When it comes to fast fashion, there are few benefits for you or our planet. Although these clothes may be affordable and on-trend with high-end fashion retailers, they are cheaply made and eventually contribute to a significant amount of waste in landfills around the globe.

While we all want to dress in a way to express our personalities, there is a global price to pay when you choose to shop at fast-fashion retailers—and that price is contributing to more carbon emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste.

At Safeguard Self Storage in Brooklyn, NY, we all want to do our best for the planet while expressing our individuality, which is why we wanted to take a closer look at how you can get the most out of a fashionable wardrobe without impacting the environment.

Why Is Fast Fashion Bad?

It's hard to resist the latest trends when you can buy three affordable versions at a fast-fashion retailer. And, while it can be fun to invest in easily accessible, trendy clothes for a diverse wardrobe, that joy wears off quickly due to changing trends or items falling apart from poor craftsmanship. Speaking of changing trends: as styles change with the times, fast fashion houses are forced into manufacturing new articles of clothing to keep up, which contributes to significant global carbon emissions.

Cheap materials quickly wear out. Once those new jeans fade or lose their shape, you move on. Think about the expense of stuffing your closets with fast fashion. Replacement costs add up, and replaced items end up in a landfill if they are not disposed of properly or donated. Remember, quality lasts, and that's better for your long-term budget and the health of our planet.

Stop Before You Toss

It may seem easy to throw out inexpensive items, but make sure to stop before you toss. Remember that fabric decomposing in landfills emits toxic greenhouse gases, and clothes are always better off being donated. If an item is torn or damaged, sew it up yourself or support a local business that offers mending services.

Choose Quality Over Quantity

Invest in your wardrobe and our planet by making quality clothing purchases, even if they have a higher up-front cost. These items will be wearable and durable for years to come and can be easily mended if damage occurs.

Additionally, try to source ethical, trustworthy clothing companies that work hard to reduce carbon emissions and treat their employees fairly. And always follow the recommended care instructions to ensure your washing machine doesn’t harm them.

How Clothing Storage Can Help

Rather than tossing out or donating the clothes you already own, you can make room in your closet for high-quality items by adding additional storage space with Safeguard. With our wide selection of climate controlled self storage units, you can keep the items you’ve already purchased out of landfills, save space at home, and come back to them whenever you desire.

When you organize clothes for self storage, you can also clear up cluttered home storage spaces and donate things you don't want to keep. In addition, you can monetize extra items by selling them to a used clothing dealer near you. The idea is to give old clothes a new life instead of throwing them away, allowing you to transition from fast fashion to a wardrobe that lasts—and that's good for you and the planet.

Store Extra Clothes at a Safeguard Facility Near You

Safeguard Self Storage can help you protect our environment by giving you affordable storage solutions that always fit. We offer climate-controlled clothing storage in Brooklyn in a variety of sizes (including units the size of a standard closet), and our leasing options are flexible, too. You want the best clothing storage available, and Safeguard is here to help. Call us today to rent a unit or reserve a space online!

The start of every new year means new beginnings. From revitalizing your home to give it a fresh look to giving yourself more breathing room by simply getting things out of the way, downsizing your space can help you achieve bliss. Here at Safeguard Self Storage, we can show you how living with less can lead to more, including eliminating waste especially in the already crowded neighborhood of East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A More Popular Solution

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) the average size of new houses fell for the third straight year in 2018. The average square footage of a single-family home has dropped from over 2,500 square feet in 2015 down to 2,320 in 2018. Furthermore, most New Yorkers live in spaces much smaller than that (as anyone who has ever lived in a tiny studio understands).

Combine this with the trend that Marie Kondo and others have popularized—a trend towards minimal living and cleanliness—and it's the perfect storm for downsizing to become popular. As a result, if downsizing sounds like something you want to do, you won't be the only one. You'll have plenty of help and advice in achieving your downsizing dream.

Of course, a smaller space means less work to work with, and you can't keep everything you had in your previous home. That's where self storage comes in.

