Space is at a premium in NYC apartments, and it’s all too easy for a small space to feel cluttered. Instead of trying to store everything in your apartment, it might be in your best interest to store seasonal items as the seasons change. So whether you’re decluttering your apartment or storing decorations, these simple tricks can help keep your apartment tidy and your storage organized.
Organize and Declutter
Before you even think about packing your stuff away, take this time to go through your belongings and declutter your seasonal items. Instead of trying to do everything at once, go in sections. Focus on an area or zone inside your apartment and don’t move on until you’re done.
When decluttering, first get rid of anything that is damaged or in bad condition. From there, sort your items into categories based on the season or occasion. That way, you won’t have to dig through your Christmas items when looking for your Halloween items.
Average Space Saved by Decluttering
| Apartment Type | % of Closet Space Cleared | Average # of Boxes Removed | Notes / Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio (400–600 sq. ft.) | 20–30% | 5–7 boxes | Focus on seasonal clothes, small decorations, and rarely used kitchenware |
| 1-Bedroom (600–800 sq. ft.) | 25–35% | 7–10 boxes | Prioritize vacuum-sealed bags for winter clothing and clear bins for holiday decorations |
| 2-Bedroom (800–1,100 sq. ft.) | 30–40% | 10–15 boxes | Split items by category: clothes, decorations, sports gear, and extras |
| 3-Bedroom (1,100–1,400 sq. ft.) | 35–45% | 12–18 boxes | Great opportunity to declutter furniture and seasonal home goods as well |
| 4-Bedroom+ (1,400+ sq. ft.) | 40–50% | 15–25 boxes | Ideal for families: separate children’s items and holiday storage clearly |
After that, look at all your seasonal items and separate any items that you haven’t used in the past few years. Some items might be harder to get rid of. For example, you might want to keep your snow boots. Sure, NYC doesn’t see a lot of snow nowadays, but there’s always the possibility it could happen, and not only do you have to deal with the snow, you also have to deal with slushy puddles. You probably only need two pairs of snow boots, so get rid of your oldest pairs and keep the newer ones. Or, if they’re all around the same age, get rid of the ones that either don’t fit properly or no longer like.
Once you’ve organized and decluttered, make sure to take an inventory of your seasonal belongings and ensure they’re working properly. Keep an eye on things like lights, ornaments, dishware, and picture frames. If they’re damaged, throw them out! You can always buy new ones.
Pack Items Properly
It might be tempting to just throw all your seasonal stuff into a box, but that’s the worst thing you can do. You want to be able to pull out the exact right box for a particular holiday or event, and you want to make sure nothing in the box breaks. That means putting time and care into protecting fragile items like decorations and dishware. Make sure to pay special attention to heirlooms and other traditional items. When it comes to ornaments, always keep the original box and put the ornaments back once you’re done. You can then pack them all into a large plastic bin and fill it with packing peanuts or bubble wrap for additional protection.
Packing Time Estimates
| Item Category | Average Packing Time per Box | Number of Boxes (Typical Studio) | Tips to Speed Up Packing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal Clothes | 15–20 minutes per box | 3–4 boxes | Use vacuum-sealed bags to save space; fold efficiently |
| Holiday Decorations | 20–30 minutes per box | 2–3 boxes | Keep ornaments in original boxes; use bubble wrap or packing peanuts |
| Small Kitchen Items / Dishware | 25–35 minutes per box | 2 boxes | Wrap fragile items individually; label as “Fragile” |
| Sports Equipment / Gear | 15–25 minutes per box | 1–2 boxes | Disassemble large items; use bags for loose gear |
| Books / Media | 20–25 minutes per box | 1–2 boxes | Pack heavier items at the bottom; don’t overfill boxes |
| Extra Linens / Bedding | 10–15 minutes per box | 1–2 boxes | Use compression bags to save space; fold tightly |
Packing away seasonal clothes is a great way to open up space in your closet and dressers. While you won’t have to deal with clothes breaking in storage, you should still spend some time packing them properly. Before putting your clothes away for the season, make sure to give everything a good wash. To save on space, invest in some vacuum-sealed bags and put your clothes in there. You can use the included pump or use an actual vacuum to remove all the air to compress the bag and its contents. After that, you should be able to store the bag under the bed or somewhere else that’s out of the way.
