That spare bedroom might currently contain Christmas decorations, old furniture, suitcases and boxes.
But it could potentially be doing something much more useful.
If you’re considering taking in a lodger, one of the first challenges is often creating a bedroom that somebody can actually live in comfortably.
You may not want to throw away everything currently occupying the room. Equally, moving it all into your garage, loft or another bedroom simply transfers the clutter elsewhere.
Temporary self storage provides another option.
SecureStore provides flexible personal self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford, helping homeowners clear spare bedrooms while keeping suitable belongings they still want.
And if you’re thinking about doing it soon, our current flash offer could make getting started particularly attractive.
2-Week Flash Offer: First Month’s Storage for Just £1
For a limited period, SecureStore is offering:
YOUR FIRST MONTH OF STORAGE FOR JUST £1
The flash offer runs for two weeks only, subject to promotional terms, eligibility and availability.
If you’ve been putting off clearing the spare bedroom, this could be the perfect opportunity to get it organised.
Move suitable belongings into storage, prepare the room properly and create a more welcoming space for your future lodger.
Call 0161 470 0288 or email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk to enquire.
Is Your Spare Bedroom Actually a Storage Room?
This is often the first problem.
Technically, you have a spare bedroom.
In reality, opening the door reveals:
- Suitcases
- Christmas decorations
- Old clothes
- Spare bedding
- Children’s belongings
- Boxes from your last house move
- Exercise equipment
- Books
- Paperwork
- Old furniture
- Hobby equipment
None of these things necessarily needs disposing of.
But if you’re going to offer the room to somebody else, it needs to become a usable bedroom rather than somewhere a bed happens to sit between boxes.
Start by Emptying the Room
If possible, take everything out.
Don’t begin by simply moving boxes from one side to another.
An empty room lets you properly assess:
- Available floor space
- Decorating requirements
- Flooring
- Lighting
- Furniture
- Storage
- Repairs
- General condition
You may discover that the room is significantly larger than you thought once years of accumulated possessions have disappeared.
Decide What You Actually Want to Keep
Clearing a spare room doesn’t mean everything should automatically go into self storage.
Create four categories:
Keep at Home
Belongings you use regularly and have another sensible place for.
Put Into Storage
Suitable possessions you genuinely want but don’t currently need.
Sell or Donate
Good-quality belongings that you no longer use.
Recycle or Dispose
Items that genuinely aren’t worth keeping.
This prevents your storage unit from becoming another version of the cluttered spare bedroom.
What Could Go Into Storage?
Depending on your circumstances, suitable items might include:
- Seasonal decorations
- Suitcases
- Spare furniture
- Family keepsakes
- Books
- Collections
- Seasonal clothing
- Camping equipment
- Sports equipment
- Children’s belongings you’ve chosen to retain
The important question is:
Do I genuinely want this item in the future?
If the answer is yes but you don’t need it at home today, self storage may provide a practical solution.
Think About Whether the Room Will Be Furnished
If you’re taking in a lodger, decide what furniture you’re going to provide.
You might already have:
- Bed
- Wardrobe
- Drawers
- Desk
- Chair
- Bedside table
But avoid filling every available space.
Someone living in the room will bring their own possessions too.
They need somewhere for their clothes, bags, toiletries and everyday belongings.
A room that looks perfectly acceptable when empty can feel very crowded once another person’s possessions arrive.
Give Them Proper Wardrobe and Drawer Space
This sounds obvious, but it’s easily overlooked.
A wardrobe isn’t particularly useful to a lodger if half of it still contains your winter coats.
Neither is a chest of drawers if three drawers contain old paperwork.
If you’re offering storage furniture as part of the room, make it genuinely available.
Move your own suitable belongings elsewhere or into storage.
Remove Personal and Sentimental Possessions
If another person will be occupying the room, think carefully about what remains.
