposite – traps moisture inside with your stuff, creates a little humidity greenhouse. Use breathable covers on furniture, not plastic sheets.

Check on your unit regularly. Not just once when you pack it and then never again until you move out. Every month or two, pop in and look around. Are things damp? Musty smell developing? Mold starting somewhere? Catch problems early before they destroy everything.

The moisture absorbers need to be replaced or recharged regularly. Don’t just put them in there once and forget about them for a year. They stop working when they’re saturated, and then they’re just decorative containers doing nothing.

What’s Actually Worth Storing (vs What You Should Get Rid Of)

Some things make sense to store. Furniture when you’re between houses. Important documents and photos. Seasonal equipment you use regularly. Business inventory or archives. Stuff that’s valuable and you’ll definitely need it later.

Some things don’t make sense to store. Cheap furniture you could replace for less than you’ll spend on storage rent. Clothes that don’t fit. Old electronics that are probably obsolete by the time you get them out of storage. Stuff you’re keeping out of guilt or obligation rather than actual need.

Here’s a rough test: if storing something for a year costs more than replacing it, why are you storing it? Obviously there are exceptions for sentimental value or irreplaceable items. But that Ikea bookshelf? Not worth six months of storage rent.

I see people storing broken things they’re “going to fix someday.” No you’re not. If you haven’t fixed it in the six months since it broke, you’re not going to fix it. Throw it away or donate it. Stop paying to store garbage.

Expired stuff is another thing. Food (obviously, why would you store food?), old medications, outdated electronics, worn-out linens – these things should not be taking up space in a storage unit. They should be in a trash can.

Security Stuff You Can’t Ignore

Use a good lock. Not the cheap combination lock from 7-Eleven. Get a proper disc lock or heavy-duty padlock. Bolt cutters exist, and cheap locks are basically an invitation.

Don’t tell random people where your storage unit is or that you have one. I know that sounds paranoid, but… you’re literally keeping all your stuff in one place. Keep that information need-to-know.

Most storage facilities have cameras and some level of security, but don’t rely on that completely. Your lock is the first line of defense. If someone can easily cut through it, the cameras are just recording your stuff getting stolen.

Don’t store anything truly valuable in a storage unit if you can avoid it. Jewelry, cash, irreplaceable personal items – find somewhere else for those. Storage units are reasonably secure, but they’re not bank vaults.

Take photos of how you packed everything. Not for organization (though it helps with that too), but for insurance purposes. If something happens and you need to make a claim, you’ll want documentation of what was there and its condition.

The “Access Everything Easily” Approach vs “Cram It All In” Approach

There are basically two philosophies for using a storage unit. You can pack it efficiently to maximize space, or you can pack it for easy access. You probably can’t do both perfectly.

If you’re storing stuff long-term and won’t need to access anything until you move out, the cramming approach makes sense. Pack it tight, use every bit of space, optimize for volume.

If you’re going to be in and out of the unit regularly, swapping things around, using it as an extension of your living space – then access matters more than maximum capacity. Leave space to move, organize things logically, don’t pack it so full you can’t find anything.

Most people fall somewhere in the middle. You want decent space efficiency but also need to access some things occasionally. That’s where the aisle strategy and good organization really pay off.

Think about your actual usage pattern. Are you storing stuff for three months during a move? Six months while traveling? Two years while you figure out your long-term plans? Your packing strategy should match your timeline and access needs.

Common Mistakes That Drive Me Nuts

Not leaving contact info inside the unit. If something happens and the facility needs to reach you, they should be able to. Tape a note inside with your phone number and email.

Storing liquids. Just don’t. Cleaning supplies, paint, oil, whatever – if it can leak, don’t store it. When it does leak, it ruins everything around it. Not worth the risk.

Ignoring weight distribution in boxes. Putting all books in one box makes a box nobody can lift. Spread heavy items across multiple containers mixed with lighter stuff.

Using boxes that are damaged or weak. That box that’s a little torn? It’ll fall apart completely once you stack things on it. Start with good containers or you’re wasting your time.

Not securing things that can roll or slide. Put something in front of wheeled items so they don’t roll around. Secure things that could fall over. Coming back to find your bike fell over and scratched your furniture is avoidable.

Packing things you’ll need soon in the back. Think about what you’ll actually need to access and put it near the front. The Christmas decorations can go in the back. Your passport and important documents should not be buried under everything.

Final Thoughts (And Yes, I Have Opinions)

Maximizing storage space is partly about physical organization and partly about being honest with yourself about what you actually need to keep.

Use shelving. Use uniform containers. Label everything clearly. Leave an aisle. Put heavy stuff on bottom. Check on things regularly. Use moisture control. Don’t store junk.

It’s not complicated, but it does require actually thinking about how you’re packing things rather than just throwing stuff in boxes and hoping for the best.

And honestly, if your storage unit is packed so full you can’t walk through it or find anything, you’re doing it wrong. Even if you technically fit more stuff in there, it’s not useful space if nothing is accessible.

The goal isn’t to win a Tetris competition. The goal is to safely store your belongings in a way that makes sense and allows you to actually use the space when you need to.

Anyway, if you need storage space on Samui that’s actually designed for the climate here, check out Samui Storage. We’ve got climate-controlled units, security, and enough space that you can organize things properly instead of cramming everything in like a garbage compactor. Plus, you know, people who actually understand how storage works in tropical environments instead of just renting you a box and saying good luck.