Moving from a house or flat onto a narrowboat can mean a completely different way of living.
For some people, it’s about simplifying life. For others, it’s an opportunity to travel, spend more time on the waterways or swap a conventional home for something altogether different.
But there’s one practical issue almost everyone has to address:
Where does everything go?
Moving from a typical house or flat into the considerably more limited space available on a narrowboat can mean making difficult decisions about furniture, clothing, tools, hobbies, sentimental possessions and all the other things you’ve accumulated over the years.
You may not want them on the boat.
But you may not want to get rid of them either.
That’s where self storage can become particularly useful.
SecureStore provides flexible personal self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford, giving you somewhere to keep suitable possessions while you embrace a more compact way of living.
2-Week Flash Offer: First Month’s Storage for Just £1
If you’re currently preparing for a move, SecureStore’s limited-time flash offer could help you get started.
For two weeks only, get your first month of storage for just £1.
Instead of rushing to sell or give away possessions simply because they won’t fit on board, you can place suitable belongings into storage while you decide what you genuinely want to keep.
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER
FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE: £1
Promotional terms, eligibility and availability apply.
Call 0161 470 0288 or email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk to enquire.
Why Moving Onto a Narrowboat Requires a Different Approach to Storage
In a house, it’s surprisingly easy to forget how much storage space you have.
You may have:
- Loft space
- Garage
- Spare bedroom
- Under-stairs cupboard
- Wardrobes
- Kitchen cupboards
- Shed
- Utility room
- Bookshelves
- Large drawers
Individually, none of these areas may seem enormous.
Combined, however, they can hold a remarkable amount of stuff.
When you’re moving onto a narrowboat, you need to think much more carefully about what earns a place in your everyday living space.
Don’t Start by Asking, “What Can I Get Rid Of?”
Instead, ask:
What do I actually need on the boat?
That’s a slightly different question.
Start with the belongings you’ll genuinely use regularly.
Then look at everything that’s left.
Some things can be sold or donated.
Some can be disposed of appropriately.
But other possessions may still be important to you even though they don’t need to accompany you onto the boat.
Those are the items for which self storage can be particularly useful.
Measure Before You Move
Don’t rely on memory when deciding whether furniture or other large possessions will fit.
Measure the available space carefully.
Consider the dimensions of larger belongings and how they’ll work with the layout you actually have.
You don’t want to move something all the way to the boat only to discover that it isn’t practical.
If you’re new to boating, the Canal & River Trust provides extensive information about Britain’s waterways and boating.
Canal & River Trust
canalrivertrust.org.uk
Don’t Treat Your Narrowboat Like a Floating Storage Unit
The goal is to create a comfortable home, not to squeeze your old house into a smaller space.
If every available area is filled with boxes, bags and possessions, the space may quickly become difficult to enjoy.
Be selective.
Think about what needs to be available every day and what could be kept elsewhere until required.
Full-Size Furniture May No Longer Make Sense
If you’re moving from a house, you may own:
- Large sofa
- Dining table
- Multiple dining chairs
- Wardrobes
- Chest of drawers
- Bookshelves
- Desks
- Bed frames
- Occasional tables
Some of this furniture may simply not suit your new living arrangement.
But selling everything immediately isn’t always necessary.
Perhaps you expect to return to a conventional property in a few years.
Perhaps you’re unsure whether narrowboat living will be permanent.
Or perhaps some pieces have sentimental or financial value.
Suitable furniture can potentially be placed into storage while you decide.
Give Yourself a Trial Period
A major lifestyle change can look very different after you’ve actually lived it for six months.
Rather than making irreversible decisions before you’ve even moved, consider giving yourself some time.
Move the belongings you genuinely need onto the boat.
Store suitable possessions you’re uncertain about.
Then reassess later.
You may discover that you don’t miss half of them.
Alternatively, you may be very glad you kept certain pieces.
Seasonal Clothing Is an Obvious Candidate
Do you need every winter coat beside you throughout summer?
Probably not.
The same applies to bulky seasonal clothing.
You could potentially rotate suitable items depending on the time of year.
For example, during warmer months, storage might contain:
- Heavy coats
- Winter boots
- Thick jumpers
- Seasonal bedding
When winter arrives, you can reassess your clothing and swap suitable seasonal belongings.
The objective is to avoid filling valuable everyday storage space with things you won’t use for months.
Sports and Hobby Equipment Can Take Up Huge Amounts of Room
Your change in lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning your hobbies.
But some equipment is bulky.
