Shared Storage Collaborative Solutions for Roommates

Offering ideas for students wanting to share space and costs

Student housing is most often a tight fit, pushing budget conscious students to get creative with their storage arrangements. Whether you’re enduring a tight squeeze in a dorm room, or sharing an apartment with friends, you will need to make efficient use of every square foot of storage space. 

The Rising Cost of Self-Storage

Even the best and cheapest self-storage options are not immune from inflation. Students face increased prices, putting an extra squeeze on an already stretched budget. Strategic use of storage space means you can save money by renting a smaller unit. However, you can save even more by teaming up with other students to share the storage costs. 

Why Shared Storage Makes Sense?

Sharing storage space offers numerous benefits, including:

• Spreading the cost between students.
• Pooling resources means everybody benefits from a less cramped living space.
• More space means students can spread out and create an environment more pleasant and conducive to studying, relaxing, and socialising. 
• Increased flexibility. As storage needs change, the storage unit can be reorganised to accommodate new or leaving students.

What Should You Store?

Before you start allocating your budget to off-campus storage space, it’s important to work out what to store, how much space each student will need, and decide on what’s truly essential. 

Take Inventory Together

Get all roommates to list out the items they will need to place in storage. This will help everyone understand how much storage each student will need and how big a unit will be required to fit everything. 

Sort the Must-Haves from the Nice-to-Haves

While convenient, placing items in storage means they won’t be within easy reach. Ensure that everything that is going into storage is not essential for everyday life. 

Maximising Storage in a Shared Space

Clever use of living space can help keep storage costs down because you can get away with a smaller unit. Use these tips to turn a cramped room into an organised haven. 

Use vertical space: Shelves and wall organisers are an excellent way to make use of vertical storage when space is tight. These solutions keep items off the floor and easier to access when needed. 

Behind door storage systems: Over the door storage systems make use of the often-forgotten space behind doors, such as shoes, accessories, and school supplies. 

Use double-duty furniture: Many models of beds and lounge chairs have hidden storage compartments. There are also transforming tables and desks that can morph a place of study into a dining area to help you make the most of your living space. 

Closet dividers and organisers: A closet divider helps students share closet space by creating clear boundaries between items.

Vacuum bags for seasonal stuff: Whether you are keeping seasonal items on campus, or placing them in storage, vacuum bags are an excellent solution for reducing the footprint of heavy winter clothing and bedding. 

Setting Up a Shared Storage System

While sharing storage space can produce valuable cost-savings, you will need to create a system that prevents your storage space from falling into chaos.

Lay Down Clear Ground Rules

Everyone should be on the same page about how to manage the storage space. Ensure there are protocols in place for borrowed or shared items and aim for everyone to share the burden of keeping the area clean and tidy. 

Create a system for labels and categories to identify each student’s items and organise shared supplies by category. Use clear, labeled storage containers to make finding and returning items easier. 

Plan for regular de-cluttering sessions where all students review their stored items and remove unnecessary belongings. Set up a system for donating or discarding unwanted or unusable items to keep your shared space more organised. 

Putting space-saving strategies into action is key for budget-conscious students sharing storage. By using vertical space, investing in multi-functional furniture, and organizing efficiently, students can make the most of their living areas without breaking the bank.

If you need extra storage solutions, check out 1800WeStoreIt.com.au to explore affordable options that can help you maximize your shared living space.