Furniture storage in Blackpool
so it comes out as it went in

Is it worth storing?

Before you pay to store a piece, ask a blunt question: would you buy it again at today's price? A good solid wood table, a family heirloom or a quality sofa you will use in your next home is usually worth storing. Flat-pack that has already been assembled twice, a mattress near the end of its life or a chest of drawers you never liked often is not.

A rough way to decide is to compare the replacement cost with the share of rent the item takes up. A large wardrobe might take up a tenth of a 150 sq ft unit. At £65 a week that is roughly £28 a month of space. If you will store it for a year and could replace it for £150, it may not earn its place.

Our decluttering guide has more on making these decisions without regret.

Prepare each piece before it moves

Start with a clean. Vacuum sofas and chairs, including down the sides of cushions. Wipe wooden surfaces with a slightly damp cloth and let them dry fully. Empty every drawer, even if it is tempting to leave them full. Full drawers make pieces much heavier and can strain joints and runners when lifted.

Then photograph anything valuable, including existing marks or scratches. It gives you a record for insurance and a reminder of how things went together.

Dismantle what you can

Taking furniture apart saves space and reduces the chance of damage. Bed frames, table legs, wardrobe doors and shelving all come apart more easily than people think.

• Put every screw, bolt and fitting in a labelled sandwich bag and tape it firmly to the main piece.
• Keep assembly instructions with the item, or photograph each stage as you take it apart.
• Wrap legs together and label them with the piece they belong to.
• Remove glass shelves and pack them separately, on edge, wrapped and padded.

Some antique or older pieces are glued rather than screwed, and forcing them apart can do real damage. If in doubt, leave them whole.

Wrap for the long term

How you wrap depends on how long you are storing. For a short move, stretch wrap protects against knocks. For storage of more than a few weeks, breathable covers are safer, because plastic pressed against wood or fabric can trap moisture.

• Wood: moving blankets or old duvets, held with tape on the blanket, not the wood.
• Upholstery: breathable sofa and chair covers, or clean cotton sheets.
• Mattresses: a proper mattress bag, stored flat or on its side as the maker recommends.
• Leather: cotton covers, kept away from anything that could stain it.
• Mirrors and glass: cardboard corners, bubble wrap and a marked "fragile, this side up" label.

Arranging furniture in the unit

1. Floor firstLay down pallets, boards or old rugs to keep items off the floor, especially if storing long term.
2. Tall pieces at the backWardrobes, bookcases and dressers along the back and side walls.
3. Sofas on their feetKeep sofas upright. Standing them on end can damage frames and springs. Place light items on top only if they cannot slip.
4. Tables on their topsOnce legs are off, a table top can go on its edge against a wall, padded on both sides.
5. Fill the voidsUse wardrobe and drawer space for cushions, curtains and linen.
6. Leave an aisleEven a narrow walkway lets you check on things and get to them without moving everything.

Which unit suits furniture?

For anything bulky, a roller shutter makes life far easier. You can reverse a van close to the door and carry a sofa straight in. Our 150 sq ft roller-shutter unit (£65 a week) and 180 sq ft roller-shutter unit (£78 a week) both have this.

The 160 sq ft unit (£69 a week) is reached by a security door. It works well for furniture that goes through a normal internal doorway, but measure wide items first.

The two-storey unit has a roller-shutter ground floor and an upstairs area reached by an internal staircase. Bulky furniture belongs downstairs. Our first-floor pods and rooms, opening spring 2027, are reached by stairs too, so they suit smaller pieces such as chairs, bedside tables and flat-pack.

Moving furniture safely on the day

Most furniture damage happens in transit, not in storage. Lift with two people for anything heavier than a dining chair. Carry tables upside down so the legs, or the leg fixings, are not knocked. Protect door frames as well as the furniture. Strap items inside the van so they cannot slide on corners.

At the unit, unload in the order you plan to stack: the big pieces that go to the back first, then boxes. If you have a lot of furniture, consider a removal firm, since experienced movers wrap and load quickly and are less likely to scrape a wall or a sideboard.

Keeping furniture in good condition

Visit every month or two if you are storing for a long time. Lift a cover or two, check for any marks or signs of pests, and make sure nothing has shifted. If a stack looks unstable, fix it before it falls.

Avoid putting heavy boxes on top of upholstered furniture. Over months, the weight can flatten cushions and leave permanent dents. If you need the space, put a sheet of board across first to spread the load.

When things come out, give wooden pieces a day or two to settle at home before polishing, and air upholstered pieces in a well-ventilated room.

Storing furniture you plan to sell or upcycle

Not all stored furniture is waiting to go back into a home. Some people collect pieces to restore and sell. If that is you, think about whether you want a pure storage unit or somewhere to work as well. Our furniture upcycling unit ideas page looks at that, including what is and is not permitted. All business use needs our prior approval.

If you are simply selling off a houseful after a move or bereavement, a unit gives buyers somewhere to view pieces without coming into your home. Keep the most saleable items near the door.

Questions

Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Business use needs prior approval. Car storage is not permitted.