You may want to remove:
- Family photographs
- Private paperwork
- Personal correspondence
- Sentimental belongings
- Collections
- Valuable possessions
- Irreplaceable items
Keeping your personal possessions separate can make the arrangement simpler for everyone.
Understand the Rules Before Taking in a Lodger
Taking in a lodger isn’t simply a storage decision.
There can be tax, insurance, mortgage, tenancy and other considerations depending on your circumstances.
The UK Government provides guidance on renting out a room in your home, including information about the Rent a Room Scheme.
If you’re considering taking in a lodger, review the current official guidance and check any requirements relevant to your property and circumstances before proceeding.
Check Your Mortgage or Tenancy Arrangements
If you own your home with a mortgage, check whether your mortgage conditions require anything from you before taking in a lodger.
If you’re renting the property yourself, don’t assume you’re automatically permitted to take in another occupier.
Check your tenancy agreement and speak to the appropriate party where required.
The GOV.UK private renting guidance is a useful starting point for tenants.
Don’t Forget Insurance
Your home insurance arrangements may also need reviewing when another person moves into the property.
Contact your insurer and explain what you’re planning rather than assuming your existing arrangements automatically remain appropriate.
It’s better to clarify this before the lodger moves in.
Prepare the Rest of the House Too
A lodger won’t only use their bedroom.
Depending on your arrangement, they may also use:
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Hallway
- Living areas
- Utility space
- Garden
Look at these areas from the perspective of another person living in the house.
Is there somewhere for their food?
Can they store toiletries?
Is there coat space?
Can they comfortably use shared areas?
Sometimes taking in a lodger reveals that the entire house needs slightly better organisation.
Clear Kitchen Cupboard Space
If every kitchen cupboard is full, where will the lodger put their food?
You don’t necessarily need to empty half the kitchen.
But providing a clearly defined cupboard or shelf can make shared living considerably easier.
This is also an excellent excuse to finally deal with those cupboards containing appliances and cookware you haven’t used for years.
Make Room in the Fridge and Freezer
The same principle applies here.
Don’t advertise a room with kitchen access and then provide no practical space for food.
A little organisation before someone moves in can prevent frustration later.
Consider Bathroom Storage
If the lodger will share your bathroom, provide somewhere sensible for toiletries.
That could be a shelf, cabinet area or other suitable storage.
Small details can make a shared home feel far more organised.
Don’t Just Move Everything Into the Garage
The spare room is clear.
Fantastic.
Except now the garage is full.
That’s not really solving the problem.
Garages may also be unsuitable for certain belongings because conditions can vary considerably.
If you’re keeping possessions because they matter to you, think carefully about how and where they’re stored.
Dedicated self storage can allow you to reclaim the bedroom without sacrificing another useful part of the house.
Could Taking in a Lodger Help You Use Your Home More Efficiently?
A spare bedroom that permanently stores boxes provides very little everyday benefit.
Turning it back into a functioning bedroom changes that.
Even if you ultimately decide that taking in a lodger isn’t right for you, clearing the room could allow it to become:
- Guest bedroom
- Home office
- Study
- Dressing room
- Hobby room
The important point is that the space becomes useful again.
Photograph the Room Once It’s Ready
If you’re advertising the room, good photographs matter.
Make the bed.
Open the curtains.
Remove unnecessary clutter.
Show the available wardrobe and storage space.
Photograph the room in good natural light where possible.
Potential lodgers need to be able to imagine living there.
Platforms such as SpareRoom allow people to advertise and search for rooms, and looking at other listings can also help you understand how rooms are typically presented.
Don’t Over-Furnish a Small Bedroom
You want the room to feel equipped, not packed.
A small bedroom containing a bed, huge wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk, armchair and several cabinets may technically have plenty of furniture.
It may also have virtually no floor space.
Think about what the lodger genuinely needs.
Sometimes less furniture creates a much more attractive room.
What Should You Do With Excess Furniture?
