At first glance, your new storage unit might seem absolutely cavernous. But the more stuff you move into it, the more you'll realize how space can quickly become a dwindling commodity. Instead of simply renting a bigger storage unit, you can save yourself the time and expense by rethinking the way you store your belongings. Using the space-maximizing tips outlined below can help you do much more with the storage space you already have.

Store Most of Your Belongings in Boxes

A cardboard box can be a powerful tool for maximizing your storage unit's available space. Dry goods, clothing, documents and various supplies can be boxed up to reduce clutter and create more space for other items. It's a good idea to label each box so you'll know what's inside at a quick glance.

Stacking your boxes can help you save even more storage space. Each box should be stacked according to its size and weight - larger and heavier boxes should stay near the bottom, while the lightest and smallest boxes should be stored up top. Only stack to a height you feel comfortable with to prevent injuries from retrieving boxes at significant heights.

Disassemble as Much of Your Furniture as Possible

Dining tables, office desks and many other types of furniture can be taken apart and stored in their disassembled state in order to save on precious storage space. Most furniture can be disassembled using a simple screwdriver or a basic socket wrench set. If your furniture contains glass, you'll want to remove the glass portion before disassembling the rest. Protect your glass pieces by wrapping them up in thick plastic bubble wrap.

Keep every piece of your disassembled furniture boxed or bundled up in one place. Any and all fasteners should be organized in small zipper storage bags, labeled and kept in close proximity to your furniture. Any special tools needed to dismantle and reassemble your furniture should also be kept in a storage bag.

Store Your Clothes and Linens in Vacuum Packaging

You'd be surprised at how much space your clothes, blankets and linens can take up, even when folded as efficiently as possible. Vacuum packing removes trapped air from clothing, shrinking your folded garments, bedding and linens down to a more manageable thickness. The end result is that you'll be able to pack more clothes than with folding alone.

Vacuum packing has other advantages aside from reducing storage space. Keeping your clothes and linens in vacuum-sealed packaging can also protect them from moths and other insects known for damaging clothes. It also keeps your garments safe from moisture and mildew. The only downside is that you'll have to purchase vacuum packing bags for the best results, although there are other, cheaper ways you can vacuum-pack your clothing.

Put Your Drawers and Bookshelves to Good Use

If you have one or more bookshelves, you can use these to store your books instead of storing them in boxes. Other items that happen to fit on a bookshelf parcel, including some smaller boxes, can also be stored in this manner. Simply position your bookshelves against a side or back wall and fill each bookshelf to your heart's content. You can also do the same for filing cabinets with documents and dressers with clothes and blankets.

If you have a desk that you're not able to disassemble for some reason, you can feel your desk drawers with various odds and ends that would otherwise go in a box. You can also stuff some of your vacuum packed clothing inside your dresser drawers for maximum storage efficiency.

With these tips, you'll be able to maximize your existing storage space from a place like Father & Son Moving & Storage and even make room to move more of your belongings inside.