Home organization doesn't have to be a challenge. It shouldn't be something that stays one step ahead of your best intentions. You can conquer it. You just need smart strategies, clever organizing tricks, and convenient self storage. These seven simple tips from Safeguard Self Storage in Metairie, LA, keep even the busiest home organized and clutter-free.

7 Items That Are Great for Organization

1. A Stop at the Door

Start decluttering the house at the front door with decorative hooks and shelves for bags and jackets. Toss keys, sunglasses, and phones into a big, bright bowl on a small entryway table.

2. A Dresser in the Closet

Move an unused dresser into the closet. Position it against an open wall or slide it under hanging clothes. Fill it up with anything that doesn't have its own place.

3. Self Storage Under the Beds

Keep home organization easy and out of sight with rolling under-bed storage. Gliding trays can hold everything from seasonal clothes and bedding to the kids' toys.

4. Drawer Baskets Under the Sinks

Stacked, mesh basket drawers are a perfect storage fit under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Their open construction keeps humidity at bay, so feel free to fill them up with countertop clutter.

5. Restaurant Kitchen Rails

Take a decluttering tip from commercial kitchens. Mount simple, space-saving rail organizers on walls or inside cabinet doors. Hang sliding hooks on the rods and fill them up with kitchen stuff.

6. Ottomans With Room to Spare

Make home organization fashionable, inviting, and comfortable with a cushy storage ottoman. The functional furniture seats extra guests while it keeps clutter tucked away. Storage ottomans are great in the kids' playroom, too.

7. An Easy-to-Use Scanner

Once a week, convert papers that pile up into digital files. Transfer invitations, receipts, insurance documents, and general paperwork to your computer or cloud storage. Be good to the planet by recycling your scanned papers.

Expand Home Space With Self Storage

Now that you're in control of general clutter, give yourself room to spare. A storage unit is perfect for expanding your organizing strategies with these simple tricks.
• Free up kitchen cabinets by storing seldom-used pots, pans, and countertop appliances in your unit.
• Seasonal decorations stay safely out of the way in climate-controlled self storage.
• Set up clutter bins in the unit to catch things you plan on selling or donating.
• A small file cabinet in one corner keeps important papers and documents safe until you need them.
• Give the car room to breathe by moving garage clutter to your unit.

Congratulations on Conquering the Challenge

It feels great to be on top of home organization. We're happy to help with affordable storage solutions that work hard for you. When you need extra space, Safeguard Self Storage in Metairie, LA always has plenty of room.

The weather isn't always predictable in Metairie, LA. One minute it's sunny; the next it's raining. The seasons change and bring cold temperatures deep into the South. If you keep your valuables outdoors, it's important to protect them from the elements. Safeguard Self Storage has a few tips on how to prevent unnecessary damage during the colder months.

3 Ways to Protect Your Things in Bad Weather

Invest in a portable shed.

Portable sheds are the ideal option for those who have enough space in their backyards and need to keep their items protected from the elements. They come in many different sizes to shield everything from a lawnmower to a truck. You can select from easy-up sheds with plastic coverings or invest in a metal or resin shed if you have the budget. A shed will keep everything protected from heavy winds, rain and other inclement weather situations.

Use weatherproof tarps.

If you don't have the budget for a shed, nothing beats a tarp for protecting your valuables outdoors. Weatherproof tarps keep the rain off your mower, gardening equipment, and vehicles while allowing the air to flow beneath, preventing mold and mildew from growing on your items. They come in different colors and sizes and sometimes include eyeholes to keep them tied down when the wind picks up speed.

Make temporary space in the garage.

Sometimes you have to bring your items indoors when bad weather strikes. Maybe a hurricane has targeted the area or a cold front has dipped and brought frigid temperatures. You'll want to move things aside in the garage to make room for your outdoor items. You don't want hurricane-force winds to blow away your things or the cold to damage temperature-sensitive equipment. Bring them all inside until the weather gets back to normal in your area.

No Space? Try Climate Controlled Storage Units

If you don't have the space or your budget doesn't allow it, consider keeping your stuff nice and dry in our climate-controlled storage units. Safeguard Self Storage has indoor units that are air conditioned and heated to keep your items at a consistent temperature and protect them year-round no matter what Mother Nature has in store for Metairie, LA.

