Storage During a Home Renovation

If you're planning a home renovation in Fort Scott, you've probably spent weeks picking out countertops, paint colors, and flooring. What most homeowners don't think about until the last minute is where all their stuff is going to go while the work is happening. Whether you're gutting a kitchen in one of the older homes near downtown Fort Scott or adding a room onto a ranch-style house off National Ave, your belongings need somewhere safe to land — and moving things from room to room inside the house almost never works the way you think it will.

Here at Bourbon County Storage on Richards Road, we help Bourbon County homeowners through renovation projects every month. A self storage unit gives you a clean, secure place to keep your furniture, electronics, and personal items while contractors tear things apart and put them back together. This guide covers why moving things out of the house is worth it, what size unit you'll need, what to store versus what to keep at home, and how to make the whole process go smoothly from demo day to the final walkthrough.

Why You Should Move Things Out — Not Room to Room

It's tempting to just push everything into the spare bedroom or stack boxes in the garage. That saves money, right? In theory, yes. In practice, it almost always creates more headaches than it solves. Here's why Fort Scott homeowners who've been through a renovation will tell you to get things out of the house entirely.

Dust migrates everywhere

Renovation dust doesn't stay in the room being worked on. Drywall dust, sawdust, and paint particles travel through HVAC systems, under doors, and into every corner of the house. Even with plastic sheeting, you'll find a fine layer of grit on your furniture, electronics, and clothing in rooms that aren't even being touched. Moving your belongings into a storage unit eliminates this problem completely.

Contractors work faster with empty rooms

Every piece of furniture your contractor has to work around slows them down. They need to move it, cover it, protect it, and maneuver around it. An empty room means faster work, which means the project wraps up sooner and you spend less on labor. Most contractors in the Fort Scott area will tell you the same thing — clear the space before they show up.

Risk of damage is real

Even the most careful crew can bump a dresser with a ladder, drip paint on a couch, or accidentally scratch a flat-screen TV. If your belongings are in the house, they're at risk. Contractors carry insurance, but filing a claim and waiting for reimbursement is a hassle nobody wants. It's simpler and safer to move your things into a storage unit where they're out of harm's way.

You still need space to live

Most Fort Scott families stay in their home during a renovation. That means you need a functioning kitchen (or at least a microwave and a table), a place to sleep, and room to move around. If every spare inch is crammed with displaced furniture, your home becomes unlivable fast. A storage unit gives your family breathing room while the project is underway.

What Size Storage Unit Do You Need?

The size of your unit depends on how much of the house is being renovated. Here's a general guide based on what we see from Bourbon County homeowners going through renovation projects.

• One room (kitchen or bathroom remodel) — A 5x10 or 10x10 self storage unit handles the contents of a single room. That includes furniture, boxes of kitchen items, small appliances, and decor. A 5x10 works if you're light on furniture; a 10x10 gives you room to spread things out and stay organized.
• Two rooms (kitchen plus a bedroom, or a couple of rooms) — Step up to a 10x10 or 10x15. You'll have enough space for multiple furniture pieces, several dozen boxes, and room to create an aisle so you can access items you might need mid-renovation.
• Whole house (major remodel or addition) — A 10x20 or 10x30 is what you need when the entire house is a construction zone. These larger units at our Richards Road facility hold full households — bedroom sets, living room furniture, appliances, and dozens of boxes. With drive-up access, you can back a truck right up to the door for easy loading.

Not sure which size is right? Check out our interactive size guide or give us a call at (620) 644-0735. We'll help you figure out the right fit so you're not paying for space you don't need.

Month-to-Month Leases Are Key

If there's one thing every Fort Scott homeowner who's been through a renovation knows, it's that timelines are unpredictable. The countertops are backordered. The permit takes longer than expected. The electrician can't come until next week. What was supposed to be a four-week kitchen remodel turns into eight weeks without much warning.

That's why month-to-month leases matter. At Bourbon County Storage, we don't lock you into long-term contracts. You rent for as long as you need the unit, and when your renovation is done and everything is back in the house, you're free to move out with no penalties or extra fees. You're never stuck paying for storage after the project wraps up.

What to Move to Storage

When it's time to clear out the house before demo day, here's what should go into your storage unit:

• Furniture — Couches, beds, dressers, dining tables, bookshelves, desks, and chairs. Basically anything that takes up floor space and could get damaged by dust, paint, or foot traffic. Disassemble bed frames and table legs to save space in your unit.
• Electronics — TVs, computers, gaming consoles, speakers, and home office equipment. Dust and debris from construction are especially bad for electronics. If possible, store them in their original boxes or wrap them in moving blankets.
• Clothing and linens — Off-season clothes, bedding, towels, and curtains. These absorb dust and odors quickly during a renovation. Pack them in sealed plastic bins or vacuum-sealed bags to keep them fresh.
• Wall art and decor — Framed photos, mirrors, and decorative items are fragile and easy to damage during construction. Wrap frames in bubble wrap or packing paper and store them upright in your unit.
• Rugs — Area rugs and runners should be rolled up and stored off the floor in your unit. They trap dust easily and are difficult to clean once construction grime sets in.
• Kitchen contents — If you're doing a kitchen renovation, pack up dishes, pots and pans, small appliances, pantry items (sealed), and utensils. Use dish-pack boxes for fragile items and clearly label everything so you can find what you need if you have to grab something mid-project.

