Storage Lockers - Low Cost Solutions

Self-storage is a growth industry, and one look at modern lifestyles explains why. An inescapable fact of today's world is that we simply accumulate too much stuff. The huge range of opportunities that modern life affords means that we collect articles for every conceivable purpose: a reasonably sporty individual might require ski equipment for the winter, sailing gear for the summer, with a mountain bike and related paraphernalia for regular use. Items have an inexorable tendency to accumulate, even for those lucky few who are not blessed with a natural hoarding psychology.

The myth of the paperless office and the move beyond the printed novel into the world of the portable e-reader and cloud computing has passed many of us by. The concept of entropy - that every system ultimately degrades towards disorder - applies nowhere more so than in daily life. Paper tends to snowball and even with with efficient document management and record retention, surfaces naturally tend to fill. We will all have heard the cliche that a cluttered desk implies a cluttered mind, even if we tend to agree with Einstein's famous retort "Then what does an empty desk signify?"

The first solution is to adopt a radical approach towards item and data management. Operating on principles such as those that Leo Babauta expounds in "The Power of Less", we can prune relentlessly to only retain the things that really matter. There are numerous blogs that expound the power of minimalist living. Then we can introduce a lean 5S approach to manage our life efficiently on a daily basis.

Yet even using such a system, space is always at a premium and effective storage of bulk items or papers is critical to keeping any system working. Choosing the right storage locker remains an essential step in maintaining many efficient work spaces.

The choice of storage lockers on the market is vast. A quick Google search will reveal a wide variety of styles and formats, from two-door to six-door lockers. A customer can choose from cube lockers, clear-door lockers, wall-mounted and free-standing lockers: it is no exaggeration to state that almost every storage alternative can be sourced, given sufficient time and money. Here are seven considerations which might come to mind:

Purpose - A locker should be chosen only after reflecting on its core purpose. What utility will this storage system provide? Why do you need it? Once you have a crystal clear idea of why the locker is required, you can build from there to choose the most appropriate product.

Security - How secure does the storage locker need to be? Will valuables be stored here? Would a home safe or high security locker be a better alternative? Who will have access to the locker and where will keys (and reserve keys) be safely kept?

Location - Where will the locker be located? Will it be easily accessible? Will it support the surrounding work-flow and harmonise with its surroundings? Will interior walls be able to support the locker? Is location a primary or secondary factor in determining the type of locker?

Permanence - Is this a temporary stop-gap solution or part of a longer-term project? Are you buying this item for five months or five years?

Materials - The range of appropriate materials is wide. Start with the traditional metal storage locker than consider plastic, steel, wood, mesh and laminate lockers which are all popular options. How durable do you need your locker to be? How portable should it be? Which materials look best or blend best with the room? If you are buying a locker for a shared workspace or gym, you may also wish to consider health aspects. For example, Probe Lockers feature a special anti-bacterial coat.

Capacity - The purpose of the storage locker determines its space requirements and the format of locker required. Finally, you may wish to consider the interior organisational system within the locker. There is little point in simply shovelling assorted items in an unstructured manner into a storage locker. This is simply transferring an unresolved problem to a new location. Care should be taken in purchasing the interior storage system, which could be a shelf, a pouch or a tray - various permutations are available on the market.

Price - As with any purchase, thorough price comparison, including an estimate of delivery costs, if any, is essential.

Some people will assign numerical weightings to the different decision criteria, and of course there are a wide range of additional factors which might also be considered. Above all, the locker chosen must meet your specific and possibly unique storage requirements.

Self storage has become a growth industry, even in markets such as the United Kingdom where it was originally a novel and "American" concept. Traditionally these services were used as short term facilities where families could park furniture or personal items during house moves, re-locations or other life transitions. Today they are metamorphosing into near-permanent extensions of the home. When garages or attics are full, home-owners are simply renting out extra space in self storage facilities. In areas such as London where residential living space is a premium commodity and a square foot may be valued at a thousand pounds, this concept makes sense. This concept of extended and long-term storage is naturally a boon for the industry, although it does raise philosophical questions about whether endless accumulation of material things is the right choice for our society.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.