Assess Your Needs

When downsizing, you should always take a moment and figure out what you actually need and what you can get rid of. It's a task that is easier said than done, though. It's easy to not want to get rid of anything, even if it's probably the most meaningless item in the house. Try not to fall into the trap of "I might need this later," which, let's be honest, can be applied to almost everything. 

If you're having difficulty making decisions on certain items, ask a third party—like a friend or family member—to help you decide if you need an item or if you're unreasonably attached to it (we've all been there). They'll ask how often you use the item, when the last time you used the item was, and why you've been keeping it around if you haven't.

Less is More

There are plenty of benefits to downsizing. A smaller home is both less expensive to purchase as well as less expensive to heat and cool. That extra money can go towards upgrading your new home the way you want it or towards a larger storage unit.

Another benefit? More free time! With a smaller home, you will spend less time with everyday tasks around your house. In addition, less space almost means less of a reason to buy things you don't need, giving secondary savings. If you don't have anywhere to put it you're less likely to buy it.

Downsize With Safeguard

Downsizing is a popular way to save money and simplify your life for a reason. No longer is it seen as a step down in society, but instead as a more efficient way to live. You can't keep everything, but for the things you need to keep but don't have room for in East Williamsburg, reserve a storage unit at Safeguard Self Storage in Brooklyn, NY, to keep your belongings safe. 

With spring break just around the corner, you're ready to pack up for fun and sun along the shoreline. Whether you're traveling out of state or headed for Brighton Beach, use convenient storage units in Brooklyn, NY to stay organized as you check your list of spring break essentials.

Must-Have Beach Wear

If you stashed seasonal clothes in self storage, it's time to liberate your beach wardrobe. Along with favorite swimsuits and sunglasses, retrieve these spring break must-haves.

• Cover-ups, kimonos, and sarongs
• Wide-brimmed hats and wind-proof caps
• Flip-flops, sandals, and water shoes

Plenty of Personal Protection

Pamper yourself on vacation by keeping the sun and surf at bay. You won't spend every day under a palm tree, so pack plenty of personal protection.

• Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
• Long-lasting, waterproof lip balm
• Disposable wipes for clean hands and feet
• Insect repellent made with lemongrass, citronella, or cedarwood

Beachcomber Basics

When you stake out a sunny spot on the sand, do more than throw down a beach towel. On your way to the shore, be sure to pull these beachcomber basics out of self storage.

• Roomy beach bags and wheeled coolers
• Beach chairs and umbrellas
• Easy-wash picnic tablecloths

Water Toys and Gear

Jump into spring break with both feet by picking up sports equipment that spent the winter in your storage unit. Be sure to grab your favorite water toys, too.

• Wetsuits and scuba diving gear
• Volleyball or spikeball equipment
• Frisbees, footballs, and paddleball sets
• Beach balls, sand pails, and swim rings

Storage Tips for the Big Stuff

If things seem a little crowded in self storage, make room by repositioning big items. Stop by the sporting goods store and pick up an inexpensive rack designed for holding fishing poles.

Keep kayaks and paddle boards out of the way by elevating them in the unit. Set up adjustable loop systems that suspend equipment from the ceiling and stash oars in your fishing pole stand.

Home Base Year-Round

When you finish your spring break packing list, relax. Enjoy knowing you can stay organized when you rent storage units in Brooklyn, NY or any of our other nearby Safeguard locations. Wherever you're headed for vacation, we're your home base, and we're just around the corner year-round.

You're always tossing things into the extra room, so it's not exactly wasted space. Still, you daydream about converting it into something really useful. With so many affordable storage units in Brooklyn, NY, why not kick out the clutter and work some DIY magic with these spare room makeover ideas?

1. Shape Up in a Personal Gym

Transform your extra room into a personal gym with all the equipment you've stashed in self storage. When it's too wet to jog in Prospect Park, hit the treadmill back at the house. It's easy to stay motivated in the privacy of your home.

