Renovating your home can be exciting, but it can also create a lot of disruption. Furniture, appliances, boxes and everyday belongings can quickly get in the way once builders and trades start working.
Mobile storage gives you somewhere to move those belongings while your renovation is underway.
With gobox, a portable storage container is delivered directly to your property. You can pack it at your own pace, keep it onsite if you want easy access, or have it collected and stored offsite until your renovation is finished.
Here are some of the biggest reasons to consider mobile storage for your next renovation.
1. Create More Space for Your Renovation
One of the first things you'll need to do before renovating is clear the areas where work will take place.
For a kitchen renovation, this might mean removing dining furniture, appliances, kitchenware and nearby living room furniture.
For new flooring or painting, you may need to clear several rooms at once.
Instead of moving everything into spare bedrooms, hallways or the garage, a storage container gives your belongings somewhere separate to go.
This creates more space for trades to work and means you're not constantly moving furniture from one room to another.
If space is already becoming an issue around your home, you can also read How a Mobile Storage Unit Solves Space Problems You Didn't Know You Had.
2. Keep Furniture Away From Renovation Work
Renovations can create dust, debris and plenty of movement throughout your home.
Even when trades are careful, keeping furniture and other belongings away from active work areas can make the renovation easier to manage.
You might use your gobox to store:
- Lounges and armchairs
- Dining tables and chairs
- Beds and bedroom furniture
- Cabinets and shelving
- Appliances
- Electronics
- Artwork
- Rugs
- Kitchenware
- Boxes of household belongings
- Outdoor furniture
Once the renovation is finished, you can bring everything back into the home.
3. Declutter Before the Builders Arrive
A renovation is also a good opportunity to work out what you actually want to keep.
There's little point moving items into storage if you no longer need them.
Before packing your gobox, sort your belongings into:
- Keep
- Store
- Sell
- Donate
- Dispose
This can reduce how much you need to store and means fewer unwanted belongings come back into your newly renovated home.
If you're not sure where to start, see our Steps to Take When Decluttering with gobox Storage for some simple decluttering tips.
4. Pack at Your Own Pace
Renovations already involve enough deadlines.
Having a gobox delivered before construction starts means you don't have to clear your home in one frantic day.
Start by packing things you won't need during the renovation, such as:
- Books
- Decorative items
- Seasonal belongings
- Spare kitchenware
- Artwork
- Extra furniture
- Sporting equipment
Then move larger furniture and other belongings closer to the construction start date.
Label boxes clearly so you know where everything belongs when it's time to unpack.
5. Keep Your Storage Onsite
If you have enough room at your property, you can keep your gobox onsite during the renovation.
This can be useful when you still need occasional access to your belongings.
Instead of driving to a storage facility whenever you need something, your stored items remain close to home.
Onsite storage can work particularly well for:
- Kitchen renovations
- Bathroom renovations
- Flooring projects
- Painting
- Extensions
- Landscaping projects
- Smaller home renovations
6. Or Have Your gobox Stored Offsite
For larger renovations, keeping a storage container onsite may not be practical.
Builders might need access to the driveway or other areas around the property.
In this situation, once you've finished packing, gobox can collect your container and store it offsite.
Your belongings remain packed inside the container until you're ready for them again.
Once your renovation is finished, your gobox can be returned to your property for unloading.
7. Reduce Double Handling
Traditional storage can involve moving the same furniture several times.
You might need to:
- Pack your belongings
- Load them into a truck
- Drive to a storage facility
- Unload everything into the storage unit
- Return after the renovation
- Load everything into a truck again
- Drive home
- Unload everything again
With mobile storage, you pack directly into the container that will store your belongings.
This can make storing bulky furniture and large amounts of household belongings much simpler.
8. Stay Flexible if Your Renovation Runs Longer
Renovations don't always run exactly to schedule.
Materials can be delayed, trades may need to reschedule and unexpected issues can appear once work begins.
If your four-week renovation becomes a six-week renovation, you don't necessarily want furniture coming back into the house before it's ready.
Mobile storage gives you more flexibility around changing renovation timelines.
Your belongings can remain stored until the work is actually finished.
9. Make Flooring and Painting Projects Easier
You don't need to be undertaking a major extension to benefit from temporary storage.
Replacing flooring throughout a house can require almost every room to be cleared.
