Help guides

Whether you’re moving house, redesigning your home’s interior or just having a big clear out, it can be tricky to know what to do with old or unused furniture. There are plenty of ways to dispose of your furniture entirely, but there are also lots of things you can do to give it a new lease of life, like upcycling and donating. Explore our top tips below for more inspiration on what to do with your old furniture. 1. Sell it This could be as simple as driving your furniture round to your local second-hand furniture shop and asking them for a quote, but if your furniture is from a prestigious designer or era, you might also look into selling it to an antique store, or at auction. There’s also a multitude of ways you could sell your furniture online, using marketplaces like eBay and Facebook. If your furniture is […]

As homes take on the role of school and office and with more than one in four now working from home (26%) a quarter of Brits (24%) have admitted their relationships are becoming more strained as a result of the lockdown. However, with the search term ‘how to Feng Shui home’ seeing an 80% increase between February and March 2020, it seems people are looking for ways to restore the peace and calm into their homes. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to easily feng shui your home on a budget. 1. Start with the hallway The practice of Feng Shui originates from Ancient China and uses energy to harmonize individuals with their surroundings. Feng Shui experts suggest starting with your hallway, as this symbolises the entrance to your sanctuary. Create a calm atmosphere by keeping your entrance free from clutter and any extra coats, scarves […]

In the last few months of pregnancy, the urge to nest is stronger than ever, and with your due date coming up, it’s important that you feel like your home is ready for a newborn. First on the list is the nursery, but once this is finished you can start to make the rest of your home baby-friendly. From stocking up on the basics to scheduling family visits, there are plenty of ways you can make life as easy as possible for yourself in those first few weeks of chaos. Do a deep clean You probably won’t have the energy to do much when you first bring your baby home, so it’s worth giving the whole house a proper clean while you can. Pay extra attention to any parts of the house where there’s the potential for harmful bacteria to grow, like the kitchen and bathroom. Risk-assess your home While […]

Whether you’re looking to sell your home in the near future, or you just want to make the most of it, there are plenty of ways to spruce up your property, however big or small. Below, we’ll take you through our top ten tips for adding value to your home – some of these ideas might involve significant renovations, but others could easily be done on a small budget, so there’s something for everyone. 1. Refresh the exterior Upping the kerb appeal of your property can do a great deal to add value. By taking small measures like repainting your front door, repairing broken fencing, fixing any glaring problems with the roof and adding a house number, you’ll ensure your home makes a good first impression. 2. Upgrade your windows Investing in double glazing for your property will not only make your home more thermally efficient, but also modernise the […]

We have been searching high and low and exploring the internet to find storage hacks and short term storage ideas that everyone needs to know about. From viral news articles, to Facebook posts, to Pinterest boards, we have revealed the viral tips that Brits simply can’t get enough of. Some have even been described as “life-changing” and “genius” and these hacks are likely to excite organisation fanatics across the UK and may even convert the messiest and most cluttered Brits to self-confessed storage lovers. Plastic Bags One mum revealed her genius hack for storing her endless supply of plastic bags neatly by impressively folding them into a triangle and putting them into a basket, which takes up a lot less space in the house. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mrs D’s Cleaning Reviews (@mrs.ds.cleaning.reviews) Bras To keep the ‘cup’ shape of a bra and ensure it […]

Parents love to keep special keepsakes from their children’s early years. But how can you ensure that the memories you capture are available for you to enjoy for years to come? Here are our top tips for protecting your collection of photographs, whether physical or digital. Photographs Though the world has largely ‘gone digital’ since the turn of the century, many parents still like to take snaps using Polaroid cameras – or hire a professional photographer to capture a special occasion. To stop your most cherished photographs from fading, invest in a high-quality album that protects the pictures from dust and direct sunlight. It’s best to use albums that contain acid-free archival paper and ensure that your collection is stored at room temperature, so not in a loft or garage. Digital Photographs Digital photography allows you to store images without taking up physical space, but it’s still possible to lose […]