2. Create an Art Studio

Set your inner artist free inside a home art studio. Hang sectioned shelving dedicated to oil, pastel, and watercolor supplies. Use a tilting table as a sketch board, and set up your easel next to a bright window.

3. Give Kids Study Space

Liberate spare desks and chairs from self storage for homework in the extra room. Set up a quiet space where the kids can study. Make it a designated spot for stashing school supplies and backpacks.

4. Give Youngsters a Play Station

Let younger kids go wild in their own special play room. Corral their stuff with bench seating that doubles as toy storage. When the kids get noisy in their new den, quietly close the door, and let them have fun.

5. Make Man Cave Dreams Come True

Turn the extra room into the ultimate man cave with a gaming table that can handle cards, poker chips, and dice. Set up a small flat screen opposite comfy loungers and console setups for non-stop online multiplayer action.

6. Glide Into a Fashionista's Walk-In

Treat yourself to a beautiful walk-in closet with this DIY spare room conversion. Install wall- and floor-mounted storage units with hanging racks and glide-out shelves. Add full-length mirrors to reflect your fabulous fashionista taste.

7. Relax in Your Own Cocktail Lounge

Elevate the home bar a few shots above an ordinary happy hour with an in-house cocktail lounge conversion. Center decorating around the retro fun of a leather-padded island bar, hipster stools, and a wheeled cocktail cart.

Keep Kicking Out Clutter

Whether you work out, sketch, or toss back a few, enjoy your new room. We make home makeovers easy with several self storage locations across Brooklyn, NY, including our Crown Heights facility. Our Safeguard Self Storage facilities are the best in the borough, so keep kicking out that clutter and expand your personal space at the house.

The best New Year's resolutions are the ones that are easy to keep. They make a wonderful, long-lasting difference too. Organizing the house is a great example of a promise you can enjoy fulfilling now and relaxing with for the rest of the year. Our Brooklyn self storage facility on Atlantic Avenue can help make it happen. Let's take it one room at a time.

Leverage Living Room Zones

• Free up floor space and create a special play spot for the kids by moving extra furniture to self storage.
• Keep the couch cleared of napping pillows and cozy throws with a trunk tucked behind the sofa.
• Store magazines and paper clutter in pretty baskets tucked under the coffee table.
• Develop a system for organizing messy multimedia into easily accessed collections on bookshelves.
• Corral home entertainment equipment with caddies for remotes and daisy-chained ties for cables.

Cut Down on Kitchen Clutter

• Tame cleaning supplies in cabinets under the sink with small, stackable plastic bins.
• Consolidate cleaning cloths by hanging them on hooks inside lower cabinet doors.
• Take stock of pots and pans, and retire seldom-used cookware to your storage unit.
• Put your DIY talents to work by installing shallow shelves behind doors that usually stay open.
• Convert hanging plant holders into storage space suspended over countertops.
• Extend your reach in lower cabinets with tiered wire shelving that slides in and out.

Break Out Bedroom Space

• Free up extra room by breaking up matched bedroom sets and moving extra pieces to storage.
• Keep dust bunnies at bay with wheeled storage trays that slide underneath beds.
• Expand closet space by elevating shoes in hanging racks on the back of closet doors.
• Turn empty corners into decorative storage from floor to ceiling with triangle-shaped shelving.

Make One More Resolution

When you get everything under control, make one more easy resolution. Promise to keep on streamlining your busy life by keeping your storage options open. Turn a climate-controlled unit into a year-round solution for organizing your home. With online account management and flexible leasing, it's a resolution you can afford to keep all year.

We're Here to Help

How will you celebrate the New Year in your beautifully uncluttered home? Start by enjoying less housework and more relaxing downtime. We're happy to help make it happen with our convenient Atlantic Avenue facility and six other locations across Brooklyn. Safeguard Self Storage is always here to help you keep your best resolutions.

