How Can Self Storage Help With a Home Office Setup?

Self storage can help with a home office setup by providing space for eligible furniture, seasonal belongings and household items that no longer fit in the room. Start by deciding what the office needs, remove items that serve another purpose and place only permitted belongings in storage.

The home office must remain in your home. A Public Storage unit cannot be used as an office, workspace, business address or meeting location.

Home Office Setup at a Glance

How Can Storage Create Room for a Home Office?

A spare bedroom, dining area or den may already contain furniture, seasonal decorations, hobby equipment or boxes. Moving eligible items off-site may make room for:

• A desk
• An ergonomic chair
• Task lighting
• Computer equipment
• Video-call space
• Office storage furniture
• A reading or planning area

Before moving everything out, measure the room and sketch the proposed layout. This can help you determine how much space the office actually needs and which household items should be relocated.

Self storage does not guarantee a particular work outcome, but it may help you create a more defined work area at home.

What Can You Consider Moving Into Storage?

Eligible household belongings may include clean, dry items such as:

• An extra bed frame
• A mattress prepared according to manufacturer guidance
• A dresser
• A dining table
• Extra chairs
• Bookcases
• Seasonal decorations
• Hobby equipment
• Replaceable household décor
• Empty storage bins
• Eligible sporting equipment
• Approved office furniture
• Dry, ordinary office supplies

Everything must comply with the rental agreement and facility policies. Do not store items that cannot be replaced or belongings that would cause the unit’s total stored value to exceed the permitted limit.

Public Storage rental agreements prohibit storing property with a total value of more than $5,000 per unit.

What Should Not Go Into Storage?

Keep sensitive, confidential and frequently needed items with you.

Do not store:

• Business documents, contracts or files
• Tax records
• Personnel or customer information
• Medical or legal documents
• Identification records
• Money
• Jewelry
• Cremains
• Belongings that cannot be replaced
• Food or beverages
• Plants
• Liquids
• Hazardous materials
• Illegal or unsanitary items
• Property exceeding the permitted stored-value limit

Review the Public Storage storage policies and your rental agreement before move-in.

Can You Store Files From a Previous Job?

No. Public Storage rental agreements prohibit business-related documents, contracts and files.

Files from a previous employer may also contain confidential, proprietary or personally identifiable information. Follow the employer’s records-retention, return or disposal instructions rather than placing those materials in storage.

Keep personal tax, employment, medical and legal records in an appropriate location outside the storage unit.

If a filing cabinet is going into storage, empty it completely and check every drawer before moving it.

Can You Store Equipment From a Previous Employer?

Do not store employer-owned computers, monitors, phones, printers, files or other equipment unless the employer has explicitly authorized you to possess and store them.

If a previous employer provided the equipment, contact its human resources or information technology team for return instructions. Do not erase, dispose of or repurpose company property without authorization.

Personally owned equipment may be eligible if it complies with the rental agreement, stored-value restriction and applicable facility rules.

How Should You Prepare Office Furniture?

Clean and dry furniture before moving it into storage.

For desks, chairs, bookcases and cabinets:

1. Measure the assembled item.
2. Disassemble it when manufacturer instructions allow.
3. Keep screws and hardware in a labeled bag.
4. Attach the hardware bag to the corresponding furniture piece.
5. Remove all papers and personal information from drawers.
6. Cover suitable pieces with clean, breathable furniture covers.
7. Store heavy components on a stable surface.
8. Avoid placing excessive weight on tabletops or chair cushions.

Do not tightly wrap wooden or upholstered furniture in plastic if existing moisture could become trapped.

Can You Store Computers and Other Electronics?

Some personally owned electronics may be eligible, but review the value limit, manufacturer’s instructions and facility policies first.

Before packing an eligible electronic device:

• Back up necessary data.
• Remove personal or confidential information when appropriate.
• Sign out of accounts.
• Disconnect cables and accessories.
• Remove batteries when directed by the manufacturer.
• Clean the exterior without leaving moisture.
• Let the device cool before packing.
• Use the original box or another suitable container.
• Label cords without describing sensitive contents.

Keep devices containing confidential work data with you or follow your employer’s information-security procedures.

Do not store high-cost equipment, devices that cannot be replaced or electronics that would cause the unit’s total value to exceed the permitted limit.

Can You Store a Printer?

A personally owned printer may be eligible after appropriate preparation.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for transportation and storage. Depending on the printer, you may need to:

• Remove paper.
• Clear the print queue.
• Disconnect cables.
• Secure moving components.
• Remove ink or toner cartridges when instructed.
• Pack the printer upright.
• Keep the device dry.
• Use the original packaging when available.

Ink cartridges contain liquid, and some printer products may be subject to storage restrictions. Do not store loose ink cartridges, printer-cleaning solution or other liquids. Contact the property team if you are unsure whether a particular printer or cartridge is permitted.

What Office Supplies Can You Store?

Clean, dry and ordinary office supplies may be eligible, including:

• Empty binders
• Notebooks without sensitive information
• Pens and pencils
• Dry-erase erasers
• Staplers
• Paper clips
• Empty folders
• Shipping boxes
• Desk organizers
• Computer stands
• Cable organizers

Do not store confidential files, loose ink cartridges, liquid adhesive, cleaning products, food or other prohibited items.