Making the leap and moving abroad can be such an exciting time – but often, many migrators can get a little stressed when it comes to thinking about the logistics of the move. If you’re wondering what to do with your current possessions when you move overseas, don’t worry. We’ve put together this short guide to help point you in the right direction when it comes to storage options for moving abroad. Deciding what to bring along – and what to leave behind When moving abroad, usually less is more. It’s often cost effective to get rid of, or store, non-essential or cheaper items and avoid the expense and effort of taking it overseas with you. It’s best to start by thinking about your new home, plan out where your furniture will be, and consider functionality. Think about whether or not you will have the same rooms, garden and storage […]

The big day is over, you’re back from your honeymoon and you’ve finally opened all your gifts. Now it’s time to decide what you’re going to do with your wedding dress. If you want to keep your marital gown and haven’t got space to store it at home, putting your nuptial dress into long-term storage is an effective solution. Before you do this though, there’s several factors you need to consider so your gown doesn’t get damaged. Our experts are here to share detailed steps on how to store your wedding dress and make sure it’s fully preserved inside your storage unit. If you’re feeling slightly wary about the safety of your dress once in long-term storage, you don’t need to worry. Take a look at our bespoke storage insurance options, which’ll give you added peace of mind. Preserving your wedding dress for storage The first thing you must do […]

Going through a breakup can be a difficult time, both financially and emotionally. As well as having to deal with the end of a relationship, many Brits are also left with financial problems as a result. We recently conducted research to find out how many broken-hearted Brits are facing financial issues after a split with an ex-partner, and what costs are affecting them the most. Our research found that more than three-quarters of Brits who have experienced the end of a serious relationship have had to pay up to £5,000 in moving out costs and early exit fees from contracts. Our research found that the top costs the nation have had to pay after a breakup involve moving costs, such as renting a van to help move. The second highest payment Brits have been left with is the remaining monthly rent costs – something that can prove very expensive if […]

With the UK throwing away seven billion tonnes of food annually – an average of around £470 per household – it’s clear that we could all do with a bit of education when it comes to storing food safely. It’s estimated that half of the £13 billion cost of food waste could be saved if the public were given more information about storing food safely. With that in mind, here are some of our top tips to help you keep your food fresher for longer. You can take our quiz at the bottom to see how much you remembered! Fruit and vegetables Keeping fruits and vegetables stored too closely together is a common mistake that can lead to food going bad. Build-up of the chemical compound ethylene will cause them to go off, so apples, melons, apricots, bananas, tomatoes, avocados, peaches, pears, nectarines, plums, figs, and other fruits and vegetables […]

Red wine is produced, consumed and enjoyed across the world, and is loved for its ability to be drank alongside a meal, or simply by itself. Red wine is known for its ability to age well. However, it’s a common misconception that all wines improve from aging, or that an old wine indicates a good wine, as this is not always true. The aging process changes wine, and not all wines benefit from these changes. Generally, cheaper wines do not benefit from aging, and taste better when they’re consumed at the time of purchasing. The following is a rough guide for aging some of the most popular types of wine, but the vintage, region and winemaking style can all affect the aging process. Bordeaux (8-25 years) Cabernet Sauvignon (4-20 years) Merlot: (2-10 years) Pinot Noir (2-8 years) Zinfandel (2-6 years) So once you’ve selected your favourite wine, how can you […]

Here at Space Station, we understand that school holidays can be an expensive time. With parents spending an average of £300* per school holiday on taking their children out for activities such as the cinema, bowling or play centres, the costs can really add up. So, to make it a little easier on the purse strings for parents this summer, we have created a guide on how to build the ULTIMATE cardboard fort! Not only is it a low-cost activity, but it also helps you bond further with your children, as well as develop their team-building skills and imagination. All you will need to create your ultimate cardboard castle is a few household supplies, and lots of creativity! To watch us create our cardboard fort, please view the video below: Play Download a printable version of our instructions: How to build the Ultimate Cardboard Fort pdf (1553 KB) Instructions What […]