Just west of the historic Ebbets Field site, more than 580 green acres extend an open invitation to residents of New York's most populous borough. It's impossible to resist the call of the great outdoors in Prospect Park. Choose your sport, pick your favorite spot, and get your best gear out of self storage. Brooklyn, NY natives are hitting the courts, running the courses and charging the fields.

Hold Your Parade Ground

The Prospect Park Alliance is proud of its recent efforts between Parkside and Canton Avenues. The restored 40-acre Parade Ground serves up tennis matches, fields baseball games and kicks off soccer competitions. Nearby self storage keeps lucky locals in close touch with everything they need to hold their favorite ground and play their favorite sports. If you love competition, you can't beat the action in this southern corner of the park.

Skate at the Lake

Head northeast from the Parade Ground, and get your game on for all kinds of activities in the park's Lakeside area. Duck inside the sprawling Lefrak Center for seasonal play that covers your love for both ice and roller skating. Satisfy casual taste buds at two of the park's best cafes, and then take the fun back out into the sunshine. Lakeside serves up boating, fishing and all kinds of water play with generous sides of jogging and biking around Brooklyn's only lake.

Relax in Dozens of Gardens

Once you've released your inner sports enthusiast, slow down, and stroll up to the park's north side. Immerse yourself in the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Relax, and explore more than a dozen carefully tended garden areas and botanical collections. Contemplate serenity at the Lily Pool Terrace, and treat your senses to a walk through the Fragrance Garden. This part of Prospect gives home to one of Brooklyn's best green spaces. You know that you've found it when you see all the happy, young faces growing flowers and tending crops at the Children's Garden.

Bring your biggest appetite for a barbecue picnic, or try your luck with a little catch-and-release angling. Make plans to party, play and relax outside in Prospect Park all summer long. Keep the living easy by keeping your seasonal gear in our convenient Brooklyn, NY storage facility just east on Empire Boulevard. From our family to yours, Safeguard Self Storage wishes you fun in the park all year-round.

Check Out Brooklyn Neighborhoods

Shrinking Your Stuff: Tips for Downsizing in Brooklyn

Affordable Storage Units Make Downsizing Easier

Those who avoid going out into the cold or resolved to spend less money this year find new reason to get out to try fine cuisine throughout Brooklyn, NY. That’s thanks to New York Restaurant Week, the semiannual event that takes place January 18 to February 5. It features numerous restaurants offering fine cuisine at an affordable price. But it’s not just customers and restaurants that benefit. Safeguard storage units is sharing how business owners in Brooklyn, NY, can capitalize on this exciting event. 

Create Your Own Business Buzz During Restaurant Week 

While some business owners sit back and watch people walking by their storefront and heading to the nearest restaurant, you can view them all as potential customers. By targeting restaurant goers during this week, you'll not only increase your customer base but spread your brand to different areas beyond Brooklyn NY. 

1. Announce a major sale.

Nothing grabs consumer interest quite like a sale. However, you don't have to spend a lot of money on TV ads. You only need to create some fliers to hand out and place by your store. Prep them ahead of time and keep them in business storage till it’s time to hand them out. With all the additional eyes that will read your advertisement, it’s money well spent!

2. Team up with a participating restaurant.

You can always team up with a participating restaurant to bring in more customers for both businesses. For example, your business could offer a percentage off a meal if a customer spends a certain amount at your store. The restaurant could also offer a coupon to your store if the customer buys a particular meal at a set price. By working together, you increase sales at both establishments.

3. Offer freebies for those walking by.

People love getting free stuff whether it's a new key chain or a straw cup with a cool printed logo – and this is especially the case for tourists in the area. Look in your storage units for items that could be given away during Restaurant Week. You may have some older items that are simply taking up space and could be used as an incentive to shop at your store. 

Restaurant Week Isn't Just for Restaurants

You don't have to own a restaurant to reap the rewards of Restaurant Week. Simply create posters and fliers ahead of time, and store them away until you need them. With Safeguard Self Storage, you can store your sales ads and products in convenient storage units until later use. We have business storage available with as much space as you need to keep all of your items ready to go.