How Do You Create Walkways Inside a Packed Storage Unit?

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April 8th, 2026

Use Shelving to Keep Your Unit Organized

Your storage unit doesn’t have to be filled from the back to the front, or just have boxes and furniture lining the walls. Storage shelves are a perfect solution for keeping a storage unit organized. By getting items off the storage unit ground, you can clear up space for pathways, allowing you to walk more freely through the space. With boxes on shelves, everything is more accessible and easier to find. Depending on the style of shelf you install, you can take advantage of the height of your storage unit and store boxes with unimportant contents up high, especially if they’re lightweight. The more surfaces you have to maintain organization, the less chaotic the space will be. Continue reading to read some storage tips on creating helpful walkways and keeping your storage unit organized.

Sketch a Layout for Your Storage Unit

Once you have a sketch with proper dimensions, you can ensure there’s a clear walkway. Preparing a layout this way makes organizing easier and helps you utilize the maximum space. With a proper layout, you can account for the width of the pathways you want to leave and where the best place is to store open shelving. If you’re storing inventory for a business or need regular access to your belongings, create a detailed layout that makes accessing the storage unit painless. Make sure to closely follow your layout when moving your belongings into your unit. Marking the ground with painter's tape ensures you are acutely aware of where shelves, boxes, and other belongings can go. Planning your storage unit this way also makes accounting for furniture easier. Calculating the size of larger pieces of furniture will give you a clearer idea of where a walkway can fit, where shelving can go, and what areas you can store additional boxes. As you create your layout, note where paths will be most helpful. For a unit that is mostly filled with boxes on shelving, a U-shaped walkway gives you access to shelves all around the storage unit, and in the middle. If you have large pieces of furniture or equipment, an L-shaped walkway may be more suitable, allowing for extra space on one side. Continue reading to learn more about what size storage unit will work for you and how to determine the space necessary for walkways.

Choosing The Right Unit Size

When selecting a storage unit, be sure to account for the width of the pathways you plan to create. Take into account large items, furniture, the number of boxes, and how wide you want the aisle to be. Knowing the size of your storage unit ahead of time will give you a clearer idea of the possible layouts you can achieve. While it may be tempting to create a narrow walkway in your unit, keep in mind that you will likely be removing and adding belongings and boxes. Measure boxes or other storage items to be sure they can fit through the walkways. Consider renting a large storage unit that allows you to move around more freely throughout the space, especially if you plan on moving boxes in and out. A larger unit size may cost more, but it can be accommodating to your unique storage needs.

Awesome Possum Storage offers a size guide to more accurately calculate what size storage unit you should rent. Input furniture, appliances, and other items to get an estimate of what size storage unit you will need. Add the width of your walkways before making a final decision. If you need help choosing the right storage unit, check out our size guide or contact our office during business hours.

Create an Inventory Map

When moving into the storage unit, create an inventory map or inventory list to keep track of everything. Map out areas or shelves in the storage unit for different rooms of the house, or color coordinate stickers to categories. Shelving makes navigating a storage unit much easier, but the more items you have stored away, the more confusing it can become. An inventory map helps keep track of what is in each aisle of the unit. Keep the map inside your unit to know what each shelf contains and where to find important items.

Prioritize Important Items

Once you create walkways for your storage unit, you need a system to keep the unit organized. Labeling boxes or shelves keeps belongings in the right space, helps maintain walkways you’ve established, and can help friends, family, or employees safely navigate your items. Prioritizing important items can be done in several ways, all of which are easier with walkways in your unit. Store your most important boxes at arm’s length and at waist height to make them easy to access and move. Less important boxes and stored items that you’re not going to need can be put higher up, or behind furniture and shelves. Store the most important items near the entrance of the storage unit to avoid moving other boxes in the space unnecessarily. Keeping the unit neat and organized makes navigating your unit much easier. Utilizing these techniques, you can maintain a clean space with aisles to reach all of your belongings.

Clear Storage Bins Make Organizing Easier

Clear storage bins are superior in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to ease of access. Putting lighter, clear storage bins up high means you’re able to easily see what is inside without removing them from a high-up shelf. You’ll thank yourself later as you walk down a walkway perusing through each bin without having to open a single one.

Self Storage in Central Ohio

Awesome Possum Storage offers both indoor and outdoor storage units near Columbus, Ohio. With varying options, you can choose from an easy-access outdoor unit or a climate-controlled unit. All of our storage units are within our fenced-in perimeter and can only be accessed through a secure gate. Video surveillance sees anyone entering and exiting the property to ensure we always know who is there. To learn more about our self-storage facility, contact us today.