Gift Big by Shopping Small: Beyond’s Ultimate Small Business Gift Guide 2020
We at Beyond Storage are encouraging everyone to shop small and local for their gifts this festive season in support of our small UK businesses!
We've put together the ultimate small business gift guide to help you on your small business gifting journey, pulling together a few fantastic shops and makers to inspire and celebrate the industrious creativity of the UK!
Not only do purchases mean the world to small business owners, you can expect personal touches and a level of care that can only be found when someone’s truly passionate about what they do.
We’ve specifically selected shops from the areas surrounding the Beyond Storage sites so that you have a taster of the wonderful local gift offerings. If, however, you’re not from these areas or they’re not quite what you’re looking for, Etsy and Not On The High Street are great places to start hunting for small business heroes.
It’s also worth checking out social media accounts to really appreciate the people behind the products, and don’t forget - ask around! The closer to home you can support, the better.
Happy conscious holiday gifting!
Food & Drink
The stomach is the way to… well, surely everyone’s heart? And if you can’t indulge at Christmas then when can you?!
LaFleurdeChocolat offers, quite frankly, the most beautiful chocolate treats you’ll ever lay eyes on. Owner/maker Jacqueline has over 20 years of experience as a pastry chef, working at both Michelin star and three rosette award-winning restaurants - not to mention winning numerous awards herself. Extra-special chocolates for extra special people.
You can also find them on their website, Instagram and Facebook!
Treat coffee dabblers and obsessives alike this festive season by introducing them to PerkulatteCoffee. Be it gift sets, sample packs, advent calendars or flavoured sugar spoons, these artisanal coffee roasters are masters of both quirky gifts and a good old cup of joe.
Check out their website, Instagram and Facebook page for more info and goodies!
Prints & Wall Art
Prints make great gifts: they come in all shapes, sizes, themes and styles, and are easy enough to ship to loved ones. So whether you’re adorning a man-cave or she-shed, a home office or nursery, get supporting your local artists, illustrators and graphic designers this season!
TwoLittleBirdsPrintCo offers “nursery wall art to make your little bird smile.” You’re able to personalise some of the prints with names for the perfect sentimental gift, while the illustrative style combined sophisticated colour palettes take room styling for little ones to the next level. And hey, who’s to say kids should have all the fun? We especially love the rust colours! Check out their facebook page here.
CreateandCompanyUK is another great shout if you’re looking to gift quality prints. They offer a huge range of styles, from simple line drawings to a cat in full Tudor dress (fantastic), and themes including space, cities and skylines, entertainment and photography. They're also on Instagram!
Homeware
Ceramics can make beautiful, family heirloom-worthy gifts to last a lifetime. Whether you’re after a novelty mug or one-of-a-kind handmade vase, this category gives you plenty of great gifting options.
FayeWellonCeramics’s rustic stoneware pottery is handmade using a reconditioned kick-wheel - an eco-friendly way to throw - in the artist’s home studio in Herefordshire. This shop’s high-quality offering doesn’t end at ceramics: they also have a great selection of candles, DIY pottery and wreath making kits and a range of beautifully crafted soap dishes complete with handmade soap by Wild Sage + Co. 
When it comes to StoneHouseGlow, think lego but chic. Using on-trend concrete and marbling effects, their products are both beautifully crafted and endearingly whimsical, featuring lego-style characters, dogs, letters and symbols - a perfect gift for the big kid who’s style conscious! Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Home Fragrance
You can forget ‘warm vanilla’ and ‘red berries’ this Christmas. Candle offerings at the moment are out of the stratosphere when it comes to fragrances and styles. From rustic goodness to high-end luxury, the second coming of the candle is here and they’re a home-run when it comes to simple, thoughtful gifting.
P.s. If you thought this category was just for the ladies, think again - we’re here to tell you that the unbridled joy of candles is for everyone!
LavenderBloomUK specialise in 100% soy wax candles and melts decorated with petals from the seller’s own garden. This shop is the perfect example of how candles don’t have to be boring: hay, honey and amber you say? Wood sage and sea salt?! Go on then!
NickolaCandela’s sleek, matte black home fragrance products look as good as the work they do for our bees, giving £1 for every candle purchased to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Items include candles, reed diffusers, wax melts, room mists and more, not to mention giving home fragrance the eco-edge with reed diffuser refills. You can also find them at their website, on Instagram and on Facebook.
Jewellery & Accessories
From the ultimate meaningful gift to perfect little stocking fillers, jewellery and accessories for both men and women are really versatile options. We’ve found a few great sellers with lots of versatile options where you can’t go wrong.
