Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
We’ve teamed up with our friends at home magazine to give you top advice on personal storage solutions. Stay tuned as we’ll be bringing you more ideas to save space and declutter for all areas of your home……
Welcome to the second installment of at home’s ‘Get Some Space in Your Life’ series with some great advice from leading personal storage experts at Big Yellow Self Storage.
at home have already looked at space saving tips for your living room and we’re going to continue to bring you personal storage solutions about how to declutter in all areas of your home, including the bedroom, garden and ideas to maximise space to make working at home more successful. Planning the perfect space in the kitchen is like creating the perfect menu. You can create space by throwing out products that are out of date or no longer in use and keep the best ingredients to maintain the great look.
Three space saving tips for your kitchen
Organising Kitchen Cupboards
Kitchen cupboards can be a main area of frustration as jars can easily clutter and build up with every shopping trip. There are some easy ways to organise the clutter that spice jars, canned goods and other items create before they quickly multiply.
Transferring spices from there original packaging into small sized jars and labeling them by hand can free up a large amount of space and make them stackable. Keeping canned items in one cupboard area and assigning one shelf for each type can keep them organised and easy to reach. Any other space you create can be used to store pasta or boxes of food.
Clearing the Clutter Under the Sink
The area underneath your kitchen sink can quickly become cluttered and make it hard to find anything you need. Overtime the area is piled full of items such as cleaning products or washing detergent and every time you to try to pull a product out, five others fall out with it. Sorting under the sink can make it much easier to find items and have a completely de-cluttered area.
Get rid of any products that you don’t need, if it’s so old that you can’t even read the label or no longer use then don’t hesitate to throw them away. If you haven’t used a particular item in a while, then chances are you’re not going to use it again anytime soon. Hanging on to these products will just collect more clutter and take up more free space that could be used. For the items you decide to keep, sort them out by category to make them easy to find out them all later.
Organising Kitchen Drawers
Drawers are the messiest place in any kitchen with items simply getting chucked in. The answer to stop all your drawers from becoming overly cluttered is by making space for one drawer that can store a mixture of items. This can store scissors, various utensils, stamps and any other items that end up jumbled together. A single drawer used for these items can make the whole kitchen feel de-cluttered.
Dividing the drawer into different sections and assigning an item to each one will create space and make things easier to find. It’s also a great excuse to throw away any old, broken or unused items.
Storing Utensils
Utensils such as spatulas, ladles and whisks can be a major cause of clutter in the kitchen as they can get left on the counter or mixed up in a drawer. When items are mixed together, sharp objects can cause injury if you’re in a hurry and don’t look carefully when reaching inside. Keeping utensils organised and tidy is a great way to avoid accidents and make cooking a lot smoother. Storing these large utensils in a wide pot that matches the design of your kitchen will keep them organised and easy to reach.
Invest in a drawer that has different components for each type of silverware including forks, knives and spoons. This will keep your entire set of cutlery from becoming mixed with each other and make them easily accessible.
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Tags: at home, at home magazine, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clutter, de-clutter, declutter, kitchen, kitchen storage, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Friday, July 30th, 2010
Deciding how to store items in your home is a very important part of de-cluttering and getting organised. The following tips will help you make quick and valuable decisions which will help you organise all areas of your home.
Hallway – Sort through your collection of scarves, hats, coats and other items of clothing that take up space. You can keep the items that are used daily or weekly as any of the excess items can be moved into a nearby cupboard, donated to charity or put in a self storage room.
Living Room – Old books, DVDs and CDs are the usual culprits so lose the bits and pieces and only display your most prized possessions.
Kitchen – The main source of frustration in a kitchen is overstuffed cabinets and drawers filled with duplicate kitchenware, dishes that are used only on special occasions, mismatched containers and appliances that you no longer use. If you can’t bear to part with an item consider relocating it or putting the items in storage.
Closets – It’s time to be strong and clear out those items that haven’t been worn in the last year, no longer fit or are out of style.
Bathrooms – Throw away any items that have expired or those that are no longer in use. Items such as toothbrushes can be kept in holders to save space and keep them clean.
Office – Any paperwork that can be found on a website or email should be recycled. Filing systems can help you minimise the inflow of paperwork and help reduce your existing paperwork piles.
Kids Room – Teaching children the concept of ‘one in, one out’ can stop toys from becoming jumbled and cluttered on the floor.
Garage –When you clear space in your house, boxes of old clothing, sports equipment and extra furnishings usually end up in the garage and will never return inside your home. To create a vast amount of free space you can donate the items or keep them in self storage.