Think about:
- Golf clubs
- Ski equipment
- Camping equipment
- Fishing equipment
- Musical equipment
- Cycling accessories
- Craft supplies
- Collectibles
If you only use something occasionally, ask whether it needs to remain beside you every day.
Self storage can allow you to retain suitable hobby equipment without allowing it to dominate your living space.
What About Bikes?
Cycling and boating can work well together, but the number and type of bikes you keep with you will depend on your circumstances and available space.
If your household owns several bikes but only regularly uses one or two, consider whether the remainder need to accompany you.
Suitable equipment can be stored until needed.
Sentimental Possessions Are Different
Not everything needs to justify itself through regular use.
Family photographs, inherited possessions, childhood belongings and other sentimental items may be extremely important even though you rarely physically use them.
Moving onto a narrowboat shouldn’t force you into getting rid of things you genuinely value.
The question is whether they need to occupy your everyday living space.
For suitable belongings, self storage provides another option.
Create a Sentimental Box System
Instead of throwing sentimental possessions into random boxes, organise them properly.
You could create categories such as:
Family photographs
Children’s keepsakes
Inherited belongings
Letters and cards
School memories
Travel memories
Label everything clearly.
You may not access these belongings regularly, but when you do want something, you’ll know where to find it.
Digitise Where It Makes Sense
Some physical paperwork, photographs or other material may be suitable for digitising.
That doesn’t necessarily mean destroying the originals.
But having digital copies can make information much easier to access while you’re away from your storage unit.
For important documents, consider what originals you need to keep with you and what should be stored appropriately elsewhere.
Be Ruthless With Duplicates
Moving into a smaller space is an excellent opportunity to identify duplication.
Do you really need:
- Three sets of dinner plates?
- Sixteen mugs?
- Four frying pans?
- Multiple sets of bedding?
- Five suitcases?
- Two vacuum cleaners?
- Boxes of spare cables?
- Several nearly identical coats?
Duplicates can accumulate unnoticed in a larger home.
When space becomes limited, they’re much more obvious.
Sell What You Know You Won’t Need Again
Storage shouldn’t become an excuse to keep absolutely everything forever.
If you know you no longer want something, deal with it before moving.
Good-quality unwanted possessions could potentially be sold through:
eBay UK
ebay.co.uk
Facebook Marketplace
facebook.com/marketplace
Alternatively, suitable belongings may be donated to charity.
The less unnecessary stuff you move, the easier the transition becomes.
Don’t Store Things You Should Simply Dispose Of
Some possessions have reached the end of their useful life.
Moving is often the ideal time to deal with them.
Check your local authority’s guidance for recycling and household waste rather than putting unusable items into storage.
GOV.UK provides a postcode-based service for finding your local council.
GOV.UK – Find Your Local Council
gov.uk/find-local-council
Create Three Main Categories
A simple system can keep the move manageable.
1. Take Onto the Boat
Things you’ll genuinely need regularly.
2. Put Into Storage
Suitable belongings you want to retain but don’t need every day.
3. Sell, Donate or Dispose
Things you no longer need.
Try not to create a fourth category called “decide later” that eventually contains half the house.
If you’re uncertain about an item but genuinely value it, storage can effectively become your temporary decision-making space.
Label Storage Boxes Properly
Avoid vague labels such as:
MISC
or:
HOUSE STUFF
They’ll be useless six months later.
Instead, write:
WINTER CLOTHING – COATS AND BOOTS
KITCHEN – CROCKERY NOT ON BOAT
BEDROOM – SPARE BEDDING
FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS
CAMPING EQUIPMENT
A simple inventory on your phone can make things even easier.
Photograph the Contents
Before sealing a box, take a quick photograph.
You can create an album on your phone showing what is stored.
If you suddenly remember something you need, you’ll have a much better idea of where to find it.
Think About What Happens in Winter
The way you use space can change throughout the year.
Clothing changes.
Equipment changes.
Your routine may change.
That’s why treating self storage as an extension of your available space can be useful.
Instead of trying to keep everything with you permanently, you can rotate suitable possessions when required.
What If Narrowboat Living Doesn’t Work Out?
This is another reason not to make every decision permanent on day one.
You might absolutely love it and never want to return to a conventional home.
Or you might decide after a year that it isn’t for you.
If you’ve sold every useful piece of household furniture, returning to a house or flat could mean buying everything again.
Keeping selected good-quality furniture and household possessions in storage can give you flexibility.
What If You Later Buy a House Again?
The same principle applies.
Imagine moving back into a property and needing:
- Sofa
- Dining furniture
- Bed
- Drawers
- Kitchen equipment
- Household belongings
Replacing an entire home’s contents can be expensive.