WildWoodsJewellery offers beautifully tactile and earthy ceramic jewellery, making them the perfect keepsake for crafty and outdoorsy people alike. Artist and maker Charlotte Voaden takes inspiration from the landscape of West Wales, especially the woodland and hedgerows surrounding where she lives.
PGLasercraft has grown and grown since they first started on Etsy in 2019, and it’s not surprising! Their customisable range of keyrings, dog tags, signs and more make great stocking fillers and meaningful gifts to mark special occasions. They also take custom requests!
AvalancheAvenue makes dainty sterling silver and gold filled jewellery with heaps of sentimental charm, with nearly all of the designs being customisable for that extra special touch. Whether it’s necklaces or cufflinks you’re after, you’ll not go too far wrong here. Check out their website, Instagram and Facebook for even more inspiration!
And there we have it! 11 examples of small but mighty businesses that you can support this Christmas. With so many great independent shops out there, with a little bit of research, you can find some really great gifts!
Do you have any small businesses that are your go-to for presents, or even to treat yourself? We’d love to hear about them!
In the meantime, have you considered how you might benefit from self-storage? Whether you could do with your own office space or gym, require business or document storage, our state-of-the-art facilities across 5 beautiful sites will have the answer.
*We'd like to make it absolutely clear that no money or valuables were exchanged to put together this blog post - we have to support each other where we can! :)
Part of the Family: Beyond’s Guide to a Peaceful Move with Pets
There’s no doubt about it, the UK is a nation of pet lovers. The PDSA’s 2019 PAW Report estimated that that 50% of UK adults own a pet, with roughly 26% owning a dog and 24% owning a cat. With our furry, feathered and scaly friends so close to our hearts and very much a part of the family, it’s important that moving home is as stress free for them as possible. So we at Beyond, as friends to all of our nation’s pets, have put together the ultimate guide to a peaceful move with pets. While we’ll be focusing on cats and dogs in this guide, much of the information is transferable to other pets, however please research into what additional measures you’ll need to take for other animals!
1. Pre-move
One of the best pieces of advice we can offer when moving home with pets is to prepare. To avoid overwhelming yourself and your pets, there are a few things you can do to set yourself up for a peaceful move:
- Research local vets well in advance of the move, or even better as soon as you know exactly where you’ll be moving to. It’s also good to inform your current vets that you’ll be moving and when this is likely to be, so that they’re able to share your pet’s records with the new practice and make sure the transition is as smooth as possible. You’ll then have the peace of mind that your pet will be taken care of if there are any emergencies, no matter how soon after the move.
- Remember to update microchip and ID tag information, including the address and new landline number (if this is changing). This can also be done at your current veterinarian practice.
- It’s a good idea to research what will be your new local area for nice walks, parks and places you can take your dog to get used to their new environment, especially if it’s quite different to the one they’re used to. If possible, take your dog for a walk in the area before you move so they’re familiar with the sights, sounds and smells.
- While cats have a higher drive to return ‘home’ than dogs, this is still something you should be aware of with your pooch. Inform your current neighbours of the move and provide them with your new address and contact details, just in case either your cat or dog makes a run for their old home!
- It’s also worth telling your removal company up-front about any pets that you have, just so they know what to expect.
2. Packing
Packing for a move can be as stressful for your dog or cat as it is for you. Lessen the shock of change on your loyal companions and follow these tips:
- The single most important thing you can do to ease your cat or dog into a move is to not leave packing to the last minute! The earlier you can start and the more gradually you do it, the better. Animals are very sensitive to their surroundings and change, and can very quickly suss what’s up.
- Their toys and bedding should be some of the very last things you pack, if at all! Try to keep their familiar belongings with them if they have to be present on moving day and on the drive to their new home. It’s also worth refraining from washing any of their bedding or toys on the lead up to the move so their things are nice and stinky and familiar!
- You can also buy plug-in diffusers or collars that infuse DAP (a pooch-pleasing chemical signal called a pheromone that keeps them feeling safe and secure) into the air. Use these calming aids 24 hours before any moving activity for maximum effect.
3. Moving day
It’s the big day! Exciting, stressful and sweaty in equal measures, this can potentially be one of the most distressing parts of the moving process for animals: there’s lots of noise and rushing about, unfamiliar people in their home coming and going, nothing looks like it used to and their humans aren’t themselves. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the effects of this strange day on your pets:
- The single most important thing you can do to ease your cat or dog into a move is to not leave packing to the last minute! The earlier you can start and the more gradually you do it, the better. Animals are very sensitive to their surroundings and change, and can very quickly suss what’s up.
