Plan a Storage Project Before Buying the Bins
Buying storage totes before figuring out what needs to go into them can leave you with too many containers, too few containers, or sizes that aren't particularly useful. A rough storage plan can help you decide how many totes to start with and how you might divide your belongings among them.
This can be useful for garage organization, seasonal decorations, clothing and linens, toys and hobbies, household storage, or preparing belongings for a move.
Why Tote Capacity Isn't All Usable Space
A 27-gallon tote doesn't necessarily provide 27 gallons of practical storage for your belongings. Irregularly shaped objects leave gaps, fragile items may require padding, and filling a container completely can make frequently used items difficult to reach.
Packing style therefore makes a difference. Looser packing generally requires more containers, while items that pack together efficiently may require fewer.
One Tote Size May Not Be Best for Everything
Using identical containers can make a storage area look organized, but different belongings may work better in different-size totes. Smaller containers can be useful for dense or heavy items, while larger totes may work well for lightweight but bulky belongings.
A mixture of sizes can also make it easier to keep unrelated categories separate rather than combining things simply to fill an oversized container.
Label Containers While You Organize
Numbering or naming totes as they're packed can save considerable time later. Instead of opening several containers to find one item, an inventory can show which tote contains it and where that tote is stored.
Useful information might include the tote number, category, contents, storage location, and any special notes. Labels on the containers can then be matched to the inventory.
Don't Forget Weight and Stacking Limits
Container volume tells you how much space is available, not how much weight a tote can safely hold. A large tote filled with books, tools, hardware, or other dense objects can become extremely heavy even when it isn't completely full.
Follow the tote manufacturer's weight and stacking recommendations, consider the strength of any shelving or racks being used, and keep containers at a weight that can be handled safely.