That doesn’t mean you should store every piece of furniture you own.
It means it’s worth thinking carefully about what would be expensive, difficult or emotionally impossible to replace.
Use Storage as a Filter, Not a Dumping Ground
A well-organised storage unit should make your life easier.
You should know:
- What’s inside
- Why you’ve kept it
- Where it’s located
- Whether you’re likely to use it again
If you’re paying to store belongings you actively dislike and never expect to use, that’s a sign they may need to go.
Review your storage periodically.
Removal + Storage Can Make the Move Easier
Moving from a house or flat can involve a considerable amount of physical work.
Furniture needs moving.
Boxes need carrying.
Possessions need dividing between different destinations.
SecureStore’s Removal + Storage service can make the process simpler by helping with suitable belongings that are moving into storage.
Instead of organising the move and storage completely separately, speak to our team about what you need.
Don’t Forget Your Correspondence
Changing how and where you live can also affect your post.
SecureStore offers a professional mailbox service from £5 per week, which may be useful for customers who want a consistent correspondence address.
Speak to our team for details of the mailbox service and what is included.
For official information relating to address changes and mail services, you can also visit:
Royal Mail
royalmail.com
Planning Your Narrowboat Move
A practical timeline might look like this:
Six to Eight Weeks Before
Start sorting possessions and measuring furniture.
Four Weeks Before
Begin selling or donating obvious unwanted belongings.
Two to Three Weeks Before
Pack items that will be going into storage.
One to Two Weeks Before
Move suitable larger furniture and boxes into your storage unit.
Final Days
Keep only the belongings you need immediately accessible.
A staged approach is much easier than attempting to sort an entire house the day before moving.
Use SecureStore’s £1 First-Month Flash Offer
If you’re currently preparing for a move onto a narrowboat, SecureStore’s current promotion could be particularly useful.
For two weeks only, get your first month of storage for just £1.
Use your storage unit for suitable:
- Furniture
- Seasonal clothing
- Hobby equipment
- Sports equipment
- Sentimental possessions
- Books
- Household belongings
- Boxes you want to retain
- Items you may need if you move back into a house later
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER – FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE £1
Promotional terms, eligibility and availability apply.
How to Book Your Unit With SecureStore
Getting started is straightforward:
- Measure the space available on your boat.
- Decide what genuinely needs to come with you.
- Separate everything else into store, sell, donate and dispose categories.
- Pack suitable storage belongings carefully.
- Label every box clearly.
- Contact SecureStore and ask about the 2-week flash offer – first month’s storage for £1.
- Choose a suitable unit.
- Ask about Removal + Storage if you need help moving furniture and boxes.
- Create an inventory of everything you’ve stored.
- Start your new lifestyle without trying to bring your entire old home with you.
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER: FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE FOR £1
Call: 0161 470 0288
Email: info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk
Visit: 574 Manchester Road, Bury
Locations: Bury | Manchester | Failsworth | Salford
No deposit required in many cases; same-day move-in may be available.
Contact SecureStore for promotional terms, eligibility and current unit availability.
Less Space Doesn’t Have to Mean Losing Everything
Moving onto a narrowboat can encourage you to think very differently about possessions.
Some things can go.
Some things should come with you.
And some things still matter, but simply don’t need to be beside you every day.
That’s where self storage can provide the middle ground.
You can enjoy a more compact lifestyle without immediately parting with furniture, sentimental possessions, seasonal equipment and other belongings you may still want in the future.
SecureStore provides flexible personal self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford.
And for a limited period, your first month of storage is just £1 with our 2-week flash offer.
Call 0161 470 0288 or email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk to discuss your storage requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can self storage be useful when moving onto a narrowboat?
Yes. It can provide additional space for suitable furniture, seasonal possessions, hobby equipment and other belongings you want to retain but don’t need with you every day.
Should I sell all my furniture before moving onto a boat?
Not necessarily. Consider whether you’ll realistically need the furniture again, its value and how difficult it would be to replace. Storage can give you time to make that decision rather than selling everything immediately.
Can SecureStore help move my belongings into storage?
Yes. SecureStore provides Removal + Storage. Speak to our team about the furniture and boxes you need moving.
Does SecureStore offer a mailbox service?
Yes. SecureStore offers a mailbox service from £5 per week. Contact our team for information about what’s included.
What is SecureStore’s current flash offer?
For a limited two-week period, your first month of storage is £1, subject to promotional terms, eligibility and availability.
Where does SecureStore provide storage?
SecureStore provides storage solutions across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford. Call 0161 470 0288 to discuss the most suitable option for you.