- Their toys and bedding should be some of the very last things you pack, if at all! Try to keep their familiar belongings with them if they have to be present on moving day and on the drive to their new home. It’s also worth refraining from washing any of their bedding or toys on the lead up to the move so their things are nice and stinky and familiar!
- You can also buy plug-in diffusers or collars that infuse DAP (a pooch-pleasing chemical signal called a pheromone that keeps them feeling safe and secure) into the air. Use these calming aids 24 hours before any moving activity for maximum effect.
4. Settling in
You’ve made it! You’re in and surrounded by a sea of boxes. You’re a bit concerned about the location of the kettle. Settling into your new home can take some time, but there are things you can do from the get go to start introducing pets to their new pad:
- Scent is important to cats and dogs because it’s one of the ways they identify an area as safe and theirs, so first and foremost bring in/unpack your pet’s things to start introducing their smell. Have a quick clean around the house up to cat and dog height, especially if the previous tenants or owners had pets.
- Let your pet explore the new place in their own time. If they’re particularly nervous, you can be with them while they explore, but it’s important not to over fuss them because they might think something’s wrong. The best thing you can do is radiate the good vibes and be there if they need you, because remember: they might only be a part of your world, but you’re their whole world!
- Stick to their normal routines as best as you can - same life, same family, still a home, just in a different space.
- A tired dog is a happy dog, so take them for a walk to distract them and burn off some energy. The more tuckered out they are the less they’re going to be bothered about what’s going on around them.
- Keep cats indoors for at least the first two weeks so that they don’t try and find their way back to your old house, especially if it isn’t too far away, and associate pleasurable experiences with your new home so they see it as a nice place to be and worth sticking around in!
- Before letting your pets roam outside, check that the garden is secure and is free of poisonous plants or anything hazardous.
- And finally, keep an eye on them for changes in behaviour and try not to tell them off if they become destructive or have a few accidents in the home, even a few months after moving. It can be an incredibly disruptive experience for your pets manifesting in a number of ways, so be patient and let them warm to your lovely new home in their own time.
We hope this guide helps your animal pals settle in! What pets do you have, and how do you think they would cope with a big move?
Oh, and our moving advice doesn’t stop at pets! Read our 5 tips for making small(er) work of moving home, and for more pet content, check out our blog post about making room for your new puppy.
Good things come in 5ft by 8ft units: 6 clever uses for our new containers
Our new 5ft by 8ft units can hold a volume of one transit van, two rooms and 25-50 18’’ storage boxes - a cheaper option without compromising on quality and functionality. Here are 6 clever ways to make use of our small but mighty containers!
1. Garage/shed
If you're struggling for space in your current shed or garage, or maybe you’d rather not fork out a sizeable sum for groundworks and a place to store your tools/a colony of spiders, a dry, sealed, climate controlled storage container - that takes up exactly zero of your outdoor space - could be the answer.
It’s important to us that your unit feels like an extension of your home, so you can drive your car up to your unit from 6am to 9pm - much easier than having to clamber over a lawnmower, a strimmer, two mountain bikes, a popped paddling pool, six deck chairs, a tent, four tennis rackets, a parasol and Shelob the giant spider to find the right drill bit.
2. Christmas decorations/presents
We can’t be alone in saying too much of our home storage space is taken up by Christmas decorations, especially when they see the light of day for only one month (or two, or three, that’s your business) out of twelve.
As intoxicating as that dusty tinsel smell is, imagine de-Christmassing and still having free and functional storage space! Our smaller storage units have a volume capacity of one transit van, plenty enough space for even the most handsome of grottos.
Tip:
Have yourself a merry little Christmas and keep the kids busy on the lead up to the big day by letting them hunt for hidden Christmas presents they’ll never find (might as make the most of your unit for the whole 12 months!).
3. Extra wardrobe
Why is it that the clothes we wear the least (occasion suits, evening dresses, winter/climate specific clothes etc) seem to take up the most space in our cupboards and wardrobes? Not to mention that while that dusty tinsel smell is nostalgic on December 1st, it’s not so great on your glitzy evening dress or expensive suit.
Our smaller units are the perfect size for your very own walk in wardrobe - industrial style is very ‘in’ at the moment, after all!
4. Hobby space
Be it a man-cave or a she-shed, we can all benefit from a little space of our own, so when the nagging to relocate your miniature steam train collection gets too much, we’ve got you covered! Our 5ft by 8ft units make the perfect hobby boxes of happiness.
