Late summer has a way of turning every household upside down. Kids are home from summer break, school supplies are piling up, dorm move ins are approaching, and somehow the garage has become a dumping ground for pool floats, bikes, and half of last year’s summer gear. If your space feels like it’s shrinking right as the new school year approaches, self storage can make the transition a lot smoother.
For Families Making Room at Home
Between summer camp gear, sports equipment, and the general chaos that builds up over a few months off from school, a lot of homes end up needing a reset before the school year kicks in. A storage unit gives you a place to put things you’re not ready to get rid of but don’t need cluttering up closets and garages right now.
Seasonal gear. Pool toys, camping equipment, and outdoor furniture can go into storage once summer winds down, freeing up garage space for bikes, backpacks, and everything else that comes with the school routine.
Outgrown items. If you’ve got kids at different ages, there’s a good chance some clothes, toys, or furniture have been outgrown but aren’t quite ready to donate or pass along. A small unit is an easy way to hold onto them without them taking over a bedroom closet.
Home office and homework space. A lot of families realized during the last few years that a dedicated homework or home office space makes a big difference. If clearing out a room for that purpose means finding a home for furniture or boxes you’re not using daily, storage solves that problem without anything having to go to the curb.
For College Students Heading Back
If you’ve got a student heading off to college or back for another year, storage solves a handful of very specific headaches.
Dorm move outs over the summer. Most dorms require students to move everything out at the end of the school year, even though they’ll be moving right back in a few months later. Instead of hauling furniture, mini fridges, and boxes back and forth or cramming them into a garage at home, a storage unit keeps everything safe and easy to grab again in the fall.
Downsizing between school and home. Dorm rooms and apartments are small, and home closets fill up fast. Storing off season clothing, extra furniture, or things that don’t fit the space right now keeps both locations from feeling cramped.
Shared storage for roommates. If you and a roommate are both storing things over the summer, splitting a slightly larger unit is often more cost effective than each of you renting something small on your own.
Choosing the Right Unit Size
Sizing a unit right the first time saves you from paying for more space than you need, or worse, running out of room halfway through packing.
5×5 and 3×10 units work well for boxes, seasonal decorations, small furniture, and dorm room essentials like a desk lamp, small storage bins, or off season clothing.
5×10 units give you a bit more room, ideal for a dorm room’s worth of belongings, including a mini fridge, bedding, boxes, and small furniture pieces.
7×14 and 10×10 units are a good fit for a full bedroom’s worth of furniture, sports equipment, and household items, or for splitting between a couple of roommates.
10×14 units and larger make sense for families storing furniture from a home office overhaul, multiple kids’ outgrown items, or a full apartment’s worth of belongings for a student moving between housing situations.
If you’re storing anything sensitive to temperature swings, like electronics, musical instruments, wood furniture, or important documents, a climate controlled unit is worth the small upgrade in cost for the added protection.
Tips for Packing Before the School Year Gets Busy
Label everything clearly. Once school starts, schedules get busy fast. Clear labeling now saves you from digging through boxes later when you’re already stretched thin.
Use uniform boxes when possible. Matching box sizes stack more efficiently and make better use of your unit’s space, which can mean fitting everything into a smaller, more affordable unit.
Store what you’ll need last toward the back. If you know you’ll need holiday decorations or winter gear before you need summer items again, pack accordingly so you’re not digging through the whole unit for one box.
Protect furniture properly. Wrapping furniture and using furniture covers protects it from dust and scratches while it sits in storage for the season.
Why Late Summer Is the Right Time to Book
Storage facilities tend to get busier as move in dates approach for both college students and families juggling the back to school rush. Booking a unit now, before the last minute scramble, means better availability and one less thing to think about once the school year actually starts.
How Go Blue Self Storage Can Help
At Go Blue Self Storage in Jackson, Michigan, we offer a full range of unit sizes to fit everything from a single dorm room’s worth of belongings to a full household reset before the school year begins. Our climate controlled options protect sensitive items, and our rental rate lock means your rate won’t increase for a full 12 months once you sign on.
With 24/7 secure access and easy online booking, you can reserve a unit, move in, and get back to focusing on the school year ahead. Click here to view our current available storage units, or give us a call anytime at (517) 750-0400 if you have any questions!
Frequently Asked Questions
What size storage unit works best for a dorm room’s worth of belongings?
A 5×10 unit is usually the sweet spot for a dorm room’s worth of stuff. It comfortably fits a mini fridge, bedding, boxes, and small furniture pieces without paying for more space than needed.
Can two roommates share one storage unit over the summer?
Yes, and it’s often the more cost effective option. Splitting a slightly larger unit, like a 7×14 or 10×10, tends to work out cheaper than each person renting a small unit separately.
Do we need a climate controlled unit for dorm items?
It depends on what you’re storing. Electronics, musical instruments, and wood furniture benefit from climate control, while everyday boxes and clothing usually do fine in a standard unit.
How far in advance should we book a unit before the school year starts?
Booking in late summer, before move in dates hit, is the best approach. Availability tends to get tighter as the back to school rush picks up, so booking early means better unit selection.
Will our rental rate change after the first year?
No, Go Blue Self Storage locks your rate for a full 12 months from the time you sign on. That means no surprise increases while you’re using the unit throughout the school year.