You know that feeling when you’re trying to get work done but the house just won’t cooperate? The dog needs out, the kids are loud, the laundry is screaming your name. I’ve been there more times than I can count. That’s actually why I started thinking about storage units differently.
Last year, one of our tenants at Secure Space Storage told me he runs his entire eBay business out of a 10×15 unit. At first I thought he was crazy. But then he showed me around his setup and honestly? I was impressed. It got me thinking about how many people could benefit from turning a storage unit into a real workspace.
So let’s talk about how to actually do this without making it feel like you’re working in a prison cell.
Why Would Anyone Want an Office in a Storage Unit?
Look, I get it. It sounds weird. But hear me out.
Maybe you’re running an online business and your apartment is too small. Maybe you’re a contractor who needs a place to meet clients away from your job sites. Or maybe you just need somewhere quiet to escape to for a few hours each week.
Storage units are cheap. Really cheap compared to renting actual office space. And honestly, there’s something nice about having a separate place for work. When you close that door at the end of the day, work stays there. You’re not sleeping in the same room where you pack orders or pay bills.
The Reality Check You Need First
Before you get too excited and start buying furniture, you need to understand what you’re working with.
Most storage units are just concrete boxes with a metal door. That’s it. No windows. No outlets usually. No bathroom. No wifi.
I’m not saying this to discourage you. I’m saying it because going in with your eyes open is the only way this works. If you expect luxury, you’ll be disappointed. If you expect a blank canvas, you’ll be thrilled with what you can create.
Things to ask yourself before you start:
- Does the facility allow people to actually work inside units? Some don’t.
- Is there climate control? If you’re in Texas or Arizona like we are, this matters a lot.
- What are the hours? Can you come and go whenever you want?
- Is there good lighting in the hallways or outside?
At our facilities, we try to be pretty flexible with folks who are using their units as workspaces. But every place has different rules, so check first.
Let’s Talk About Light
This is the thing nobody thinks about and everybody regrets later.
Those fluorescent lights in the ceiling? They’re fine for finding a box. They’re terrible for sitting at a computer for three hours. They’ll give you a headache and make everything look ugly and gray.
You need to bring your own light. I’m serious about this.
What actually works:
- Battery powered shop lights are amazing. You can hang them from the ceiling tracks or stick them on walls with command strips. They’re bright and you can move them around.
- Regular desk lamps from home work great. Just plug them into whatever power solution you figure out.
- Those clip-on craft lights are perfect for focusing light exactly where you need it.
One guy I know put string lights around the top of his unit. Looked kind of silly at first but honestly it made the space feel warm and inviting. His words, not mine.
The Power Problem
Okay so here’s the big one. Most units don’t have power.
You’ve got a few options here and none of them are perfect but they all work.
Extension cords are the simplest answer if your unit is near an outlet. Get a heavy duty one, the thick orange kind. Run it to your unit and tape it down so nobody trips. Check with the facility first though because some places don’t allow this.
Battery packs have gotten really good. You can get a decent sized one for around $200 now. Charge it at home, bring it with you, and it’ll run your laptop and phone for a full day easy. Plus a lamp. This is probably the cleanest solution.
Solar generators are fancy but they work if you’re in an outdoor unit. You just set the panel outside during the day. Not practical for indoor units obviously.
Whatever you do, don’t run a space heater on battery power. Learned that one the hard way. Killed my battery in like twenty minutes and I was freezing the rest of the day.
Making It Feel Like Yours
Here’s where the magic happens. A concrete box is just a concrete box until you make it yours.
- Flooring changes everything: Concrete is hard and cold and makes everything echo. Those foam interlocking mats? The ones people use in garages or home gyms? Put those down. Your feet will thank you. Your back will thank you. And suddenly the space doesn’t feel like a garage anymore.
- A rug makes it a room: Just a cheap one from somewhere. Put it under your desk area. It defines the space and makes it feel intentional.
- Smell matters: Storage units can smell musty. It’s just the nature of concrete and limited airflow. A little air freshener or one of those plug-in things if you have power makes a huge difference. Some people use those charcoal bags that absorb moisture and smells.
- Music or podcasts: You’re going to want something to listen to. Bring a Bluetooth speaker. It fills the silence and makes the space feel alive.
Setting Up Your Space Smart
You don’t have much room probably so you need to be smart about how you arrange things.
- Put your desk against the back wall facing the door: This is important. When you face the door, you see who’s coming and you don’t feel trapped. Plus it gives you a wall behind you to hang stuff on.
- Use vertical space: Storage units are usually tall. Use that height. Industrial wire shelving is cheap and strong. Put things you use all the time at waist level. Things you use sometimes up higher. Things you rarely use down low or in bins.
- Keep the floor clear: I know this is hard when you’re actually using the space for storage too. But try. A clear floor makes the whole place feel bigger. If you have heavy stuff, put it on pallets so air can circulate underneath and you can sweep.
- Create zones: Even in a small space, try to have different areas for different things. A corner for packing. A spot for computer work. A place for tools. It keeps your brain organized even if the space is tiny.
Real Stuff People Actually Do
I’ve seen some pretty clever setups over the years.
There’s a woman who runs a candle business out of her unit. She has a little desk in the corner for orders and the rest is all shelving with supplies. She painted the walls white (facility allowed it) and hung cute signs. It actually feels like a little shop when you walk in.
A guy who flips furniture has his unit set up with a workbench along one side, tools hung on a pegboard, and finished pieces wrapped and stored along the back. He meets customers there sometimes to show them pieces they’ve ordered.
Another tenant just needed somewhere to do his fantasy football research in peace. No joke. His wife got tired of him yelling at the TV on Sundays so now he comes to his unit with a little TV and a mini fridge. Happy wife, happy life I guess.
What About Security?
This matters because you’re leaving stuff in there. Sometimes expensive stuff.
Get a good lock. Not the little ones that come with some units. Get a heavy disc lock. They’re harder to cut.
Don’t advertise what you have. Keep the door closed when you’re not there. Don’t post pictures of your setup on social media with the unit number visible. Sounds obvious but people do it.
Check your insurance. Your homeowners or renters insurance might cover stuff in storage but sometimes it’s limited. Worth a phone call.
Know your neighbors. The other tenants in your row. Say hi. Look out for each other. If someone’s messing with your unit, they might notice.
Why This Actually Works
Here’s the thing nobody talks about. Having a separate space for work actually helps your brain switch modes.
When you work from home, work is always there. It’s in the corner of your living room. It’s on your dining room table. You never really leave it.
When you go to your storage unit office, you’re going to work. And when you leave, you’re done. There’s something about that physical separation that helps a lot of people focus better and relax better.
Plus it’s yours. Nobody’s going to bother you there. No roommates walking through. No delivery guys knocking. Just you and your work.
Before You Start
If you’re thinking about doing this, come visit us first. Walk through the facility. See what size unit feels right. Talk to us about what you’re planning.
At Secure Space Storage, we’ve helped lots of people set up workspaces in their units. We can point you toward the climate controlled buildings if you need that. Show you which units have better light or easier access. Tell you what’s worked for other people.
It’s not for everyone. But for the right person, a storage unit office is honestly kind of perfect. It’s cheap, it’s private, and it’s all yours.
Bring a chair and see how it feels. You might be surprised.
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