Getting ready to welcome a bundle of joy? Congratulations! We know how hectic it can be preparing for a little one. Between finding out the gender to picking out names and deciding how you’re going to decorate the nursery, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed throughout your pregnancy. BUT, one thing you can count on is that we’re going to give you the best tips on how to use a self-storage facility in order to make room for your little one.
So put your feet up, grab a large glass of milk and read about how you can have an exciting, stress-free experience while creating a serene room for your baby.
Choosing a Room
When you start deciding on the perfect room for your little one, take the time to choose a room that is both close to your bedroom and has ample space for all of your baby’s necessities.
Sorry, dads. Chances are, that means your mancave days may be behind you. But on the upside it does mean you’re wife may finally let you get that over-the-top grill you’ve been wanting just to make up for it. Win, win?! We think so!
Whichever room you ultimately decide on always be sure it’s a room that isn’t hard to transform into a kid-friendly, hazard-free environment.
Transforming Your Baby Nook
If you’re transforming a room that’s currently being used be prepared to do some serious cleaning. (Pro tip: create a checklist of everything that needs to be done so you don’t have a pregnancy brain moment and forget something.)
Take out the furniture, sweep, mop and/or vacuum the floor and sanitize any pieces you decide to keep in the room. While you’re at it add a fresh coat of paint or a cute wallpaper print to brighten up the room. Transform the room into a baby oasis that your little one can grow in and explore!
However, just because you need to free up space doesn’t mean you need to throw out all of your husbands Star Wars collectables or your wife’s Moroccan coffee table she got when studying abroad in college. This is where renting a self-storage unit comes in. Take those big, bulky items that don’t fit in your hall closet and pack ‘em away in a storage unit.
BONUS: As your baby grows add the items he or she outgrows to the unit as keepsakes or for future babies down the road.
Choosing a Self Storage Unit
Okay, so the last thing you want to do as an expecting mom is walk through rows of storage units and up two or three flights of stairs just to put a lamp in your unit. Choose a facility that offers drive up or ground floor units. This not only makes it easy for you when you initially move your things in but also when you need to take something out of storage or add something to it.
Or, ya know, just make your spouse do all the work.
Deciding What Stays and What Goes
This is probably the hardest part of this whole process. Due to the amount of new baby furniture, you’re bound to get and the amount of space it’s bound to take up you’ll probably find yourself wanting to get rid of large and small pieces of furniture and home decor.
Take a look at each piece in the room and ask yourself how often that item is used or if it’s just a bit of eye candy. I know, moms, that Jonathan Adler rug really is a thing of beauty but chances are spit up doesn’t exactly go with it. We know it’s hard to part with home pieces you’ve come to love but just think about it as a “see you later” instead of a goodbye. ;)
Next, decide which items are choking hazards -yes, that miniature figurine of your favorite superhero with detachable parts can be dangerous to your little one. Take the smaller items-even from other parts of your home- and pack them away in a tightly sealed box.
Exercise equipment? How about an extra TV? We don’t think your newborn is going to be worried about losing a few pounds so it’s best to lose the treadmill too (don’t worry, storage units come in various sizes). Take out of season clothes and bedding you hardly use and pack those away too. You won’t need them right away and you don’t want them taking up space that can be occupied by something useful.
Ultimately, keep items you know you’ll be using once the baby arrives. If it has no place in a nursery, then put in storage until your child is old enough to be around it or you decide to redecorate parts of your home.
Organizing Your Storage Unit
Once you’ve finally packed and unpacked and repacked everything that is going into your unit it’s time to get moving. Get our spouse and a few friends together and have them load up everything into your unit.
But not before you place every labeled box and piece of furniture in the right place. You don’t want to have to search through 10 boxes before finding that thick winter blanket you love so much. Place seasonal items in order of upcoming seasons.
Place any extra baby items not being used right away in front of the unit. All electronics and exercise equipment have a nice place towards the back of the unit. Also, don’t forget to make an aisle! It will give you room to wobble through the unit when you need something. Keep boxes stacked in single rows and remember to cover furniture so it doesn’t get scratched or torn.
We know how excited you are about introducing your little love to the world. But, remember that as excited you are chances are there’s a couple of grandparents out there even more excited than you are; maybe even an aunt and uncle, and a few friends as well.
Get ready to receive a flood of new baby items that your little one won’t need right away. A storage unit is the perfect place to put those items until your baby is old enough to use them. Pack and store as much clutter as possible before your baby arrives because trust us, you’ll have enough toys and baby clothes spewed around as it is that you’ll be thanking yourself that for not feeling like you’re living in a hobbit home.
About the Author: Lark Begin is the president of Profit Parrot Marketing; an SEO marketing, content and social media company in the Ottawa area. Lark is well established in the realm of digital marketing and is dedicated to helping multiple professional local and international websites and brands grow an online presence and succeed.