What to Keep at Home

Not everything needs to go into storage. Some things should stay in the house for practical or safety reasons.

• Daily essentials — Keep a small set of clothes, toiletries, basic kitchen supplies (a microwave, paper plates, a coffee maker), and anything you use every day. Think of it like packing for an extended hotel stay in your own home.
• Valuables and important documents — Jewelry, passports, financial records, and irreplaceable personal items should stay with you where you can keep an eye on them. A renovation means extra people coming and going from your home.
• Items your contractor needs access to — If the contractor needs to match existing materials, test fixtures, or reference existing hardware, leave those items accessible. Ask your contractor ahead of time what they'll need on-site.

Renovation Storage Tips

A little planning goes a long way when you're coordinating a renovation and a storage unit at the same time. These tips come from the experience of hundreds of Bourbon County homeowners who've done exactly this.

Move before demo day

Don't wait until the morning your contractor shows up. Get your belongings into storage at least a day or two before demolition starts. This gives you time to pack carefully, arrange things in your unit, and handle any last-minute surprises without the pressure of a crew waiting to swing hammers.

Label boxes by room

When the renovation is done and it's time to move everything back in, you'll thank yourself for labeling. Mark each box with the room it came from and a brief description of the contents. "Kitchen — pots, pans, baking sheets" is infinitely more helpful than "Kitchen #7 of 12" when you're trying to cook dinner the first night back.

Keep day-one items at the front

Think about what you'll need first when the renovation wraps up. Bed linens, towels, a basic set of dishes, and cleaning supplies should be loaded last into your storage unit so they're right at the door when it's time to unload. You don't want to dig through an entire 10x15 unit to find your sheets on move-back day.

Coordinate with your contractor

Ask your contractor for a realistic timeline and build in a buffer. If they say four weeks, plan for six. This helps you budget for storage costs and avoids the stress of rushing to move everything back before the job is truly finished. A good contractor will give you regular updates so you know when to expect completion.

Don't forget the garage

Many Fort Scott homeowners focus on clearing out the rooms being renovated and forget that the garage often becomes a staging area for materials, tools, and dumpsters. If your contractor needs garage access, plan to move bikes, lawn equipment, and anything else stored there into your unit as well. Our drive-up units make this easy — you can wheel a riding mower right in.

Why Bourbon County Storage Works for Renovations

Fort Scott homeowners choose Bourbon County Storage for renovation projects because we make the whole process simple. Every unit at our 2510 Richards Road facility has drive-up access, so you can pull a truck or trailer right up to the door — no elevators, no hallways, no hassle. Our month-to-month leases mean you're never locked in past the end of your project. And every new tenant gets a free lock, so that's one less thing to buy on an already expensive renovation budget.

Our facility is conveniently located for homeowners across Fort Scott and Bourbon County. Whether you're renovating a Victorian home near downtown, updating a ranch-style house off National Ave, or remodeling a farmhouse outside of town, we're an easy drive from anywhere in the area. With 24/7 security monitoring, your belongings are protected around the clock while you focus on making your home look exactly the way you want it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Renovation Storage

How long will I need a storage unit during a renovation?

It depends on the scope of the project. A bathroom remodel might take three to four weeks, while a full kitchen gut or home addition can stretch to two or three months. We recommend planning for at least one month longer than your contractor's estimate. With our month-to-month leases, you only pay for the time you actually use the unit.

What size storage unit do I need for a kitchen renovation?

A 5x10 or 10x10 self storage unit handles the contents of most kitchens. That includes a table and chairs, boxes of dishes and cookware, small appliances, and pantry items. If you're also clearing out an adjacent dining room or living area, step up to a 10x15 for extra space.

Can I access my storage unit during the renovation if I need something?

Absolutely. Your unit is accessible 24/7 with your personal gate code, so if you realize you need a specific kitchen gadget or a set of tools, you can stop by and grab it. That's another reason we recommend keeping an aisle in your unit and labeling your boxes clearly — it makes mid-project access quick and easy.

Do I need to bring my own lock?

Nope. Every new tenant at Bourbon County Storage gets a free lock with their unit. It's one less expense on top of your renovation budget. Our facility also has 24/7 security monitoring, so your belongings are protected while you're focused on the project at home.

Ready to clear out your home before the renovation starts? Give us a call at (620) 644-0735 or stop by our facility at 2510 Richards Road in Fort Scott. We'll help you pick the right size unit and get you set up so your renovation goes as smoothly as possible. You can also check out our size guide or browse more storage tips on our blog.