Planning storage during a house renovation is one of those jobs that gets left until the builders are at the door. But dust, paint and heavy boots get everywhere, and furniture left under dust sheets in the next room rarely survives a kitchen refit or new flooring unscathed. Storage with collection — where a crew collects your belongings, stores them and brings them back when the work is done — is often the simplest answer. This guide covers what to store, how to plan the timeline, keeping an inventory and getting access mid-stay.
Why use storage during a renovation?
- Protection from dust, which gets into upholstery, electronics and drawers even under sheets.
- Clear rooms let trades work faster, which can help keep the schedule on track.
- Less risk of damage from ladders, tools and materials being carried through the house.
- Easier for floors, plastering and decorating, which need empty rooms.
- Peace of mind if you’re moving out temporarily while the work happens.
Collection and storage for a renovation in London is particularly useful because most homes don’t have a garage or spare room big enough to hold the contents of the rooms being worked on. A loft extension or a kitchen refit can mean clearing half the house.
| Option | Works well for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Keep it in an unused room | Small, contained jobs like a bathroom refit | Dust spreads; the room may be needed by trades |
| Garage or shed | Hard-wearing items for a short time | Damp, pests and security for upholstery and electronics |
| Self storage unit | People who want to visit and swap things often | You arrange and pay for transport both ways |
| Storage with collection | Whole rooms or floors for weeks or months | Access is by arrangement, not walk-in |
For a single room, moving furniture into another part of the house can be enough. For anything that involves floors, kitchens, rewiring or structural work, getting the contents out of the house altogether is usually less stressful — and protects things that are expensive to clean or replace.
What to store — and what to keep
You don’t need to store everything. Clear the rooms being worked on and anywhere trades will pass through, and keep the things you use every day.
| Store | Keep at home (or with you) |
|---|---|
| Sofas, armchairs and upholstered furniture | Everyday clothes and toiletries |
| Dining tables, chairs and sideboards | Laptops, chargers and work equipment |
| Beds and mattresses from rooms being worked on | Documents, passports and valuables |
| Books, ornaments, pictures and mirrors | Medication |
| Out-of-season clothes and bedding | A basic kitchen kit if you’re staying |
| Rugs and lamps | Children’s favourite toys and school things |
What we see on real jobs is that people store too little on the first trip and then try to protect the rest under sheets. If a room is being plastered or sanded, clear it fully — dust from sanding in particular finds its way into everything.
Planning the timeline
Renovations run late more often than they run early, so build in a buffer. A simple timeline looks like this:
- Four to six weeks before: agree the start date with your builder and book collection.
- Two weeks before: declutter — don’t pay to store things you’ll throw away afterwards.
- One week before: pack books, ornaments and clothes; dismantle beds if needed.
- Collection day: the crew wraps furniture, loads and takes everything to storage.
- During the works: ask for anything you need back by giving notice.
- When the work is finished: wait until floors are cured and paint is dry before delivery.
- Delivery day: furniture goes back into the right rooms and beds are rebuilt.
Don’t book redelivery for the day the builders say they’ll finish. Leave a few days for snagging and a final clean.
What we see on real jobs is that redelivery is the date most often moved. New floors may need time to settle before heavy furniture goes back, plaster needs to dry before it’s painted, and the last trades often overlap. Ask your builder for a realistic finish date, then ask what could push it back — and choose a storage arrangement that doesn’t penalise you for a few extra weeks.
Making an inventory
A simple inventory saves time and worry. It makes it easy to ask for a particular box mid-stay and to check everything comes back.
- Number every box and write the room and a short contents list on two sides.
- Keep the list on your phone or in a shared document.
- Photograph large furniture and anything valuable before it’s collected.
- Note anything that’s already marked or damaged.
- Put fixings for dismantled furniture in labelled bags taped to the item.
- Mark the boxes you’re most likely to need back, and ask for them to be stored near the front.
Access while it’s in storage
With storage with collection, your things are usually stored by the company rather than in a unit you visit. Access is by arrangement: you ask for a box or item, and it’s brought out or delivered.
If you think you’ll need regular access — seasonal clothes, sports kit, or work samples — tell us at the start. We can store those items where they’re easiest to reach. For longer renovations, it can also be worth splitting the job: store the furniture, and keep a small number of boxes you’ll need at home or with a friend.
Before collection, it’s also worth checking a few practical points:
- Insurance: ask what cover applies while items are in storage, and tell your home insurer that contents are temporarily elsewhere.
- Notice: how much notice is needed to retrieve an item or end the storage.
- Partial redelivery: whether some rooms can come back before others if the work is phased.
- Appliances: fridges and washing machines should be clean, dry and drained before they’re stored.
- Builders’ materials: don’t let tiles, flooring or fixtures get packed with your belongings by mistake.
What it costs
The total for renovation storage comes from three parts: collection, storage and redelivery. Our secure storage starts from £15/week or £55/month, depending on volume, and storage with collection adds the crew and van at both ends, quoted together so there’s one price for the whole job.
The biggest influence on cost is how much you store and for how long. Decluttering first, dismantling furniture so it packs flat and being realistic about the length of the works all help keep it down. For a broader look at prices, see storage costs in London and the UK.
FAQs
How long can I store my things during a renovation?
As long as you need. Short stays of a few weeks and longer projects are both common — tell us your expected timeline and we’ll plan around it.
Can you collect from my home and deliver back?
Yes. Storage with collection covers collecting, storing and delivering back once the work is finished.
Can I get things back during the works?
Yes, by arrangement. Give us notice and we’ll bring out or deliver what you need.
Do I need to pack everything myself?
No. You can pack yourself or book our packing service, which starts from £150.
Should I move out during the renovation?
It depends on the work. Many people stay for a bathroom or a single room, but kitchens, rewiring and work across several floors are much easier to live through elsewhere. If you move out, store furniture and keep only what you need for the temporary place.
Planning a renovation?
Tell us what you need to store and for roughly how long — we’ll quote collection, storage and delivery together.
See storage with collection, secure storage or contact us.
About the author
Writer
Sameer writes practical, no-nonsense moving guides for Londoners — drawn from real jobs across all 32 boroughs, covering vans, packing, permits and fixed-price removals.