To find out how you can benefit from self storage, visit our Quote and reserve online page to get started.
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, fine wine storage, furniture storage, music storage, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, student storage, UK storage, wine storage
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Friday, July 16th, 2010
As we got closer to Brighton, we noticed there were lots of families on the streets all cheering and giving out much needed energy supplies to keep everyone going! The support was fantastic, the people that lined the streets probably didn’t know it but they helped so many people throughout the day.
Everyone was dreading the final point and they all knew it would come….Ditchling Beacon! We all had heard about it but none of them really expected what was about to come. Ditchling Beacon is a brutal mile long climb to the top of the South Downs that starts at mile 47, everything else compared to this was easy. The hill was so steep that many of the riders had to get off their bikes and push them to the top simply focusing on putting one foot ahead of the other. We were amazed to see people still cycling, trying to make it to the top!
Finally there was a man shouting over the microphone “that’s it you’ve made it, you are about to reach the top of Ditchling Beacon, you are now 234 metres above sea level”. We stopped at the top for a minute to look at the views which were amazing and so beautiful. After the agony of the Beacon the last 6 miles were a joy as the sea came into view and riders flew down the hill reaching speeds of 38mph.
After a final crawl through Brighton traffic the riders made their way down to Brighton Pier and all anyone could hear were the cheers of thousands of people. Finally the Finish Line was in sight, a sprint along the seafront brought to an end to epic ride.
In total over 30,000 riders took part on the day, setting off from Clapham at different times from 6am to 10am for the worthy causes of Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation. In total staff members have raised approximately £7628 to date for Cancer Research and Big Yellow Self Storage will be matching this figure to boost donations.
A massive thank you goes to Paul Holmes for all his hard work in organising the team! We all had a fantastic time!
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Tags: armadillo self storage, bicycle storage, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010
This summer we’re celebrating the great sporting summer by giving you the chance to win a Nintendo Wii Bundle, Wii Motion Plus and Wii Sports Resort. It is the perfect package for those that are sports mad or think they can do better than the pro’s!
We’re not just fans of the World Cup, we’ve been racing on our bikes, serving aces and practicing our golf swing just in time for The Open Championship. The Wii Sports Resort will take you away to a sea side world of challenges, filled with more than 12 sports to get involved in.
To get your hands on this fantastic prize all you have to do is head over to Big Yellow’s Facebook page and answer this question:
What kind of surface is the tennis at Wimbledon played on?
a. Hard
b. Grass
c. Clay
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, Competition, Nintendo, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, UK storage, Wii, win
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Friday, June 4th, 2010
As you prepare to move house, there’s inevitably going to be a lot of clothing, possessions and gadgets that you don’t need any more. While the most important things that you can’t quite part with – or simply don’t quite need to be a part of your new home immediately – can go into self storage, the sites below will help you get rid of the things you no longer want and make some money in the process!
eBay - the original and biggest auction site, sell anything here from cars to computers on your own terms.
Gumtree – started in March 2000 as a local London classified ads and community site, it is designed to connect people who are either planning to move, or had just arrived in the city, and needed help getting started with accommodation, employment and meeting new people. Now a much more comprehensive offering, it covers 60 countries and allows you to find or advertise everything from a nanny for your kids to a bargain for the living room.
Amazon – Amazon.co.uk includes a feature in which you can enter your own goods into its seller’s marketplace. This means that you can add your books, clothes or toys to its main directory, and while buyers are scrolling through the products, they can choose your item if the price is right.
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Tags: amazon, auction, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, ebay, furniture storage, gumtree, online, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, selling, sites, storage, storage solution, student storage, UK storage
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Did you know that the digital storage unit of choice at the moment – the USB drive – has a hotly contested past? Software companies Trek Technology and IBM began selling the first USB flash drives commercially in 2000. Trek, from Singapore, sold a model under the brand name ThumbDrive and IBM marketed the first such drives in North America under the name DiskOnKey.
IBM’s USB flash drive became available in December 2000, and had a storage capacity of 8MB – more than five times the capacity of the then-common floppy disks.
In 2002, Netac Technology, a consumer electronics company, which claims to have invented the USB flash drive in the late 1990s, was granted a Chinese patent for the device. But while Netac Technology has since brought lawsuits against PNY Technologies, Lenovo, Sony and Acer, most companies that manufacture USB flash drives do so without regard for its patents.
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, de-clutter, declutter, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Armadillo Self Storage Sheffield Parkway’s charity partner is St Luke’s Hospice is organising one of the most glamorous events in their calendar as the annual St Luke’s Ladies Day returns to Owlerton Stadium on 29th June.
