Why Australians Are Increasing Their Storage Unit Use?
(Because apparently, we can’t stop keeping stuff - we are on our way to our own Aussie version of "Storage Wars")
Have you noticed it too? Storage units are springing up across Australia faster than new Maccas or Tobacconists...
It’s like we’ve collectively decided we can’t quite let go of that old leather lounge, the second dining room table and chairs, or the 14 boxes of “miscellaneous cables & nic naks” that might come in handy one day.
But behind all the jokes about hoarding, there’s a real reason storage units are booming and it says a lot about how modern Aussie life is shifting.
The Great Aussie Space Squeeze
Let’s face it, the "quarter acre block" homes are getting far out of reach, rents are getting higher, and garages are now home offices. The backyard shed just isn’t cutting it anymore as the family begins to grow or circumstances change. Between rising property prices and the ongoing housing crunch, many Aussies are downsizing, and with that comes a big question: where does all the/my stuff go?
Enter the humble, quiet yet readily available storage facilities..
the extra room/cupboard you wish your house had. It’s become the Aussie dream within reach: secure, climate-controlled, reasonably priced to begin with and conveniently out of sight (and out of mind).
Life in Limbo or Fun Zone?
More of us are living what you might call “temporary” lives.
We move for work, travel for months/years at a time, renovate & upgrade our homes endlessly, and occasionally threaten to move overseas for good.. before coming home six years later.
Storage units are the perfect middle ground. They hold onto your stuff while you figure life out and the path it is taking you.
Going to Asia & Europe “for six months” (which everyone knows means four years)? Store it. Moving back in with your parents “just for a bit”? Store it. Doing a reno that’s “only meant to take three weeks”? Store it because guess what you bloody know that’s not finishing on time with the rain predicted in the coming weeks..
The Growing Cost-of-Living Shuffle
In this economy, paying for extra square metres in rent just to house your clutter doesn’t make sense. SYS has heard it before but.. if you haven't used "said clutter" then we need to have a think..
A storage unit can be cheaper than upgrading to a bigger place, plus you can still keep your surfboards, Christmas decorations, and that collection of mid-century dining chairs you swear will be worth something “in the future”.
And it’s not just personal stuff anymore. Small business owners, vintage sellers, and side hustlers are using storage spaces as mini-warehouses.
Storage facilities are full blown business premises now! Minus the rent, bills, and nosy neighbours.
Sentimental Souls with Too Much Stuff
Let’s be honest.. You are either sentimental or not. But it seems Australians are a growing sentimental bunch. We hold onto things “just in case or for the future”.
That box of uni notes from 2009? Might be useful for your kids studies. Your childhood trophies? Definitely important for the self-esteem. Nan’s old dresser? Can’t get rid of that it’s heritage or vintage? One of the two..
Storage units and storage facilities have become a safe haven for nostalgia.
They let us keep our memories (and our clutter) without tripping over them at home.
So, What Does It All Mean?
Storage units aren’t just steel metal boxes. They’re a reflection of how we live now in this country. They give us flexibility when housing or life doesn’t. They offer space when homes can’t. And they let us keep our lives (and stuff) in order, even when everything else feels a bit chaotic. They can create a calm space to hide away your items.
So next time you drive past another shiny new storage facility, don’t roll your eyes. Somewhere in there is an Aussie or SYS trying to make sense of modern life.. one cardboard box at a time.
At Shift Your Storage, we see this every day, every week, every month..
Aussies decluttering, downsizing, or finally deciding it’s time to let go of the forgotten furniture & brix brax from 2012 (It is okay.. we know its actually 2007)
We help you empty your storage unit, sort your items, and even sell or donate what you don’t need. Because paying to store things you’ll never use again? That’s one trend we’re happy to help you shift.