5 Benefits of Using Self Storage When Renovating
Renovation projects start with excitement and Pinterest boards of what you want your new layout to look like. The reality of hiring contractors hits. They need access to every room, dust is everywhere, and you're living like a refugee in your own home, surrounded by furniture wrapped in plastic.
Our team at StorPlace on Old Hickory Boulevard works with Nashville homeowners mid-renovation constantly. We've seen kitchen remodels, bathroom overhauls, whole-house gut jobs, and everything in between. And here's what we've learned: the people who use storage during renovations are way less stressed than those who don't.
In this blog, we'll break down the actual benefits that matter when you're living through construction chaos.
Benefit 1: Contractors Can Actually Work
This is the big one nobody thinks about.
When contractors are moving around your furniture and working on your belongings, they should be extra careful to avoid damaging your property. That takes time. And contractor time is expensive.
What we've seen happen:
- The kitchen remodel, which should take 3 weeks, stretches beyond that time because workers are constantly moving appliances and cabinets around furniture.
- Bathroom renovation is delayed because the homeowner's storage cabinet is blocking the wall that needs work.
- The flooring project takes extra days because furniture has to be shuffled room by room.
Every delay costs money either in extended labor hours or in you having to take more time off work to coordinate.
Clear out the renovation zone completely. Contractors should have full access to work faster and finish on time. The $200-300 you spend on storage for a couple of months? You'll make that back in contractor efficiency alone.
Benefit 2: Your Stuff Stays Clean
Contractors can’t promise to contain dust and debris. They mean well. They use plastic sheeting, they seal doorways, and they run fans. And dust still gets everywhere.
Tennessee humidity plus construction dust equals a small film on everything once the project is over. We're talking furniture, dishes, clothes, books, and electronics.
The reality check:
- That leather couch? Dust settles into every crevice
- Kitchen cabinets you thought were sealed? Dust finds a way
- Bedroom furniture "in the safe room"? Not safe from dust migration
- Electronics? Dust and construction debris are their enemy
You can spend weeks after the renovation cleaning everything. Or you can store items during the mess and bring them back to a clean, finished space.
What makes sense to store:
- Furniture in or near the renovation zone
- Nice upholstered pieces (couches, chairs, mattresses)
- Kitchen items during kitchen remodels (seriously, everything)
- Electronics and TVs
- Clothing and linens
- Anything with sentimental value, you'd be upset about ruining
What can probably stay:
- Basic everyday furniture in rooms far from construction
- Items you're planning to replace anyway
- Heavy stuff that would cost more to move than to clean
Our Bellevue location has units specifically for this reason. Your furniture stays clean and at a stable temperature while your house is torn apart.
Benefit 3: You Can Actually Live in Your House
Here's the thing about renovations. You still have to live there in most cases. You're eating, sleeping, and working from home, all while construction is happening.
Without storage, you're cramming all your displaced furniture into non-renovation rooms. Your bedroom becomes a storage unit. Your living room has the kitchen table, the couch, the dresser, boxes of kitchen stuff, and somehow you're supposed to relax there after work.
The cramped house situation:
- Can't find anything because it's buried under displaced items
- Tripping over boxes daily
- No actual living space to decompress
- Kids have nowhere to play
- Can't have people over (not that you'd want to during renovation anyway)
With storage:
- Non-renovation rooms stay functional
- You've got breathing room
- Less daily stress navigating your own house
- Semblance of normal life continues
One Nashville couple told our team they rented a 10x10 unit during their kitchen/living room renovation, and it saved their sanity. Their bedrooms stayed bedrooms, and their kids' playroom stayed functional. The renovation was still annoying, but livable.
That's worth a few hundred bucks.
Benefit 4: Less Risk of Damage (And Insurance Headaches)
Renovations are controlled chaos. Things get knocked over, accidents happen, drywall dust ruins finishes, paint splatter lands on furniture that was "covered."
We've heard the horror stories:
- Antique dresser scratched by workers moving materials
- Leather couch splattered with joint compound
- TV was damaged from vibration and dust
- Family heirlooms ruined by water damage from plumbing work
- Expensive rug destroyed by construction traffic
Most contractors are careful and insured. But dealing with damage claims during an already stressful renovation? Nobody wants that headache.
Storage prevents the problem entirely:
- Your belongings aren't in the danger zone
- No risk of accidental damage
- No insurance claims to file
- No arguments about who's responsible
- Peace of mind that your stuff is safe
At our Old Hickory Boulevard location, your items are secure and nowhere near power tools and construction debris. That alone is worth considering.
Benefit 5: Staging and Selling Potential
Not every renovation is for your own enjoyment. Sometimes you're fixing up a house to sell it.
Here's what our team sees with Nashville house flippers and sellers:
Empty rooms show better.
Buyers can visualize their own furniture in an empty room way better than seeing their current setup. Professional staging works great, but even empty spaces can be cluttered during renovations.
The selling timeline:
- Renovate while the house is empty or mostly empty
- Contractors work faster
- House photographs are better for listings
- Potential buyers can walk through without navigating furniture
- Renovation might increase home value more than storage costs
If you're renovating to sell, storage isn't an expense. It's an investment in a faster, more profitable sale.
Even if you're staying, sometimes renovations make you realize you want to sell. Having the option to clear out quickly and stage the house is valuable flexibility.
How Long Do People Actually Need Storage?
Based on what we see at our Bellevue facility:
Minor renovations (single bathroom, simple kitchen update): 6-10 weeks
Major renovations (full kitchen, multiple rooms): 10-16 weeks
Whole-house gut jobs: 4-6 months or more
The "just during painting" myth: People think they'll only need storage during the painting/finishing phase. Then they realize contractors need space earlier, so storage starts sooner. Plan accordingly.
Budget tip: Calculate costs for your worst-case timeline. If you budget for 8 weeks but it takes 14, are you okay with the extra cost? Know your limit.
Come Talk to Our Team
If you're planning a renovation in the Nashville area, stop by StorPlace of Bellevue at 600 Old Hickory Blvd and talk to our team.
We'll help you:
- Figure out what size unit actually makes sense
- Plan timing based on your renovation schedule
- Understand total costs so there are no surprises
Renovations are stressful enough without adding furniture damage and cramped living to the mix. Let us help you do this the smart way.