All the members of staff at the hospice provide a vitally important service to the patients and their families. To help them with their storage needs, we’ve recently donated storage space worth £2,000 to the hospice which is a very deserving cause.
Ladies Day is an evening of glamour and excitement, St Luke’s Hospice will be looking for the night’s most stylish dresser with a great prize to the winner. It’s sure to be a great night for everyone involved!
For only £30 a head you can enjoy a Bucks Fizz reception, a three course meal in the famous Owlerton restaurant and a race card.
If you’re in the Sheffield area, you won’t want to miss this. Pick up your ticket by calling Owlerton Stadium on 0114 234 3074 or visit owlertonstadium.co.uk
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, UK storage
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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
It’s often the most-used and basic of household goods that are difficult to store. Bathroom towels take up a considerable amount of shelf space, especially extra-large body towels and thick fluffy cotton varieties. Even when neatly folded or rolled they require a significant amount of space.
Not every home comes with a linen closet that offers deep shelves for bathroom towels. Why not instead invest in an extra-large wicker basket? Display towels that colour-coordinate with the bathroom, and store them in the open basket. The towels will be within easy reach when a clean one is required, and they will add to the colour scheme of the space. A smaller matching basket can be used as decorative open storage for neatly rolled hand towels and flannels.
The other option is to invest in a freestanding ready-made cabinet – a self supporting one with shelves and drawers. When the bathroom is too small for storage, place the cabinet at the end of a hallway or around the corner near the bathroom. Use it as storage for bathroom towels and other supplies. It will look like a built-in cabinet when in fact it can be moved as desired.
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, de-clutter, declutter, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, UK storage
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Monday, May 24th, 2010
Spring is coming to an end, and summer is just around the corner. At this time of year, many people have spent weeks cleaning the house, de-cluttering, storing away stuff for safe keeping – and are feeling that air of change. If you’re planning to sell your home, the sites below will provide advice and gets things moving from your own front room.
Tepilo – Sarah Beeny’s smarter way to buy, sell or let a property. Though some people will always prefer to use an estate agent, for those that like to take control of the sale/rental of a property, this site simplifies and explains the whole process – which is often perceived as something more complicated than it really is.
Globrix - In 2008, Globrix.com launched as a joint venture with News International, the media company behind The Times, The Sun and The News of the World. Since then, Globrix.com has quickly grown to become an award winning property search engine, listing more UK properties to buy or rent than any other property site.
Rightmove – Rightmove.co.uk is the UK’s number one property website, aiming to be the place for UK home movers to find details of all properties available to buy or rent. It’s a more convenient and effective way for people to find their next home, including: up-to-date property information, available for free, accessible 24 hours a day to anyone with web access and far more complete in terms of number of properties and depth of detail.
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, buying, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, fine wine storage, furniture storage, Globrix, letting, lettings, personal storage, renting, rightmove, self storage, self storage blog, selling, storage, storage solution, student storage, tepilo, UK storage, wine storage
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Friday, May 21st, 2010
One of the most precious of childhood toys is the stuffed animal. It holds endless memories, attends countless tea parties and accompanies many kids everywhere they go. As such, when it’s time to put them away, a lot of attention needs to be paid to getting it right – whether it’s a short term or long term option.
First up – do you want to put them on display, or away for safe keeping? If it’s the former, you can use shelves to display the toys, bearing in mind that they’ll accumulate dust – so a boxed self storage room with doors might be a good option. Or, buy an easy to open toy box, though it’s important to consider safety when selecting furniture for a child’s room. Be sure that features such as height and weight are taken into consideration. You could also use a mesh laundry bag to keep toys off of the floor, or put smaller toys into the pockets of a shoe hanger for easy and visible storage.
If they’re being stored away from sight or in a self storage room, you can put unused stuffed animals in plastic bins with secure lids for easy storage in the attic or garage. If you purchase bins of the same size and shape, multiple bins may be stacked more efficiently and take up less space. Wrap antique bears or toys in acid-free tissue paper and store them in archival or acid-free boxes when not on display. Be careful not to over-stuff the boxes as this can matt or crush the fur.
You can find all manner of packing supplies at Big Yellow Self Storage to help keep your items in top condition when storing from plastic boxes to tissue paper. Visit our Box Shop online to view the range.
Have a handy tip to ensure precious keepsakes stand the test of time? Let us know your suggestions in the comments area below.
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Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, childhood memories, children, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, fine wine storage, furniture storage, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, toys, UK storage, wine storage
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