How to Store Furniture in a Storage Unit
Knowing how to store furniture in a storage unit can make the difference between pulling your belongings out in good condition and discovering scratches, stains, trapped moisture, or damaged upholstery months later.
Whether you're storing furniture during a move, renovation, downsizing project, college transition, or simply because you've run out of room at home, preparation matters. Clean and dry everything before storage, disassemble larger pieces when practical, protect surfaces, and choose a storage environment appropriate for what you're storing.
For furniture that may be sensitive to North Dakota's temperature extremes, climate-controlled storage or heated storage can be worth considering.
Storage Kings offers a range of storage types and sizes in Fargo and Bismarck, along with month-to-month rentals at all facilities.
How to Pack Furniture for Climate Controlled Storage
Even when you're using climate-controlled storage, furniture should be properly prepared before it goes into the unit.
Start by cleaning each piece according to the manufacturer's care instructions. Furniture should be completely dry before you cover or store it.
When practical, disassemble tables, bed frames, shelving, and other large pieces. Removing legs or other components can reduce the amount of floor space you need and make furniture easier to move without damaging it.
Before putting furniture into storage:
- Clean each piece according to its care instructions.
- Make sure furniture is completely dry.
- Disassemble larger pieces when practical.
- Keep screws, bolts, and hardware in labeled bags.
- Protect finished surfaces and upholstery.
- Use appropriate breathable covers or moving blankets.
- Avoid wrapping furniture in a way that traps moisture.
Climate-controlled storage provides a more consistent storage environment, but it doesn't eliminate the need to properly clean, prepare, and protect your belongings.
How to Store a Mattress in a Storage Unit
Before storing a mattress, make sure it's clean and completely dry.
Use a mattress storage bag or another protective covering designed for mattress storage to help keep dust and dirt off the surface. Follow the mattress manufacturer's recommendations for long-term storage and positioning.
Avoid placing heavy boxes, furniture, or other belongings on top of a mattress. Long-term pressure can affect its shape and condition.
Don't assume every mattress should be stored the same way. Construction varies among traditional innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, latex, and other mattresses, so check the manufacturer's instructions before deciding whether yours should be stored flat or in another position.
Keep the mattress away from anything wet, dirty, sharp, or likely to damage the protective covering.
If you're storing a mattress through significant seasonal temperature changes, consider whether climate-controlled storage or heated storage is appropriate for your mattress and storage period.
How to Store a Couch in a Storage Unit
Start by thoroughly cleaning your couch according to its care instructions. Vacuum underneath cushions, between sections, and along seams. Remove crumbs, food, pet hair, and debris before putting the couch into storage.
Make sure the upholstery and cushions are completely dry before covering or storing the couch.
If the couch has removable legs, cushions, or sectional pieces, taking them apart can make transportation easier and reduce the risk of damage. Keep any hardware organized and clearly labeled.
Protect the couch without trapping moisture. Use an appropriate breathable furniture cover or moving blankets, and avoid placing heavy boxes or furniture on upholstered cushions or arms.
If possible, store the couch in its normal orientation rather than balancing it in a position it wasn't designed to support for an extended period.
Leave enough room in the storage unit to avoid scraping the couch against walls, doors, or other furniture when moving it in or out.
How to Store Wood Furniture in a Storage Unit
Wood furniture deserves extra attention because changes in its environment can affect the material and finish.
Clean wood furniture according to the manufacturer's recommendations and allow it to dry completely before storage.
If tables, bed frames, or other pieces can be safely disassembled, doing so may make them easier to transport and reduce the chance of damaging legs, corners, or joints.
When storing wood furniture:
- Clean and completely dry each piece before storage.
- Disassemble larger pieces when practical.
- Keep hardware labeled and organized.
- Protect finished surfaces with appropriate covers or moving blankets.
- Avoid materials that could trap moisture against the furniture.
- Don't place heavy objects on furniture unless it is designed to support them.
For wood furniture stored through a North Dakota winter or for an extended period, climate-controlled storage or heated storage may be worth considering because it provides a more consistent storage environment than an unconditioned space.
How to Store Leather Furniture in a Storage Unit
Leather furniture should be cleaned and prepared according to the manufacturer's care instructions before storage. Make sure the leather is completely dry before covering it.
Use an appropriate breathable covering that helps protect the furniture from dust without unnecessarily trapping moisture against the material.
Avoid placing heavy belongings on leather cushions, arms, or other upholstered surfaces. Give the furniture enough room that other stored items aren't pressing or rubbing against it.
Leather can be sensitive to storage conditions, so climate-controlled or heated storage may be a better choice than an unconditioned unit for long-term storage.
If you have expensive, antique, specialty, or particularly delicate leather furniture, follow the furniture manufacturer's recommendations or consult a qualified furniture-care professional before long-term storage.
Should You Use Climate-Controlled or Heated Storage for Furniture?
The answer depends on the furniture you're storing.
Standard drive-up storage can be practical for many household belongings, particularly when convenient loading and unloading are the priority.
But furniture made from wood, leather, delicate fabrics, or other materials that may be sensitive to major environmental changes may benefit from a more consistent storage environment.
Climate-Controlled Storage
Storage Kings North Bismarck offers climate-controlled storage in multiple sizes for customers who want a more consistent environment for their belongings.
