Smart Storage Solutions You Can Take With You When You Move

April 7, 2025

Tidy Up and Pack Like a Pro with Smart Storage Ideas for Every Move

If you've ever moved house, you know the chaos that can come with stuffing your life into cardboard boxes. Socks hiding in saucepans, garden gloves tangled with tech cables—sounds familiar? But here's the real kicker: storage doesn’t just help with the move itself—it makes your new space feel like home from day one.

I had a mate—I’ll call him Dave—who once packed his entire garden shed into green garbage bags. By the time he got to his new place, his spade had punctured the weed killer, and he was left with soggy potting mix and a sad old bag of fertiliser that had turned into one giant rock. Don’t be like Dave. Let's talk about smarter, cleaner, and frankly easier ways to store your stuff when it’s time to relocate.

Stackable Storage Containers: The MVPs of Moving

Whether you’re packing garden tools, power drills, or Grandma’s baking tray set, a good stackable container works wonders. Choose clear containers if you want to see what’s inside, or colour-code them by room if you're feeling fancy. Just remember, lids matter! Look for ones that click shut like a clamshell on a caffeine high. It keeps critters out and your sanity in.

Bonus tip? Label everything. Use a permanent marker and go rogue—"kids' toys", "man-cave mystery bits", "shed stuff you promised to sort but never did". You'll thank yourself later.

Flat-Packed Furniture with Built-In Storage

You're moving anyway, so why not think about furniture that pulls double duty? A lift-up bed base can hide your linen collection, jumpers, or the entire winter wardrobe. Ottomans with secret compartments? Absolute game changer.

I helped a friend move last winter. She had a couch with built-in storage underneath—and she somehow managed to get all her textbooks, board games, and slow cooker into it. Magical. Like a Tardis, but fluffier.

Clear Clip-Lid Crates for Garden Gear

Whether you’re a backyard tomato whisperer or just keep a few potted herbs alive through sheer optimism, garden bits and bobs pile up fast. Use durable clip-lid crates to store things like gloves, shears, seed packets, and fertiliser. They keep everything dry and safe while making moving day a breeze.

These are brilliant for stacking in the shed or even tucking in the boot if you’re shuffling loads bit by bit. Just make sure the lid shuts tight to keep smells (and interesting bugs) at bay.

Vacuum-Sealed Bags: Because Blankets Are Wildly Bulky

If you’ve ever tried to cram a doona into a moving box, you’ll know it doesn’t just fold—oh no. It explodes. Like it’s trying to repopulate your house with fluff. This is where vacuum-sealed bags swoop in like superheroes. Pop your doona, jumpers, or out-of-season clothes in, suck the air out, and marvel at how they shrink into pancake-flat parcels.

Plus, they’re moisture-resistant, so your precious bits stay fresh en route. Win-win.

Tool Organisers You Can Take Anywhere

DIY gear deserves better than a shoebox. For the serious hoarder—I mean, handy person—modular toolboxes with compartments keep nails, screws, and drill bits from rattling around. Many of these even stack together or clip into one another like LEGO for adults.

You’ll want to get these from a local hardware legend (yep, we know just the place 😉). These aren’t just for moving either. They’re great for long-term garage pride and quick-find functionality after you settle in.

Don't Forget Under-the-Bed Storage Solutions

When space is tight, under your bed can be prime real estate. Slim plastic tubs with wheels are excellent for clothes, keepsakes, or your impressive collection of extension cords. And because they roll, you won't dislocate a shoulder trying to dig something out later.

When you move, just shove them in the moving truck as-is. Efficient, dust-free, and no last-minute cramming necessary.

Foldable Storage That Doesn’t Take Up Space

Fabric bins, collapsible crates, and zip-up cubes are fantastic space-savers. Use them to sort loose items like cables, kids’ toys, or knick-knacks while packing. Once you've moved in and unpacked, simply fold them up and slide 'em under a couch or into a wardrobe.

I use these myself—one for my collection of random batteries and another for wrapping paper I barely use. They're sturdy enough for moving, but light enough not to break your back.

Take It From Someone Who’s Been There

Moving doesn’t have to send you into panic mode with a trail of missing socks and exploded cereal boxes in its wake. From a better packing experience to a less cluttered future, storage that travels with you is a quiet little blessing you’ll be grateful for every day after the move.

And remember, if you ever get stuck wondering what kind of storage container to use for your angle grinder or how to store that 2-metre tomato trellis, the crew at Strathalbyn H Hardware is always ready with advice—and a friendly chinwag to top it off.

Happy packing—and may your sticky tape never tangle! 🙌

Cheerio,
Candeece