Here at Space Station, we know the importance of a clean, tidy living space – but just how sanitary are our homes? We conducted a study that revealed the cleaning habits (or lack thereof) of UK students. The study involved swabbing an all-male and all-female student accommodation to find the areas in the home with the most bacteria, fungi and yeast lurking. The swabs were compared against each other for their levels of infection, comparing bacteria, fungi and yeast in the test items. You may not want to read this while eating your lunch – as we found that a chopping board and fridge were a staggering four times dirtier than a toilet! Results The male toilet was found to be the most riddled with bacteria, with an infection level of 250 – which is the highest level of infection the swabbing kit was able to indicate. The female toilet, […]

Our office shredder was around long before anyone had heard of Google, Facebook or Twitter – in fact, it was even around before the Internet itself. But it’s still alive and kicking in our office – we use it every day without fail – and we have done since 1990. Nowadays most documents are stored electronically or in ‘the cloud’ but have we become too reliant on technology to delete our old information and private documents? Are we the minority when it comes to using old fashioned, slightly dog-eared office equipment? Or do other workplaces look past modern features and fast processes too? When you shred a physical document there’s no need to worry about data breaches like there is when deleting digital files but have you ever shredded a document by mistake?! Plus we’ve all come in to contact with a temperamental shredder – they can jam, they can […]

In the UK we like to keep hold of things. Many of our possessions have strong sentimental value, many of us keep collectables, and we all keep things that we might not need (or have room for) now, which is when you start to think about long term storage that may come in handy. But have you ever gone through your stored items and been overwhelmed by nostalgia of items you’d previously forgotten about? Perhaps you’ve found some old video tapes, cassettes or records and remembered how important they were at the time – but how obsolete they are now. We definitely have – andit made us wonder, what would people be nostalgic – or maybe not even have a clue about – 100 years from now? We asked the people of Britain what they’d put in a time capsule to be opened in a century, and here’s the top […]

In the wake of a devastating fire that occurred at a self-storage facility in Croydon on New Year’s Eve 2018, we would like to reassure our customers of the security measures we have in place to help prevent such disasters. Security is paramount at all of our stores; our facilities have electronic entry gates and the majority of our units are individually alarmed, activated by a unique code. We have 24-hour CCTV at all of our sites and all stores are fully compliant with national building and fire regulations. A contract is in place with an out-of-hours support company who is able to respond immediately to any emergencies which may happen outside of our operating hours. When customers put their belongings into our storage facility, insurance cover is required. We offer a bespoke insurance policy with cover at a cost of £1.38 per week per £1000 of goods stored. We […]

New research finds Brits spend 14 hours a week cleaning but could save hundreds of hours AND make money through just one annual ‘Spring Clean’ New research has revealed that over half (51%) of Brits NEVER ‘spring clean’ their homes More than a third of Brits opt for frequent, ad-hoc cleaning instead , spending an average of 14 hours each week on this Cleaning expert Lynsey “Queen of Clean” Crombie believes a yearly spring clean improves organisation and productivity, saving time in the long run With spring just around the corner, you may think Brits are readying their rubber gloves or short term storage plans and disinfectant spray and jay cloths for the annual ‘big spring clean’ but new research suggests that an annual spring clean is a thing of the past for most people. Brits are instead favouring smaller scale, frequent cleaning. However, this is perhaps not an efficient […]

Champagne is undoubtedly one of the most popular drinks in the world, with people toasting a glass of celebratory bubbles at weddings, parties, birthdays and special events. The UK is the largest export market for Champagne – we drink about 38 million bottles each year! A history of champagne Champagne hails from north eastern France, in the Champagne region, and was first made by the famous Dom Perignon in 1693. Perignon worked in the Abbey of Hautvillers in Champagne, and was responsible for the production, aging and storage of the Abbey’s wines. He was tasked with ridding the Abbey’s wines of bubbles but was unable to do so. It wasn’t until trying this sparkling wine that he realised how good it tasted – and thus champagne was born! Nowadays, there are many different types of champagne the most popular are: Blanc de Blancs – a white champagne made from Chardonnay […]

