This year, we’ve been very lucky with the Scottish weather, enjoying weeks of warm, sunny days that have allowed us to make the most of our outdoor spaces. Many of us have invested in new garden furniture, BBQs and camping equipment, making garden furniture storage an important consideration as the season comes to an end. Knowing the best approach to garden storage, camping equipment storage and protecting your other outdoor items over the winter can help prevent mould, rust and weather damage, saving you money on unnecessary replacements next summer. With years of experience helping customers protect their belongings, our team at Simple Self Store understands the importance of safe and secure storage. In this guide, we’ll share practical storage tips to keep your belongings in great condition so that they’re clean, protected and ready to use year after year.
Why is it Important to Store Your Garden Furniture?
When we start to move into the Autumn and Winter, having a summer storage plan can help protect your outdoor belongings and keep them in excellent condition. Leaving your garden furniture, BBQs and other outdoor equipment exposed to the elements over winter can cause unnecessary damage. Rain, frost and damp conditions can affect materials such as wood, metal and fabric, leading to issues like rust, cracks and fading.
Storing your garden furniture can help:
- Prevent weather damage
- Avoid mould and mildew
- Save money on replacements
- Extend the lifespan of your
- Make your spring setup quicker and easier
Simple Self Store has a range of flexible storage options to suit different needs, whether you need space for a few seasonal items or space for larger outdoor equipment and garden furniture. We have a variety of sizes so that you can choose a self storage solution that provides the right amount of space for your belongings. With secure, accessible and flexible storage solutions available, we make it easier to protect your summer essentials and free up space at home.
How to Use Self Storage to Store Your Summer Essentials
As summer comes to an end, self storage provides a convenient and secure way to protect your garden furniture, BBQs, camping equipment and other outdoor items throughout the winter. Instead of using valuable space inside your home or leaving your larger items exposed to unpredictable weather, a dedicated storage unit can help keep garden furniture safe, organised and ready to use again next year.
Preparing your summer essentials properly before placing them into self storage is an important step in helping to keep them in the best condition. Taking the time to organise your items and ensure they are suitable for storage will help make sure they are ready to use when the next summer season arrives.
How to Prepare and Store Your Garden Furniture
Before putting your summer essentials into self storage, it’s important to clean and prepare each item properly to help keep them protected. Different materials require different care, so using the right approach can help keep all your belongings organised and ready for next summer.
To make the move into your self storage unit easier, Simple Self Store also offers a range of storage supplies and accessories, including boxes, bubble wrap and wooden pallets. These can help you pack, protect and organise your belongings making the process of storing your summer essentials as simple and stress free as possible.
If you’re unsure how much space you’ll need, our storage calculator can help you estimate the right size storage unit for your belongings. This allows you to choose a storage solution that fits your needs without paying for more space than you require.
Garden Furniture Storage Tips
Whether your garden furniture is wooden, metal, plastic or rattan, each material requires slightly different care. Using the right approach to garden furniture storage will help protect all of your items from the elements, keeping your furniture in great condition until it’s needed again.
Before putting your furniture into storage, clean each item thoroughly to remove any dirt before allowing everything to dry completely. Storing damp furniture can cause mould and rust, especially during the winter and colder months.
For effectively storing garden furniture use suitable protective covers for tables and chairs where possible and store cushions separately in a dry, well-ventilated space.
Additionally, avoid overcrowding your storage space as good airflow will help prevent condensation and will make it easier to access your belongings when you need them again.
Tips for BBQ Storage
BBQs should be thoroughly cleaned before being stored away. Remove ash, empty grease trays and clean the grill before covering it properly. Your gas bottles should be disconnected and stored safely. Please note that Simple Self Store storage units cannot be used to store gas, fuel or other flammable substances, so these items must be kept elsewhere. Accessories such as tools and cooking equipment should be kept and stored together for easy access next summer.
Our secure storage solutions can accommodate everything from a compact BBQ to larger outdoor equipment and furniture. With indoor storage units ranging up to 250 sq ft, you can choose the right amount of space to safely store everything from a single BBQ to larger outdoor furniture and seasonal equipment.
Camping Equipment Storage Tips
Effective camping gear storage helps keep your equipment organised and ready for your next trip. Only store your tents, sleeping bags, chairs, cooking equipment and backpacks when they are clean and completely dry and check for any repairs needed before packing them away. Using camping storage boxes or camping storage containers can help keep smaller items together.
If space is limited at home, flexible storage options from Simple Self Store can provide a practical solution for storing camping gear, tents and other seasonal equipment between adventures.
Tips for Storing Festival Equipment
Festival items such as gazebos, folding chairs, fairy lights, picnic blankets, sleeping mats and trolleys can take up valuable space when you’re not using them. Store smaller accessories together and make sure all items like are safely stored ready for your next event.
For smaller festival accessories and seasonal items, our indoor storage units start from 25sqft, meaning you can choose a storage space that suits your needs and helps you free up space at home.
End of Summer Storage Checklist
Before storing your summer essentials away for winter, use this checklist to make sure you prepare everything properly:
Clean garden furniture, BBQs and outdoor equipment
Make sure all items are completely dry before storing
Check for any damage and complete small repairs
Remove batteries from electrical equipment
Store cushions, fabrics and camping gear in suitable containers
Keep BBQ accessories and camping equipment together
Choose a secure, dry storage space that protects your belongings
Taking a little extra time at the end of summer can help keep your items in better condition and make getting everything ready for next season much easier.
Protect Your Summer Essentials Until Next Season
Finding space at home for seasonal belongings can be difficult, especially when storing larger items such as garden furniture, camping equipment and outdoor accessories. Simple Self Store offers secure storage solutions designed to help keep your belongings protected throughout the year.
Whether you’re looking for indoor storage to store smaller items and furniture or outdoor storage for larger equipment, having a storage space means your summer essentials are kept safe, organised and ready for when you need them again. Our flexible storage options make summer storage, garden furniture storage, camping equipment storage and BBQ storage simple and stress-free.
Conveniently located in Motherwell, Simple Self Store is easily accessible for customers from across Lanarkshire and Central Scotland. Many of our customers travel from Glasgow, Hamilton, Coatbridge and the surrounding areas to take advantage of our secure, flexible storage solutions.
Don’t let your outdoor belongings take up valuable space at home or become damaged over winter. Get in touch with Simple Self Store today to find the right storage solution for your needs.
FAQs
- How should you store garden furniture over winter?
If you are storing your garden furniture over winter, you should start with cleaning each item and allowing it to completely dry before putting it away. Cushions should be stored separately and wooden, metal, plastic and rattan furniture should be covered and kept somewhere that is protected from the weather. If you don’t have enough room at home, Simple Self Store offers secure indoor and outdoor storage solutions to help keep your garden furniture safe throughout winter.
2. Can you leave garden furniture outside all year round?
Some garden furniture can be left outside all year round, but doing so can shorten their lifespan. Rain, frost and wind can cause wood to warp, metal to rust and plastic to fade. For the best outdoor garden furniture storage, store your furniture in a dry, sheltered location or use a secure storage unit to protect it during the colder months.
3. What’s the best way to store a BBQ during winter?
Before storing your BBQ away, give it a clean by removing food residue, ash and grease. Disconnect any gas bottles and store them safely. Once clean and dry, cover your BBQ and keep it somewhere sheltered.
4. How should you store camping equipment after summer?
Make sure all of your camping equipment is clean and dry before packing it away. Check your tents, sleeping bags, chairs and cooking equipment for any damage, and organise smaller items into storage boxes or containers. Keeping your camping gear organised and clean will make sure it’s ready for you next year.