Don’t let it stop at collectables, though! Whether you enjoy climbing, horse riding, camping, fishing or backpacking, our compact and functional units allow you to store your gear safely and securely with effortless access to your recreational apparatus!
Adventure awaits!
5. Student storage
One thing you aren’t prepared for as a student is how disruptive it is living in three different locations over three years. Add to that the logistics of hauling all your worldly possessions to and fro across miles of the UK, and you have one stress cocktail you could really do without in your second and third years.
Short term, flexible and affordable self-storage units within the locality of your university? It’s a no brainer!
Who else is really particular about how to pack the car?
6. Sentimental items
It’s human nature to hold onto things that have sentimental value to us, but it becomes more and more difficult when we have to compromise on space. From wedding mementos to baby’s firsts, old school work and drawings to trophies and photographs, our 5ft by 8ft units make great little time capsules. They’re also fully insulated and come with a dehumidifier, which is so important to maintain the condition of your treasures.
We can hear that wedding dress heaving a sigh of relief from here - not today, Facebook Marketplace! For extra points, why not check out or handy do's and don'ts for wedding dress storage?
Do you have small-scale clutter with large-scale impacts that you could do with finding a home for? Get in touch about our smaller units today to see if they could be the perfect fit for you!
It’s all in the packing: here are our tips for packing units effectively.
Eyeing up our larger units? Here are 5 creative ways you could use them!
6 Conscious Acts to Calm the Chaos & Improve Mental Wellbeing
Few are immune to life’s daily stressors, so we at Beyond Storage have put together 6 achievable ways to calm the feelings of chaos and support mental wellbeing when the cacophony reaches fever pitch.
1. Recharge
We’re so busy in the daytime with work, being parents, running errands, doing chores, being well-rounded, functioning adults - the list goes on. Introduce calm to your day, even if it’s just for an hour, by creating a new evening routine that allows you to reconnect with yourself and what really matters.
This time can be just for you, shared with your partner or with your children, or even your pets - whatever works to make you feel settled.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas to get you inspired:
- Enjoy a hot drink in your favourite mug
- Put your comfies on
- Write a sentence summarising your thoughts for the day in a notebook or journal
- Read a book
- Enjoy the fresh, evening air - weather permitting!
- Light candles
- Connect with your loved ones
- Listen to a podcast
However you decide to unwind, try and stick roughly to the same times every evening. Continue the calm into the nighttime with our 5 simple tips for a better bedtime.
2. De-stress in fresh & functional spaces
We can get complacent with our rooms and spaces - “that’s how it’s always been!” But that doesn’t mean the current layout is functional or makes the best use of the space, both of which are key to ensuring a room is a conduit for calm.
Be invigorated by a new perspective and rearrange an area of your home in a way that really works for you.
Depending on the quantity and size of your furniture, it can double up as a decent bit of exercise, too. Winner!
Tape measures and dusters at the ready.
3. Negate the niggle
Whether it’s in the forefront or back of your mind, it’s brain space worth freeing up! So do that one thing you’ve been putting off for a little or long while to kickstart the calm and boost your mental wellbeing.
And no matter how small it is, it’s another thing to tick off your to-do list at the end of the day - so satisfying!
Tip!
Be kind to yourself. Whether it’s a pat on your own back, something nice for dinner or a long bath, don’t let small victories go unrewarded.
4. Happy scrolling
For better or worse, we spend a lot of time on social media.
Given that it takes up so much room in our minds every single day, it’s important to remove it from the list of daily stressors and ensure that our social media feeds are balanced, of value to us and make us feel good.
Take a hard, honest look at your social media feeds. Are you inspired? Do you feel empowered and confident? Are you learning something new? Do they make you laugh? If you’re unable to answer yes to some of these questions, it might be time for a social media deep clean.
And that’s not to say that we should banish all content that challenges us and encourages us to think outside the box or our comfort zone: find a good balance and follow accounts consciously to omit the social media feed from the daily chaos instigators.
5. Declutter to destress
While we can all attest to the benefits of a tidy, well organised space on our mental wellbeing, you’d be forgiven for breaking into a sweat on hearing the word “declutter”: our minds throw us back to the last time we thought a declutter was a good idea but found ourselves standing amongst more mess and madness than there had been previously and wondering why we’d ever started.
But hear us out - this is calming, sans-skip, small-scale decluttering!
Focus on one area at a time, be it a cupboard, a corner, a shelf, any little bit of your home that you haven’t had a good rummage in for a while. You’ll be surprised by how much you own that you don’t need, want or even like, and once you’re rid of it, just how much it weighed you down.