Heated Storage
Storage Kings Fargo offers select larger heated units for customers who need substantially more space.
Think about the material, value, condition, and length of storage when choosing between storage types rather than automatically selecting the cheapest or largest unit.
Learn more about climate-controlled storage at Storage Kings and whether it makes sense for the furniture you're storing.
How to Protect Furniture in a Storage Unit
Furniture protection begins before anything enters the storage unit.
Clean and completely dry each piece. Protect surfaces appropriately, disassemble furniture where practical, and keep all hardware labeled and organized.
As you load the unit, avoid putting delicate furniture in positions where boxes or other belongings could fall against it.
For better furniture protection:
- Place heavier, sturdy belongings lower when safely stacking.
- Keep lighter belongings higher.
- Don't overload tables, dressers, shelves, or other furniture.
- Use moving blankets or appropriate furniture covers between pieces that could rub together.
- Protect corners, finished surfaces, upholstery, and other vulnerable areas.
- Leave an access path when space allows.
Also think about how you'll eventually remove everything. A tightly packed unit may maximize capacity, but it can make accessing furniture difficult without moving half the unit first.
Should Furniture Be Wrapped in Plastic for Storage?
Plastic can be useful in some storage situations, but tightly wrapping every piece of furniture in non-breathable plastic isn't automatically the best approach.
If furniture isn't completely dry or moisture becomes trapped underneath an impermeable covering, that can create problems during long-term storage.
Use protective materials appropriate for the furniture and storage environment. Breathable furniture covers and moving blankets can help protect surfaces from dust, scratches, and contact with other belongings.
For mattresses and certain upholstered items, purpose-designed storage bags may be appropriate. Follow the furniture or material manufacturer's care recommendations when you're unsure.
How Should You Arrange Furniture in a Storage Unit?
Start with the pieces you expect to need least often. Place large, sturdy furniture toward the back and sides of the unit while keeping frequently needed belongings closer to the entrance.
Use vertical space intelligently, but don't create unstable stacks.
Disassembled furniture can often be stored more efficiently than fully assembled pieces. Tabletops, bed-frame components, and other appropriately protected pieces may take up less room when separated.
If the unit is large enough, leave an aisle. Being able to walk into the unit can save considerable time if you need something stored toward the back.
Don't focus only on fitting everything inside. A well-organized storage unit can be far more useful than one packed completely from wall to wall.
What Size Storage Unit Do You Need for Furniture?
The right storage unit size depends on how much furniture you're storing, the dimensions of your larger pieces, and how efficiently everything can be arranged.
For a mattress, boxes, and a few smaller pieces, a compact storage unit may be enough. For furniture from a one-bedroom apartment, a 10x10 or comparable size can be a useful starting point depending on how heavily the apartment is furnished.
For multiple rooms or a two-bedroom apartment, you may need a 10x15, 10x20, or comparable larger space.
Storage Kings Fargo options include:
- 12x10: 120 square feet
- 12x20: 240 square feet
- 12x30: 360 square feet
- 14x30: 420 square feet
- 14x40: 560 square feet
- 14x50: 700 square feet
- 18x50: 900 square feet
Use the amount and dimensions of your actual furniture—not just the number of rooms in your home—to determine how much space you need.
You can also use our Storage Unit Size Guide to compare common unit sizes and determine where to start.
Furniture Storage During a Move or Renovation
Furniture storage doesn't always need to be long term.
If you're replacing flooring, remodeling a kitchen, painting, moving between homes, staging a property, or waiting for a new home to be ready, temporary storage can keep furniture out of the work area.
This is where month-to-month storage can be particularly useful. Storage Kings offers month-to-month rentals at all facilities, allowing you to rent based on how long your project or move actually takes rather than committing to a long-term agreement.
Drive-up storage can also simplify moves involving bulky furniture because you can pull your vehicle close to the storage-unit door.
Furniture Storage in Fargo, ND
If you're looking for furniture storage in Fargo, Storage Kings offers drive-up units ranging from 12x10 to 18x50.
Drive-up access can be particularly useful when you're moving sofas, mattresses, dressers, dining tables, appliances, and other heavy household belongings.
For customers who need a different storage environment or substantially more space, Fargo also offers select 18x50 and 20x50 heated storage.
The best option depends on how much furniture you're storing, what it's made from, how long you'll store it, and whether convenient drive-up access or a more consistent storage environment is your priority.
You can learn more about Storage Kings Fargo or compare current storage options by location.
Store Your Furniture With Storage Kings
Proper furniture storage starts with three things: clean belongings, appropriate protection, and enough space.
Clean and completely dry your furniture before storage. Protect surfaces and upholstery. Disassemble large pieces when practical. Avoid unstable stacking, and choose a storage type appropriate for the furniture you're storing.
Then choose a unit with enough room to load, organize, and eventually remove everything without unnecessary damage.
Storage Kings offers storage options in Fargo and Bismarck for everything from a few household belongings to furniture from larger homes and businesses.
With month-to-month rentals, you can store furniture for a move, renovation, seasonal need, or longer period based on what works for you.
Clean it. Protect it. Give it enough space. A little preparation before storage can make a big difference when it's time to bring your furniture home again.
Find the Right Storage Unit
Compare current Storage Kings availability and find the size and storage type that fits what you need to store.