If your car had a Twitter account, would it be posting sad emojis? How many tweets would you have to read describing the mess in your garage? That trusty vehicle needs room out there, and you can help. It's time to get organized with Metairie, LA self storage.

Declutter That Garage

Storing your car in your garage preserves it from the elements and makes it easier to navigate your driveway or street. And without stuff cluttering everywhere, you can navigate your garage easier, too. Start decluttering your garage with these five tips:

1. Don't try to do it all on the first pass. Start with one corner of the garage or one type of clutter.
2. Clean out cobwebs, shop vac the floor, and haul off trash. If it's old or broken, toss it.
3. Sort through what you want to keep, donate, or turn into cash with a garage sale. Box it all up and label it.
4. Locate affordable storage units near your home. Pay the site a visit, lease a unit, and move your boxes.
5. Finish by establishing zones in the garage. Designate areas for things you really want to keep around.

Put Spare Space to Work

You can use your garage as a home for your car and as storage for you at the same time as long as you use what space you have efficiently. Try one of these smart DIY storage system installations.

• Sliding Box Systems: Parallel tracking racks support bins that slide in and out like drawers.
• Pulley Racks: A fixed pulley system lowers and raises storage racks for easy access.
• Ceiling Racks: These clever storage units hang from the garage ceiling like upside down tables.

Keep Your Car Happy

Reclaiming your garage is only the first step; it can be easy to let clutter creep slowly take back your garage and banish your car outside again. Keep it that way by ensuring the area is permanently organized. Make a promise to stash things like extra lawn equipment and seasonal gear in self storage.

Make another promise to clean out and reorganize the garage twice a year. You always have extra floor space in your storage unit, and that gives you and the car plenty of room to enjoy each other's company.

Keep Loving That Garage, Too

If you finish up with enough space for a new boat, let us take care of it at our Metairie, LA facility. Show that garage some love and park your boat, kayak, or RV at any of our six locations across the area. Here at Safeguard Self Storage, we're proud to always earn your thumbs-up. Start to reclaim your garage for your car by reserving a unit today!

If you're undecided about your New Year's resolution, make it one that every household needs. Resolve to start out the year by de-cluttering and organizing your Metairie, LA, home with the help of Safeguard Self Storage. You'll find it easier to stick with your resolution if you don't overwhelm yourself. Do a few small organizing tasks every day, and reward yourself for your accomplishments at regular intervals. Here are a few great tips for getting your home to a more organized, clutter-free state.

De-cluttering Tips for a More Organized New Year

• If you already have items in a mini storage unit, take a quick inventory to determine how much available room is left; you can keep this in mind while you sort through items in your home.
• Banish closet clutter by determining which clothes you actually wear. You can do this by hanging all your clothes hangers in the reverse direction. Once you wear an item, hang it back up facing the right way. At the end of six months, you can easily see which clothes are never worn. Donate them, or store them outside your home.
• As you're organizing items in each room of your home, place them in one of four designated boxes. The first box is for garbage; the second is for items you wish to give away. Your third box is for items you intend to put in storage. Finally, your fourth box is for items you wish to keep in the room.
• Include everyone in the household. Try to encourage family members to support your efforts to live a more organized life. Turn room-by-room projects into fun events. Order pizza and play your kids' favorite music. You’d be surprised how willing kids are to help when you add a little bit of an incentive and some fun.
• For every new item you bring into your home, remove one; this will help you keep your resolution and maintain the uncluttered state you've achieved.

Mini Storage in Metairie, LA, Makes De-cluttering Easy

Some people avoid reorganizing because they can't imagine discarding anything that they own, but having an organized home doesn't necessarily mean that you have to get rid of your prized possessions. Renting a self-storage unit is a great way to keep treasures that are currently taking up too much room in your house. If you just can't part with your grandmother's wedding gown or your childhood collection of stuffed toys, place these beloved items in storage. You'll find that Metairie, LA, has plenty of affordable options to help you keep your New Year's resolution.