If you need a helping hand or some general principles to abide by when decluttering, take a look at our blog post about Marie Kondo and the life changing magic of tidying up. If you want to make an even bigger dent in your clutter, why not try our Marie Kondo-inspired 30 Day Room Declutter Challenge?
Remember!
Where possible, avoid the bins skips and tips: recycle, sell, rehome or gift!
6. Reconnect
One of the most important things to remember when things start to feel a bit much is that we all have these moments. Take the time to reconnect with a friend or family member that you haven’t spoken to in a while, not just to check in with them, but to check in with yourself.
It’s amazing how grounding a few kind words and shared laughs can be!
For more great ways to encourage daily mental wellness, take a look at Beyond’s 30 self-care methods.
“Have you seen the new neighbours?!” 8 ways to welcome garden wildlife into your outdoor spaces.
Creating a welcoming environment in our gardens for wildlife such as birds, insects and other animals not only benefits our friendly neighbourhood critters, it can also be a fun and rewarding activity - both the creating and subsequent garden watching! Here are our 8 favourite ways to become garden wildlife’s new best friend:
1. Let it grow!
The uncut lawn: one of nature’s rarest and richest wildlife habitats. But before committing to jungle life, a small area of overgrown lawn will do! Cultivating this mini wilderness will be a big draw for little mammals like shrews and voles because it offers a banquet of tasty insects and protection from predators.
If you want to entice some larger foragers, a pile of dead wood encourages beetles and grubs which will do just the trick!
Take it one step further and leave a patch of flowering weeds like daisies, buttercups and dandelions - they’re great food sources for butterflies.
2. Hungry beasts
The way to any garden mammal’s heart is through their stomach.
Badgers and squirrels will eat unsalted nuts and seeds, fruit and root veggies. Hedgehogs are a little pickier, but you can buy special feed from most garden suppliers.
Believe it or not, milk and bread are big no-no's when it comes to feeding wildlife as they cause digestive problems!
3. Wildflower Power
Bees and butterflies alike love wildflowers and they’ve never been easier to introduce to your garden! You can purchase readymade wildflower packs which you can sow straight into soil, and pre-seeded mats that make germination even easier.
Big or small, any patch of your garden will do, and the best time to sow these little gems is in April.
Just remember to water them every now and then should the British weather pull a blinder and bless us all with an actual summer!
4. Just add water
One of the best things you can do for wildlife in your garden is provide them with a water source.
A pond, even a small one, in a not-too-sunny, not-too-shady spot will be the best and quickest way to diversify your garden ecosystem. It’ll make a welcoming home for frogs and other amphibious wildlife (who enjoy shallower water than you think) and beautiful insects like dragonflies. Add plants like water lilies and pondweed to develop your underwater habitat and help prevent it from going stagnant.
And don’t think your tap or hose will have to do overtime. Collect rainwater in containers to top up your pond, or leave them as is! Water sources are essential for all wildlife, especially for birds in the winter.
5. Don't lock them out!
Leave gaps in your fences that are small enough to keep the dog in but big enough for animals like hedgehogs and frogs to discover your lovingly-made wildlife habitat - simple!
6. Make it their home
Another surefire way to draw wildlife into your garden is by introducing nesting boxes and houses, whether that be for birds, bats, hedgehogs or insects. You can either put something together yourself as they don’t need to be complicated, or buy something purpose build.
Store bought or DIY, even the simplest of shelters become safe homes for many animals that struggle to find natural nesting sites in the winter when conditions are harsh (I’m talking about the British weather again aren’t I?).
Hedgehogs especially need a safe place to hibernate through the cold months. Fancy taking on a DIY project? The Wildlife Trusts have a fantastic step-by-step guide of how to build a hedgehog home.
For bird boxes, make sure they’re installed in a high, sheltered area away from common predators such as cats, and provide them with fat balls in the spring and seeds in the winter to keep them safe, fat, and happy.
Insect houses provide nesting sites for solitary bees and insects. You can make your own simple bee house using reed or bamboo of varying lengths between 4-10cm tied together, or you can buy a commercially-made bee pad.
7. The Hedge, Birds Nest Lane, Birdville, BB1 1RD
Not in the mood for DIY? Let nature build a home instead!
Hedges offer great sheltered nesting areas for birds and small animals. There are loads of suitable hedge plants to choose from, but winter honeysuckle and hawthorn not only make great hedges, their perfumed blooms are perfect for bees, too.