It’s the thing we once dreaded as children, but now we’re adults it’s not any easier! Cleaning your room can often be a laborious task, and finding the ,time, and energy, to do so can often seem impossible. But, if your bedroom has held on for too long and is desperate for a deep clean, there’s no need to panic. We’ve put together an easy five-step plan to help you tidy your room quickly and effectively. Read this, and your bedroom will be spick and span in no time at all! 1. Prioritise and get in the right mindset The first thing you need to do before you begin tidying your room is to prioritise the task at hand and make sure you’re in the right mindset. If you’re feeling tired then you won’t feel like spending any time cleaning your room, so try putting some upbeat music on to […]

When it comes to storing items properly in our homes, many of us have had very little education on the matter apart from the essentials, and we’re even more clueless when it comes to items with specific use by dates. Vlatka Lake, Marketing Manager at self-storage provider, Space Station, has shared the ten everyday items that may be out of date and lurking in your home. Makeup Having a large makeup collection with a lipstick, eyeshadow and mascara to suit any occasion is an ever-growing obsession for many. However, all these products come with use by dates and it can become quite a costly affair purchasing makeup that you will never fully use. Mascara should be ideally replaced every 3 months, eyeshadow after a year and lipstick after two years. Coffee If you have a penchant for expensive coffee that you only save for special occasions, you may well be […]

We are all guilty of leaving paperwork around our homes and not remembering where we put it, and despite us living in a digital age, paperwork is still very important. From car insurance contracts to birth certificates, misplacing these documents could cost owners up to £800 to replace them. Self Storage provider, Space Station, has put together a guide on the important household documents that you should keep, and how much it costs to replace them. Birth Certificate – £9.95 Birth certificates are important documents that show proof of age and there are many circumstances where you may be asked to present the document, whether it’s registering for schools during childhood or applying for a driving license. It costs £9.95 to replace a birth certificate in the UK and whilst this isn’t a hefty figure, it could add up if you need to replace it multiple times. Passport – £75.50 […]

Snooping parents reveal how they keep tabs on their children Over a third of parents admit they continue to spy on their children after they become an adult Weirdest things found by invasive parents revealed Nearly two thirds of parents (61%) have admitted to spying on their children, according to new research. The survey of 1,000 British parents*, carried out by self-storage experts, Space Station, found that more than a third (38%) don’t trust their children and therefore go to great lengths to ensure they know as much as possible about what they get up to. Viewing photos on a child’s phone (29%) was the most common way for parents to regularly invade their youngster’s personal space, closely followed by reading a child’s texts (28%). A surprising 27% of parents admitted to viewing their offspring’s internet history, while just under a quarter (22%) claimed to have logged into their children’s social media […]

First time buyers staying put for longer, new research shows Today’s first-time buyers are 1.5 times more likely than their parents were to stay in their first home more than 10 years 1 in 3 house buyers struggle to save a deposit today – compared to only one in 20 who bought their home 20-30 years ago – which could make them reluctant to move on quickly ‘Second steppers’ also struggle to buy their second home without support from parents, forcing people to stay put for longer 43% are now considering spending money on improving their homes rather than moving Millennials are 1.5 times more likely to make their first home their forever home, compared to their parents’ generation, new research has revealed. The 2,000-person survey, which was carried out by self-storage company, Space Station, asked 1,000 Brits who are currently preparing to buy a house and 1,000 Brits who […]

According to research, it is estimated that there are 4.2 million home-based workers in the UK. This is nearly a quarter of a million more than the previous 10 years and works out at around one in seven of the people currently in work. Experts agree that when it comes to working from home, personalising your home office – with anything from inventive storage creations to feature walls – can help to unleash creativity and boost morale upon even the most gruelling days ‘at work’. So, to help aid UK home workers creativity, self-storage company, Space Station, has teamed up with a series of leading interior experts to offer advice on how to achieve the ultimate inspiring office space and they are running a competition to find the UK’s best home office, too. Here are their top tips. 1. Choose a colour that represents your personality People often underestimate the […]

