Top tips: A helping hand with DIY hacks

You don’t have to be completely alone while ‘doing it yourself’. At Big Yellow, we offer daily tips and tricks to help you with your projects on our Twitter feed. We’ve pulled out some of our favourites to give you a helping hand. Safety first Using a fine comb to hold the nail in place as you hammer away will prevent bruised fingers, and sandpapering the end of the hammer will help grip the nails. Only have a stripped screw? Put an elastic band over the top while you fasten it, making it useable. Organising your nuts & bolts Two hands is never enough when you’re handling tools and hardware. If you glue a magnet to the bottom of your hammer, you’ll have a place to hold the nails without having to put them in your mouth. Keep fittings such […]

13th February 2015
Features

A Love Letter from Your Stuff

To my older surfer dude, Remember that trip we had – it was me, you and the open seas. We picked up many a souvenir along the way – fabrics from India, those ostrich boots from Australia…all of which lie in hidden cupboards and boxes under the bed. Over the years it hasn’t just been me that family and friends have told you to get rid of. I’ve heard them say the same about all the posters and t-shirts from gigs back in the day, every birthday and Christmas card you’ve ever received, and the trophies from all the kids’ sports days – gold, silver and bronze. Right now, we know there is no place for us stuff in your home, but that doesn’t mean we have to go for good. One day, you might need us or want us […]

6th February 2015
Charities - News

Big Yellow kits out the Dorothy Stringer Rugby Tour, 2015

Big Yellow Self Storage is proud to be the lead sponsor of the Dorothy Stringer Rugby Tour, 2015, in South Africa. The Brighton-based school will be sending 23 young rugby players to South Africa this April, and they have been tirelessly training and fundraising throughout the school year to ensure the trip is beyond a success. The school has hosted a number of fundraising events, including race nights, cake sales, dinners and music nights to help fund the trip, and Big Yellow has provided the team with a shiny new kit. The kit bought them off to a good start with a 10 – 5 win against The John Fisher School, and we hope it continues to bring them success throughout their experience in South Africa. We wish the boys the best of luck on their tour. The boys wearing […]

3rd February 2015
Features - Tips and Tricks

Top Tips: Ingenious storage solutions for creating space around the home

Space is quickly becoming a luxury, and people are having to become more inventive with the way they create space around the home. Creative storage solutions allow you to keep tidy in a stylish way. Our Twitter feed offers daily tips on how to make the most out of space; here’s our top five favourite tips from our feed… A ‘crate’ way to make more space There’s a million ways you can use crates for storage, from stacking them to making shelves, or sticking them to the wall to act as a shoe rack. For a similar feel, pallets can also be put to good use around the house, for example, this ingenious wine rack. Stairway to space heaven Depending on the size and design of your staircase, there’s a huge amount you can do, from big transformations to simply […]

23rd January 2015
Features - Tips and Tricks

Renovate to add value to your home

A spruce of your home here and there can go a long way in terms of adding value, or if you just fancy a change. We’ve come up with a selection of helpful tips to make renovating your home as pain free as booking your storage with Big Yellow… The power of planning Leave sufficient time for planning and building, setting a realistic budget. There’s a lot to consider – workmen’s time, painting, decorations, and don’t forget a place to store your belongings while the work is going on. Big Yellow can help you with storage without blowing your budget – you can store from as little as seven days, and with prices starting at £2.85 a week, you can’t go wrong. Peace of mind Sometimes you could do with a little help for the larger jobs, so outsourcing support […]

8th January 2015
Business Blog - Did you know? - Features - News

Cohabiting couples ditch prized possessions in favour of a quiet life

Half of British cohabiting couples admit to regularly fighting over clutter in their home, bickering 32 times a year on average, our latest research reveals. Londoners are the most likely in the UK to argue about space, with one in 10 arguing at least once a week. These arguments lead to the typical couple throwing away £241.50 worth of possessions they would rather keep, with clothes (42%), furniture (36%) and books (33%) most likely to face the chop. Meanwhile, some go to extreme lengths to get rid of their partner’s clutter with one in eight (12%) admitting they’ve ‘accidentally’ broken one of their other half’s prized possessions so they can bin it. This rises to one in four (25%) for sneaky couples in Newcastle. In one in 10 cases, a lack of space has instigated a move into separate properties […]

12th December 2014
Features

Make the most from your house sale by de-cluttering

If the recent overhaul of the stamp duty land tax has prompted you to think more about moving home in 2015, you will need to ensure your home is tip top to stand out from other properties on the market. One of the best ways to do this is by de-cluttering. Our recent research reveals that not only does clutter deter buyers from making an offer, but homes that appear more spacious are likely to clinch a higher sale price. Two thirds of sellers who de-cluttered before viewings received a higher offer than expected – an impressive £4,811 more, on average.43% of house buyers admit that in hindsight they’ve made a higher offer on a property because it had been de-cluttered and they thought it was bigger. As well as clutter, bug bears that put buyers off making an offer […]

9th December 2014
Features

Room at the inn?

Our research has found that 22% of people dread Christmas gatherings due to a lack of space. While Christmas is a time for family, when they descend all at once it is best to be prepared and try to make the most of the space you have. First things first, if they’re staying the night (or for a few days) you’ll need plenty of space for them to lay their weary head at the end of a fun filled day. Sofa beds always come in handy at this time but if you don’t have one then a good air mattress is comfortable and doesn’t take up too much room (store it inside a suitcase when not in use). At Big Yellow we offer a range of storage spaces which you can hire for as little as one week. These are […]

9th December 2014
Features

Out with the old, in with 2015

We’re all guilty of making resolutions and not sticking to them (we’ve heard that a quarter of the nation doesn’t even make it past the first week). Why not make 2015 the year to make that resolution happen. We’ve put together some resolutions you could start tomorrow… and stick to… if you really want? Get fit After all that Christmas indulgence, a lifetime on the sofa and a few too many on too many occasions, why wouldn’t you want to get back to your best in January? While summer might seem far away, it’s only six months until you’ll need to think about revealing that body beautiful at your closest beach, park or lido. Why not think about a home gym? Reclaim space in your spare room or garage by moving the contents into Big Yellow. We offer flexible storage […]

9th December 2014
Features - Wine Blog

Add some fizz to your festive season

Whether you’re a fan of Cava, Crémant, Prosecco, Sekt or Champagne, our resident wine expert Matthew Wicksteed – based at our Fulham store where we have specialized wine cellars – shares his top tips to make your Christmas sparkle. Let it rest Sparkling wine should always be stored horizontally (to keep the corks moist) in a cool, dry, dark place. If you’re storing champagne, the bubbles will become smaller over time; consequently most vintage champagnes are released at their peak in order to be best enjoyed. Keep it cold If your champers starts out cold and stays that way, chances are that it will retain more bubbles. If time is of the essence and you’ve only got minutes to spare then here’s a guide to keeping your fizz frosty: o 30 minutes: lay it in the fridge o 15 minutes: […]