8. Bee-utiful flowers!
Most people are now privy to the importance and the plight of our bees, so do your bit by planting some of their favourite flowers.
Bees can see blue and purple more clearly than other colours, so blue and purple varieties of rhododendrons, alliums and chives, geraniums and lavender are great places to start! Not only are they all hardy perennial (they’ll bloom every year) plants, they’re relatively easy to grow.
Geraniums also form good-sized clumps of flowers in a short space of time, which is sure to get pollination off to a buzzing start.
Top tip: wild windowsills!
You don’t need a garden to befriend garden wildlife. All the flowers mentioned above can be grown in containers to adorn a small outside space or reside on windowsills.
What are your tried and tested garden wildlife hacks? Let us know, we’d love to hear from you!
More about the aesthetic? Check out our blog post for smart ways to brighten up your garden.
And if you’re keen to bring the jungle indoors, we've got a blog post for that too! Read all about the benefits of plants in the home here.
“I can use it for what now?!” - Beyond’s 5 Alternative Uses for the Humble Self-Storage Container
While the purpose of a self-storage container might seem pretty self-explanatory, there are so many other ways that you can make use of what is essentially an additional space to call your own. We at Beyond Storage have put together a list of some of the most interesting and creative alternative uses for self-storage containers - but don’t let your imagination stop at number 5!
1. Gym
Not everyone is able to establish a home gym. Give your chest, triceps, back and biceps the love they deserve and create your perfect gym in a self-storage container. Whether it’s space or a bit of peace and quiet you’re lacking, the units have both in abundance!
Many come packed with useful features. Our containers are accessible from 6am to 9pm 7 days a week and the site is secured by a fingerprint scanning system. Not only can you use your gym as and when it suits you, but expensive equipment is kept safe and secure.
The only downside is you’ll be without an excuse to skip leg day!
2. Photography or art studio
Self-storage containers are blank canvases of four walls and endless possibilities, making them ideal for photography and art studios. You’ll have absolute control over the conditions and layout of the space to ensure it’s the perfect conductor of creativity.
You could install backdrops, create the ideal lighting setup, store photography props and artworks, and curate a segregated, flexible space that’s all your own.
3. Office
Begin to establish the work-life balance we all strive for in an office space that works for you.
Working from a storage-unit-turned-office has loads of benefits over the at-home alternative. There are no interruptions or distractions, everything you need is kept securely in one place and you’re able to switch-off from work at the end of the day.
Ours units have WiFi, are insulated and have a dehumidifier as standard, making them as comfortable a space to work from as any.
Remind yourself of the true meaning of home time!
4. Hobby space
A self-storage container is the perfect vessel to dedicate to the things that bring you joy - whatever they might be.
Store your antiques, curate a display of collectibles or merchandise or install your full gaming setup all in one secure place.
The only limit is the unit size required for your equipment, memorabilia or collectibles - current or aspiring!
5. Cosy meet-up space
If you’re anything like us at Beyond Storage, you’ll appreciate the beauty of a good cuppa and chinwag.
Kit your unit out with all the comforts you’d expect from a cosy living room or your favourite quaint coffee shop for the perfect space to touch base with your nearest and dearest.
Whatever you envisage using a self-storage container for, we’d love to hear about it! Visit our website for more information about our units or get in touch with us directly.
Interested in more self-storage shenanigans? Here are 5 of the strangest things ever found in storage units.
Better Together: 10 Home Activities to Entertain the Whole Family
When you’re stuck at home for any reason, be it the weather, school holidays or to save money, keeping the kids busy and entertained can be a challenge - and adults need some stimulation too! So the Beyond Storage team has come up with 10 ideas to entertain children and adults alike, all the while bringing the family closer together.
1. Take online classes together
Learning and growing as a family unit can be really rewarding. With so many free online classes and tutorials available to us now for just about anything, there’s no better time to expand on your skills and knowledge - together!
Whether it’s yoga to find your zen and up your fitness, baking to have fun and fill tummies, or art classes to inspire you and get creative, you’ll definitely find something that everyone can enjoy.
2. Junk crafts
You would be astonished what kids can make out of things that would ordinarily be on their way to the recycling bin. These items can include toilet and kitchen roll tubes, cereal boxes, sweet wrappers, crisp packets, and basically anything you can rinse/give a wipe down ready for crafting!
We especially love the idea of making mosaics, collages and stained glass window designs out of wrappers. Just chop them up into lots of little pieces and shapes and provide the glue sticks and paper. Their imagination will do the rest!