Whole-home painting can create the same problem.
Instead of constantly shifting furniture from one side of the house to another, you can temporarily move larger pieces into storage.
That gives trades clearer access and means your furniture doesn't have to follow the renovation around the house.
10. Store Your Belongings While Renovating Before You Move In
Sometimes you're renovating a property before moving into it.
You might want to:
- Replace flooring
- Paint throughout
- Renovate the kitchen
- Update bathrooms
- Complete repairs
- Finish an extension
before moving your furniture into the property.
Mobile storage can make this easier because your belongings can remain stored until the house is ready.
Rather than moving furniture into your new home and then moving it again for builders, you can have it delivered once the renovation is complete.
What Size Storage Container Do You Need for a Renovation?
The amount of storage you need will depend on the scale of your renovation.
A single-room renovation may only require storage for a small amount of furniture.
A major renovation may require you to remove much of the contents of your home.
Before choosing your storage size, consider:
- How many rooms are being renovated
- How much furniture needs to be removed
- Whether appliances need to be stored
- How many boxes you expect to pack
- Whether you need access to belongings during the renovation
- How long the project is expected to take
It's generally better to think about this before packing begins rather than discovering halfway through that you need more space.
How to Pack Your gobox for a Renovation
A little planning can make unpacking much easier once the renovation is finished.
Start with heavier furniture and belongings you won't need during the project.
Use sturdy boxes for smaller items and clearly label each box with the room it belongs in.
Protect furniture with suitable covers and avoid placing heavy items on top of fragile belongings.
If you're also moving house around the same time as your renovation, our older guide to How to Pack for Moving House has some useful packing ideas that can also be applied when preparing belongings for storage.
Home Renovations Where Mobile Storage Can Help
Mobile storage can be useful across many different renovation projects, including:
Kitchen Renovations
Store dining furniture, appliances, kitchenware and belongings from surrounding living areas.
Bathroom Renovations
Clear nearby rooms and hallways where builders need access.
Flooring
Remove furniture from multiple rooms so flooring contractors have clear access.
Painting
Store larger pieces of furniture rather than repeatedly moving them around the house.
Extensions
Keep furniture and belongings away from larger construction areas.
Whole-Home Renovations
Store a significant portion of your home's contents while major work is underway.
Mobile Storage for Business Renovations
Portable storage isn't only useful for homes.
Businesses undergoing renovations or fit-outs may also need somewhere temporary to keep:
- Furniture
- Equipment
- Stock
- Displays
- Tools
- Documents
- Office equipment
Keeping these items away from active construction areas can create more room for trades and help keep the site organised.
Plan Your Storage Before Renovation Starts
The best time to think about storage is before builders arrive.
Start by walking through the areas being renovated and deciding what needs to be removed.
Then:
- Declutter anything you no longer need.
- Pack smaller belongings.
- Protect furniture.
- Label boxes.
- Load your storage container.
- Decide whether you want the container onsite or stored offsite.
Doing this early means your renovation can start with clear rooms rather than spending the first few days moving furniture around.
Make Your Next Renovation Easier With gobox
Renovating your home already involves plenty of planning.
Working out where to put your furniture shouldn't become another major job.
A gobox gives you somewhere to temporarily store furniture, appliances and household belongings while renovation work is underway.
We deliver the container to your property, you pack it, and you can choose whether to keep it onsite or have it collected for storage.
Once your renovation is complete, your belongings can come back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a storage container during a renovation?
Yes. Mobile storage can be used to temporarily store furniture, appliances, boxes and other household belongings while renovation work is underway.
Can I keep my gobox onsite?
Yes, where your property has suitable space and access, your gobox can remain onsite during your renovation.
Can my gobox be stored offsite?
Yes. Once you've finished packing, gobox can collect your container and store it offsite until you're ready for it to be returned.
When should I organise renovation storage?
Ideally, arrange your storage before construction begins. This gives you time to pack and clear renovation areas before trades arrive.
What should I put into storage during a renovation?
Furniture, appliances, electronics, boxes, kitchenware, artwork and other non-essential household belongings can all be moved out of active renovation areas.
Should I declutter before renovating?
It's a great opportunity to do so. Sorting your belongings before packing means you aren't paying to store things you no longer want. Our decluttering guide can help you get started.