Label Your Containers
Once you’ve packed everything again, don’t forget to stick a label on every box, bag, and other container. Put as much information as possible without being overly wordy. If you organize properly, all of your items should be packed with similar items so you should be able to label the bin “Christmas decorations” and know exactly what’s inside. Make sure to use a clear bin or bag so you can easily see what you packed away. This is especially important if you have multiple boxes of winter clothes or holiday decorations.
If you want to go a step further, print out the inventory of items inside that bag or bin and place it on top. That way, you’ll see exactly what is inside without having to dig through the entire bag or bin. Of course, you don’t have to create an inventory, but it will save a lot of time and stress later down the line, especially if you end up storing your seasonal items at a NYC storage unit.
Pick the Right Storage Solution
Living in an NYC apartment means you don’t have a lot of space to store your stuff. Even if you managed to efficiently pack your seasonal items away, you still have to find a good place to put them! When choosing a location in your apartment, try to store items in areas that are not too hard to get it. After all, if something takes too much effort to get down, you’ll be less likely to reach for it.
Popular Seasonal Storage Hacks in NYC
| Storage Hack | Items Suitable | Average Space Saved | Best NYC Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under-Bed Storage Bins | Seasonal clothes, shoes, and small holiday decor | Up to 20% of closet space | Studios & 1-Bedrooms |
| Vacuum-Sealed Bags | Winter coats, bulky sweaters, blankets | Compresses items by 50–70% | All apartment types |
| Overhead Shelving | Boxes of decorations, books, and extra linens | Up to 15% floor space saved | 1–3 Bedrooms, apartments with high ceilings |
| Clear Plastic Bins | Holiday decorations, seasonal kitchenware | Easy identification reduces duplicate storage | All apartment types |
| Cabinet & Closet Door Hooks | Scarves, hats, belts, bags | Frees up 10–15% shelf space | Studios & 1-Bedrooms |
| Top-of-Cabinet Storage | Less-used items, seasonal décor | Utilizes vertical space effectively | All apartment types |
| Use Storage Units for Rarely Used Items | Old furniture, archived documents, off-season sports gear | Frees up significant apartment space | All apartment types, especially small studios |
So, get creative. Optimize your apartment space as much as possible. Use sliding storage bins under your bed or add shelves to increase your vertical space. Utilize those overlooked areas like the top of cabinets and bookshelves, or a weird corner of your apartment that you don’t know what to do with. Make sure to prioritize frequently used items in the most accessible areas. That includes items like clothes and shoes. If you have a hard time remembering where you put your containers, consider creating a visual diagram either by paper with an app to keep your storage organized.
Consider Renting a Storage Unit
If you still have too much stuff even after decluttering and packing, your next option should be renting a storage unit. Unless you’re storing furniture, you can probably get away with renting the smallest unit, as you’ll hopefully only have to worry about boxes. Most NYC storage units are indoors and climate-controlled, so you don’t have to worry about your belongings getting damaged due to sudden changes in temperature or moisture. Of course, storage units aren’t free, so make sure you have the budget to pay for the space. In many cases, if you’re late by even a day or two, the storage unit owners can put your belongings up for auction to recoup their costs.
If you’re storing a lot of boxes or even some furniture, consider working with a moving company, as they will bring your items to and from storage when you’re ready. While these storage units are not accessible 24/7 like your standard self-storage options, you get the added benefits of more security and, of course, not having to lift a finger. Just make sure you really don’t need the stuff you put into storage!
Say Goodbye (temporarily) to Your Seasonal Items
Sure, there’s something comforting about having seasonal decorations or clothes available whenever you want them, but are you really going to need a heavy jacket in the summer? The more you can pack and store away, the more open your NYC apartment will feel. And if you can’t find a good place to store your stuff, make sure to contact NYC Great Movers, and we’ll transport your containers and bags to and from our secure storage facility.
FAQ
What should I do with sports equipment?
Unless you plan on traveling somewhere else, you should also store your sporting goods. Make sure to look up how to properly care for and store items beforehand.
What should I do during the transitional period between seasons?
If the weather is still fluctuating, you can keep a handful of seasonal items in your closet and store the rest.