3. Run an in-house restaurant
Set up your own restaurant at home and bring dining out in. It’ll be the first time ever that kids enjoy setting the table!
Even if it’s cushions on the floor around the coffee table, you can make a space special. Hang some fairy lights, put some music on and even dress for the occasion. For that extra touch, kids can design the menus or you can work on them together, and don’t forget to include a starter, main and dessert (and if you have a laminator, it’s time to put it to good use!).
Now, I know you’re thinking “wow that’s a lot of cooking!”, but it doesn’t have to be. Pick a rough date in advance so you can freeze leftovers in re-heatable portions ready to serve.
Most importantly, keep the food simple: as long as bellies are full and spirits are high, it’s all about the novelty of the occasion!
4. Treasure hunt
The humble treasure hunt is by no means a new concept, but it’s easy to set up, fun, can cost nothing. If you’re fortunate enough to have private access to an outside space, it's also a great opportunity to get some fresh air.
Do you know what’s possibly more fun than watching kids frantically hunt for treasure? Watching dogs hunt for treats. We really did mean it when we said “the whole family”.
5. Create a family tree
This is a great way to feel closer to family that you aren’t able to see very often, or if they’re sadly no longer with us.
Dig out some old photographs and reminisce together, or alternatively you can print them out. Stick them to a family tree that you’ve designed and drawn on a piece of paper, or even devote a whole wall to it if you have the space!
You can even add extra detail such as a phrase they always say, favourite holidays you went on together, where they live and what reminds you of them.
Once you’re done, don’t forget to take a picture and share it with your family, especially those who might be on their own!
6. Make a blanket fort
Another classic, but there’s no beating a good ol’ blanket fort!
Once you have a few chairs or other stable objects to drape blankets and duvets over, it’s up to you how elaborately or simply you furnish it. Use blankets, cushions and fairy lights to make it extra cosy.
This little space is great for reading, playing, watching a movie or even having some downtime. If you’ve grown-up and forgotten the wonders of the blanket fort, try it for yourself, we won’t tell!
7. Play dress-up
With a new season upon us, it’s as good a time as any to declutter and organise your wardrobe, but think again before casting out your unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories.
Take the dress-up box to the next level and get your craft on to redesign the clothes, come up with fun costumes using them or even put on a fashion show. Dressing up and being silly never goes out of fashion.
8. Make a home cinema
Who doesn’t love sitting down with the family to watch a movie? Make this time extra special by turning your living room, or any room, into a home cinema. It'll be just as exciting as the real thing but infinitely cheaper!
Pick a film in advance that no one’s seen and shuffle some furniture around as best as you can so that you’re all snuggled up together in the middle of the room. All that's left to do is grab the popcorn, switch off the lights, and enjoy the cinema experience from the comfort of your own home.
If you want to go all out, there are some relatively affordable mini projectors on the market that might be worth investing in. Even after two uses they pay for themselves with the money you would have spent on otherwise going out to the cinema!
Fancy watching your film alfresco? Check out our guide on how to create your own outdoor cinema!
9. Watch live zoo cams
You can now watch all your favourite animals live from zoos across the globe! You’re able to tune into a variety of different animal enclosures and see what they’re up to right this second.
Make a day of it and include other activities, such as dressing up as your favourite animals, finding interesting facts or drawing which animals would be in your perfect zoo.
Our current favourites are the San Diego and Edinburgh Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo has a great page of activities for when the kids are at home.
10. Stargazing
Clue up on all the constellation and asterism greats such as Orion’s Belt and the Big Dipper, wait for a clear night and set your gaze upon the sky.
To make the most out of your stargazing night, check beforehand which constellations and star clusters will be visible in your location and if there might be astronomical events taking place. You can find lots of tips and visual indicators online to help you spot the starry figures.
If you have an outdoor space where you can lay down blankets and cushions, even better, but clear nights can be chilly, so wrap up in something comfortable and warm. Bring along snacks and a round of hot chocolate for a Spring night to remember!
Whatever you decide to get up to, the most important thing is that you’re able to spend quality time with your family in the safety and comfort of your home. Let us know if this inspired you to try one of the activities, we’d love to see your family’s take on it!
Looking for grown-ups-only activities? Check out our blog posts for handy living room storage hacks, 3 brilliant ideas to create the perfect outdoor space and some kitchen storage tips for the perfect cooking environment!
5 Household Items Essential for your Spring Clean
We’ve all been there: organising your belongings and having a good clear out might be just what you need to free up space in your home and mind, but it can also reveal a build-up of undetected dirt and grime.
