You’ve now got a Brilliant Storage Limited unit. Congratulations! Congratulations! Now comes the fun part: packing it efficiently. We’ll look at some packing tips that will have you packing like Tetris.

Make a plan first. Planned activities can be just as thrilling as watching paint drying, but I urge you to trust me. Draw out an approximate layout of the way you plan to store and stack your items. You will not have to play musical chairs with your boxes in the future.

Boxes are the best friend here. If possible, choose boxes with similar dimensions. Like building with Legos, everything fits together without falling over. Don’t forget to mark them! You’ll thank yourself in the future when you don’t have to rip through each box searching for one item.

Let’s discuss the classic dilemma of heavy versus light items. Place heavier items on the bottom, and lighter ones at the top. This is basic physics–unless your goal is to create an avalanche of cardboard.

Bubble wrap isn’t just for popping. (Although, that is a form of therapy in itself). Wrap fragile pieces in newspaper or bubble wrap before packaging them to avoid heartache later.

Don’t stuff everything like you would a suitcase just before a vacation. Allow air to circulate between the stacks, preventing mildew or mold from settling in.

Think vertically! Stack your units upwards instead of spreading them outwards to maximize the height. If you need to, invest in sturdy shelving units. They’re a lifesaver when it comes time to maximize space without compromising access.

Create pathways in your storage area so that you can reach the items at the rear without having to perform acrobatics fit for Cirque du Soleil.

Remember those old blankets that were collecting dust? These blankets are perfect for protecting furniture and large appliances from scratches while they’re in storage.

Do not forget moisture control. Nobody wants to smell their possessions like they have been submerged for months! Add some silica gel or moisture absorbers in case humidity shows up uninvited.

Last but not least, and this may sound silly, keep a list of your inventory outside the unit or digitally stored somewhere that you can access at any time. Let’s be honest: our memory isn’t reliable when we’re faced with mountains and mountains (or molehills!) worth remembering.