Let’s be real for a second.
You bought that storage ottoman because you had too much crap and not enough places to hide it. I get it. We’ve all been there. You walk into HomeGoods, see this nice cushy square thing, and think “Perfect. I can throw all my throw blankets in there and my living room will finally look tidy.”
And it works. For a while.
But then life happens. You move. You redecorate. You realize that giant ottoman is actually taking up way too much floor space and you need to shove it somewhere else for a few months.
So you think, “I’ll just toss it in a storage unit.”
Stop right there.
If you do that without thinking it through, you are going to pull that ottoman out in three months and find a dusty, musty, possibly broken disaster on your hands. And nobody wants that.
I want to walk you through how to actually do this right. Not the Pinterest-perfect version. The real version that works.
First things first—empty the dang thing
I cannot tell you how many people just pick up their ottoman and haul it to storage fully loaded.
Like, why?
You are not saving time. You are being lazy. And I mean that nicely.
When you leave all that junk inside—the blankets, the extra pillows, the random board games, the dog toys—you are adding like 30 pounds of weight to a piece of furniture that is usually held together with staples and wood glue.
That bottom panel? It’s not built for that kind of abuse. When you carry it, all that weight presses down on the base. And when you set it down in your storage unit, that pressure doesn’t go away.
Over time, the bottom can literally bow out or pop loose. Then you’ve got a broken ottoman and a mess to clean up.
Just empty it.
Take five minutes. Pull everything out. You’re probably going to find things you forgot you owned anyway. I always find a random TV remote or a packet of old batteries when I clean mine out.
Now clean the thing (yes, really)
Here’s the part everybody skips.
You look at your ottoman and think “It looks fine.” But it’s not fine. That fabric has been collecting dust, pet dander, crumbs from your popcorn nights, and probably a few spilled drink splashes you wiped off but didn’t actually clean.
If you put that into storage without cleaning it, all those little particles become a feast for dust mites. And if your storage unit gets even a little humid? Hello, musty smell.
Here’s what I actually do:
- Grab your vacuum with the brush attachment. Run it all over the fabric. Get into the corners.
- Check the tag. If it says “W” you can use a little water and mild soap. If it says “S” you need a dry cleaning solvent—don’t use water or you’ll stain it.
- For leather ones, wipe them down with a damp cloth, dry immediately, and use a leather conditioner. Leather is basically skin. It dries out and cracks if you neglect it.
- Flip it over and vacuum the bottom too. People never do that. But dust collects there like crazy.
And don’t forget the inside. That interior fabric gets gross too. Give it a quick vacuum and maybe stick a dryer sheet in there. Keeps things smelling fresh while it sits.
The wrapping situation—do not use plastic
This is where I see people mess up the most.
They think plastic wrap or a tarp is protecting their furniture. But it’s actually the worst thing you can do.
Plastic traps moisture. When temperatures change—and they always do in storage—condensation forms underneath that plastic.
Now you’ve got a wet ottoman sitting in the dark for months.
That’s how you get mold. And mold on fabric? You’re not getting that out. Trust me.
Use fabric instead
Go to the hardware store and buy a cheap canvas drop cloth. They’re like ten bucks. Or use an old bedsheet you don’t care about. Just drape it over the whole thing.
Fabric breathes. Moisture escapes. Dust stays out.
If your ottoman has a lid that flips open, wrap a towel around the hinges before you cover it. That way if something bumps against it while it’s in the unit, the hinge doesn’t snap.
How to actually place it in the unit
This part drives me crazy because people just toss furniture in wherever there’s space.
Do not put heavy stuff on top
I know you’re trying to maximize space. But that ottoman is not a table. The lid is not designed to hold the weight of boxes full of books or your old power tools.
If you must stack something on it, keep it light. Like pillows. Or a bag of clothes. Nothing that weighs more than a few pounds.
Also, think about where you put it. Don’t shove it against the back wall behind everything. Leave it accessible.
Why?
Because if you’re using a storage unit, you’re probably going to want to grab stuff from time to time. Having your ottoman buried means you’re moving piles of boxes just to sit down and sort through your things. Keep it near the front.
At our storage unit service, we always tell people to think about the stuff they’ll actually need to access. An ottoman is a great place to sit while you dig through boxes. So don’t make it hard to get to.
Legs or no legs? Here’s the deal
If your ottoman has wooden legs, pay attention.
Those legs can get wobbly over time. And in storage, they can shift or even crack if the floor is uneven.
If you’re really worried about it, take the legs off. Most of them unscrew pretty easily. Wrap them in a towel and tape them to the underside of the ottoman.
Now you don’t have to worry about them breaking off or getting scratched.
Should you flip it upside down?
Some people say yes. I say it depends.
If your ottoman is solid all the way around, you can flip it over and let it rest on its top. But if it has a lid that opens, I wouldn’t risk it. That lid is not meant to bear weight like that.
Honestly, I keep mine right-side up. Just make sure nothing heavy lands on top of it and you’re fine.
Temperature matters more than you think
I’m gonna be straight with you.
If you store this thing in a hot, humid garage unit, your fabric is going to fade and your leather is going to crack. Wood legs will warp.
It’s just science.
We offer climate-controlled options specifically for stuff like this. It costs a little more, but if you care about your furniture lasting, it’s worth it.
Think about it. You spent good money on that ottoman. Why let it get ruined just to save a few bucks a month?
Check with us about our storage unit service and see what climate control options we have. Your ottoman will thank you later.
One more thing—mark it
This sounds dumb, but I’ve done it before.
You put your ottoman in storage. You forget about it for six months. You come back and you’re like “wait, what’s under that sheet?”
Slap a sticky note or a piece of painter’s tape on the cover that says “OTTOMAN – BLANKETS INSIDE” or whatever is in there.
Saves you the hassle of pulling covers off everything trying to figure out what’s what.
Real talk—just be smart about it
Storing an ottoman isn’t rocket science. But it does take a little thought.
Empty it. Clean it. Wrap it in fabric, not plastic. Don’t stack heavy stuff on it. Keep it somewhere climate-controlled if you can.
That’s really it.
Most damage happens because people rush. They’re tired. They just want to get the move over with. I completely understand that. Moving is exhausting.
But taking ten extra minutes to prep your furniture correctly means you don’t come back to a nightmare. And that’s a pretty good trade-off if you ask me.
When you’re ready to move your stuff, hit us up about our storage unit service. We’ll help you figure out the right space for your ottoman and whatever else you need to stash. No pressure. Just good advice and clean, secure storage.
Now go empty that ottoman. You know you’ve got a mess in there.
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