With Spring around the corner, crack open a window and let that still-actually-chilly fresh air in while we give you a run down of 5 items that you may already have around your home to make your Spring Clean a breeze!
1. Vinegar
No Spring Clean would be complete without this potent natural cleaner. Malt or white vinegar, you don’t need to worry about releasing harmful chemicals into the environment or keeping it out of reach of children. Not to mention it’ll save you money over various bottles of bleach, antibacterial spray and other cleaning products! (Psst - while malt vinegar is cheaper, use white vinegar if you’re cleaning fabrics!)
Here are some of our favourite uses for vinegar as a cleaner:
- Create an all-purpose surface cleaner by filling a spray bottle with vinegar and adding citrus peels and herbs of your choice. Allow this concoction to sit for two weeks, strain it, and enjoy your lovely scented vinegar infusion made out of entirely natural resources!
- Keep soap scum, limescale and mildew in your washing machine at bay. Every few weeks, pour a pint of white vinegar straight into your washing machine and put it on an empty full cycle. It’ll get to work cutting through the grime, all the while disinfecting your appliance.
- Wipe down your stainless steel surfaces and appliances with oil on a cloth to begin lifting stains, then follow it with a cloth dampened with vinegar to remove any residue. Watch your surfaces sparkle!
2. Oils
Used in cooking, beauty regimes and now for cleaning, oils are multipurpose superheroes! While they may not contain antibacterial properties, they’re amazing at lifting stubborn grime for that preliminary clean - minimum elbow grease required.
- For dirty bathroom surfaces, oil will get into those hard to reach nooks and crannies. Add oil to a spray bottle and spritz over surfaces, finishing with a round of soapy water - simple!
- Get your greasy cooker-hood gleaming by buffing the surface with a cloth and coconut oil. All the hard work is done for you, just simply finish off with your all purpose vinegar cleaner and you’re ready to go.
3. Lemons
When life gives you lemons, up your cleaning game! A natural, gentle disinfectant that fits in the palm of your hand, the humble lemon is an unsung ambassador for safe but effective cleaning throughout your home.
- Dried-on food spots in your microwave? Fill a microwavable bowl with 400ml of water and half a lemon and set the microwave for 3 minutes on full power. After the 3 minutes are up, leave the door closed for a further 5 minutes and let that lemony steam get to work. All you’ll need to do then is give it a good wipe down, minimum effort required.
- For hard-water stains in your shower, cut a lemon in half, dip it in coarse salt and get to work scrubbing at those stains. The acid in the lemon dissolves the buildup of limescale and other grime while the salt buffs it off.
- Clean and deodorise your smelly plastic containers by rubbing a lemon on the inside, or soaking it in a bit of lemon juice. It really is as easy as that!
4. Essential oils
Diffusers, move aside! Essential oils are in a multipurpose league of their own. Not only do they smell amazing, but they’re natural, potent and so versatile.
- Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil scent to your washing machine load to achieve fresh smelling laundry without the harmful chemicals.
- Basil is a natural antiseptic with anti-fungal properties. Dilute a few drops of basil oil with water and use it liberally on grimy tiles and grout, to spruce up your bathroom or kitchen.
- Create a customisable air freshener using only water, baking soda, and your essential oil of choice. Add water, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 15-20 drops of essential oil to a spray bottle and you’re ready to go! Natural never smelt so good.
5. Tools of the trade
All the points we’ve covered so far have focused on the items that do the cleaning, but you'd be surprised what handy cleaning utensils you'll find in your home that you may not have thought of!
Here are some natural alternatives and throwaway items we love to use for our spring clean:
- Cut up old, unwanted t-shirts to make the perfect cleaning rags. You’d be surprised how many rags you can get out of one t-shirt and best of all, you’ve not spent a penny and found a use for an item that otherwise would have been thrown away. Everybody wins!
- A tried and tested oldie but goodie, think again before throwing out your newspapers because they’ll make small work of cleaning your windows and mirrors. Introduce your old newspapers to your new best mate vinegar for a match made in sparkling-glass heaven!
- Put that old pumice stone you have lying around your bathroom to good use and scrub off stains in your tub and toilet - no harsh solvents necessary. Don’t forget to add a few drops of essential oil to your toilet as well!
Hopefully this has inspired you to add a natural spin on your Spring Clean and save money and shop runs in the process! If you’ve already tried some of these hacks, let us know!
Struggling to get organised? Check out our 30 Day Room Declutter Challenge - and no matter the grime you uncover, your new Spring Cleaning kit will have your back!