With the end of winter in sight, many Brits will be turning their attention to a spring clean of their home. Decluttering unwanted items is a great place to start, but could you be throwing away a small fortune? From old books to stuffed toys and board games to ancient tech, old clutter can be a potential gold mine that could earn you thousands of pounds, if you know what to look out for. To help you make money from your old unused clutter, storage expert, Vlatka Lake from Space Station, has revealed the old items you should look out for in your loft as they regularly sell for three, four, five and even six figure sums! What to look out for Beanie Babies – up to £350,000 They were all the rage back in the nineties, but if you still have a few hanging around in your loft, don’t […]

Last year, the world was made aware of the impact that plastics are having on our environment by David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2 documentary. As a result, we were inspired to try to live sustainably to save our planet, but what exactly is sustainable living and how can we incorporate this into our daily lives? Sustainable living is all about sourcing our food, water and shelter in environmentally friendly ways, so that we do not compromise the earth’s natural resources for future generations. To lead a completely sustainable life, we need to cut down on pollution, use less natural resources and replenish what we use. To help the nation become more eco-friendly, self storage provider, Space Station, who set themselves their own personal target of halving their carbon footprint within three years , has put together their top tips on sustainable living for beginners. Turn off devices Whilst it can […]

As a storage space provider, Space Station always try to create the best possible storage conditions for customers. One of the biggest conditions to bear in mind is humidity and temperature, which, if not managed correctly, can have a very negative effect on items being stored. If you’re storing art, fabrics, papers, electronics, metals, wine, wooden furniture or any other item that doesn’t respond well to moisture or differences in heat, it’s important you store them in a facility that has a controlled climate, and at Space Station, we do this with the help of Rola Trac flooring. What is Rola Trac? Rola Trac is a type of temporary flooring that has been designed to be robust, easy-to-place and non-slip. Used for a massive range of purposes, from outdoor events surfacing to creating pedestrian walkways, all the way to providing temporary helipads for the military, Rola Trac is also useful […]

There’s a reason why plenty of motorists love classic cars. Older motors, with their elegant lines, pared-down interiors and thrumming engines are a world apart from even the slickest of today’s autos, but given their age, they need to be treated with care and respect. Storing classic cars is a common thing to do if the vehicle isn’t going to be driven for a while or needs to be protected from bad wintry weather, but there’s more to it than covering it with a tarp. By taking the right steps you can ensure your classic is in tip-top condition when you want to take it for a spin. Before you store There are a few steps you should take care of before you store away your classic car to help ensure no problems manifest themselves while it’s sat in storage. Do a deep clean Always thoroughly clean a classic car […]

Whether you’re moving to your dream home, getting your foot on the first rung of the property ladder or doing a little downsizing, chances are you’re probably not looking forward to the logistical side of moving house. Thankfully, with enough preparation and planning, moving house doesn’t have to be an organisationalnightmare, especially when paired with self-storage units that can take the strain out of moving day. Useful resources If you’re planning a house move, there are loads of resources you can use to get on track: Right Move Removals – Arguably the UK’s most well-known property site, Right Move has removal company and man with van listings for the whole of the UK. Moveme.com – With listings for practically every profession you might want a quote from during your move, and the ability to compare deals on entertainment and utilities, Moveme.com has it all. UKCrimeStats.com – If you’re contemplating a […]

There are a number of ways people use self-storage to help their business – for example, it can be a secure way to store excess stock without the steep up-front costs of investing in a warehouse. However, there’s another way self-storage can help ordinary people make some extra cash on the side. Many people have a spare bedroom in their house, especially older people whose kids have grown up and left the nest. This room often lies neglected and becomes a general storage space, but there could be a better way to use it: put what you want to keep in a secure self-storage unit, and rent out the room to lodgers or travellers. The Rent a Room Scheme Since 1997, homeowners have been able to rent out a furnished spare room in their houses and can earn up to £7,500 tax-free a year for doing so. This threshold used […]