Review boxes from a former office carefully before placing them in the unit. A container labeled “office supplies” may still include business records, liquids or employer-owned property that should be removed.

How Should You Pack Home Office Items?

Group eligible items by category:

• Furniture
• Electronics
• Cables and accessories
• Dry office supplies
• Household items removed from the office
• Seasonal belongings
• Hobby equipment

Use specific labels, but avoid writing confidential information on the outside of a box.

For example:

• Desk Hardware
• Personal Computer Accessories
• Dry Office Supplies
• Guest Room Décor
• Seasonal Decorations
• Hobby Equipment

Keep a digital inventory outside the unit. Record the container number, general contents and location.

How Should You Organize the Storage Unit?

Arrange the unit according to how soon you may need each item.

• Keep frequently used household belongings near the front.
• Place longer-term furniture toward the back.
• Leave labels facing the aisle.
• Keep heavier boxes on lower shelves.
• Avoid stacking boxes on electronics or furniture.
• Leave a walkway when space permits.
• Use freestanding shelving where appropriate.
• Keep furniture hardware with the corresponding piece.
• Update the inventory when adding or removing items.

Do not attach shelving or hooks to facility walls without permission.

What Size Storage Unit Do You Need?

The right size depends on the furniture, boxes and household items removed from the future office.

Before renting:

1. Create an inventory.
2. Measure furniture.
3. Identify pieces that can be disassembled.
4. Count boxes and containers.
5. Include any freestanding shelving.
6. Allow space to retrieve frequently used items.
7. Compare the measurements with the unit door and access route.

Use the Public Storage Size Guide to compare common unit sizes. Actual sizes, layouts and features may vary, so inspect the available unit before renting when possible.

Is Climate-Controlled Storage Worth Considering?

Climate-controlled storage may be worth considering for eligible electronics, wooden furniture, books and other materials that may react to temperature or humidity changes.

These units are designed to help maintain more consistent temperature or humidity levels than standard storage. Conditions may still vary, and climate control does not guarantee that belongings will remain unchanged.

Public Storage offers climate-controlled storage at more than 4,300 facilities. Availability varies by location and unit.

Would Drive-Up Access Be Helpful?

Drive-Up Access allows you to pull a vehicle directly up to a ground-level storage unit. This may make it easier to load desks, chairs, bookcases and other bulky furniture.

More than 2,200 Public Storage facilities offer Drive-Up Access. Availability varies by property and unit.

Compare that convenience with other features you may need, such as indoor access or climate control.

How Do Month-to-Month Rentals Support Changing Work Arrangements?

Home office needs may change when you begin hybrid work, return to an office, change jobs or convert the room to another use.

Public Storage offers month-to-month rentals, which may accommodate those changing timelines without requiring a long-term storage lease.

Your rental continues until you complete the required move-out process. Rates are reviewed regularly and may increase over time, so reevaluate the space and your budget periodically.

Can You Work From the Storage Unit?

No. Living in or working from a Public Storage unit is prohibited.

Customers cannot use a unit as:

• A home office
• A business address
• A meeting room
• A customer pickup location
• A workshop
• A storefront
• A place to perform administrative work
• A location for receiving clients or employees

The unit may hold eligible furniture, equipment, inventory or supplies, but all work must occur elsewhere.

What Should You Do When the Home Office Changes?

Review the storage unit whenever your work or household arrangement changes.

You may decide to:

• Return a guest bed to the room.
• Retrieve furniture for another part of the home.
• Donate items you no longer plan to use.
• Move into a different unit size.
• Rotate seasonal belongings.
• Convert the office into a nursery or guest room.
• Complete the move-out process when storage is no longer needed.

Updating the inventory during each visit can help you keep the unit organized.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can storage help with a home office?

Storage may provide room for eligible furniture and household belongings removed from the future office. The office itself must remain in your home.

Can I use a storage unit as an office?

No. Working from a Public Storage unit is prohibited.

Can I store business documents in a Public Storage unit?

No. Business-related documents, contracts and files are prohibited.

Can I store an empty filing cabinet?

An empty filing cabinet may be eligible. Remove all documents, keys and personal information before storage.

Can I store office furniture?

Eligible desks, chairs, bookcases and other furniture may be stored if they comply with the rental agreement and stored-value limit.

Can I store a computer or printer?

Some personally owned equipment may be eligible. Review the manufacturer’s instructions, remove sensitive data and confirm whether batteries, ink cartridges or other components must be removed.

Can I keep supplies from a previous job?

Do not store employer-owned property or confidential materials without authorization. Business documents, contracts and files are prohibited.

Are Public Storage rentals month-to-month?

Yes. Public Storage offers month-to-month rentals. Review the agreement for pricing, billing and move-out requirements.

Create More Room for Your Home Office

Self-storage may help you relocate eligible household items so a spare room, dining area or other part of your home can accommodate a desk and work equipment.

Sort carefully, keep sensitive records and employer property out of the unit and remember that the storage space cannot be used as an office or workplace.

Public Storage offers month-to-month rentals at more than 4,600 facilities nationwide. Find Public Storage near you and compare available unit sizes and features before renting.