Suppose the room contains two wardrobes but only needs one.
You have several options.
You could:
- Use the spare wardrobe elsewhere.
- Sell it.
- Donate it if suitable.
- Put it into storage if you expect to need it again.
Suitable furniture may potentially be sold through eBay UK or Facebook Marketplace.
If you’re unsure whether you’ll need the furniture again, temporary storage gives you time to decide.
What Happens When the Lodger Eventually Leaves?
This is another reason you might not want to dispose of everything immediately.
Perhaps the spare room previously contained:
- Guest bed
- Desk
- Children’s furniture
- Family furniture
- Hobby equipment
If the lodger eventually leaves, you may want to return the room to its previous use.
Items you’ve retained in storage can then come back.
That provides flexibility without requiring them to occupy your home during the lodging arrangement.
Create an Inventory of Stored Belongings
If possessions may remain in storage for several months, keep track of them.
Number boxes and use clear descriptions.
For example:
BOX 01 – CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
BOX 02 – FAMILY BOOKS
BOX 03 – WINTER CLOTHING
BOX 04 – SPARE BEDROOM ITEMS
Keep the inventory on your phone.
This prevents the classic situation where you know you own something but have absolutely no idea which box contains it.
Removal + Storage Can Make Clearing the Room Easier
If your spare bedroom contains bulky furniture, clearing it may involve more than carrying a few boxes downstairs.
You could have:
- Bed
- Wardrobe
- Desk
- Drawers
- Bookcases
- Armchair
SecureStore provides Removal + Storage, allowing you to discuss moving suitable furniture and household belongings as well as storing them.
This can make the process considerably easier, particularly if you want the room cleared quickly.
Give Yourself a Deadline
If you’re serious about taking in a lodger, set a date for completing the room.
Otherwise the project can remain on the “we really need to sort that room out” list indefinitely.
For example:
Weekend One
Empty and declutter the room.
Following Week
Sell, donate or appropriately dispose of unwanted items.
Weekend Two
Move suitable possessions into storage and decorate if required.
Following Week
Prepare furniture, take photographs and get the room ready.
A clear deadline turns the idea into a project.
Take Advantage of SecureStore’s £1 Flash Offer
If you’ve been thinking about clearing the spare bedroom, now could be a particularly good time.
For two weeks only, SecureStore is offering:
FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE FOR JUST £1
You could use temporary storage to:
- Clear your spare bedroom
- Remove excess furniture
- Store seasonal belongings
- Keep sentimental possessions separate
- Create wardrobe and drawer space
- Prepare the room for a lodger
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER – FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE £1
Promotional terms, eligibility and availability apply. Contact SecureStore for full details.
How to Book Your Unit With SecureStore
Getting started is straightforward:
- Decide what needs removing from the spare bedroom.
- Separate belongings into keep, store, sell/donate and dispose categories.
- Decide what furniture will remain for the lodger.
- Pack and label suitable possessions you’re keeping.
- Contact SecureStore and ask about our 2-week flash offer – first month’s storage for £1.
- Choose a suitable storage unit.
- Ask about Removal + Storage if larger furniture needs moving.
- Prepare the bedroom and shared areas.
- Review the relevant legal, financial and insurance considerations before taking in a lodger.
2-WEEK FLASH OFFER: FIRST MONTH’S STORAGE FOR £1
Call: 0161 470 0288
Email: info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk
Visit: 574 Manchester Road, Bury
Contact SecureStore for promotional terms, eligibility and availability.
Turn Your Spare Room Into Useful Space Again
If your spare bedroom is currently storing belongings you rarely use, taking in a lodger could be the motivation you need to finally reclaim it.
You don’t necessarily have to throw away furniture, family possessions or seasonal belongings to create the space.
Keep what matters.
Sell or donate what doesn’t.
Store suitable possessions you want for the future.
SecureStore provides flexible self storage and Removal + Storage across Bury, Manchester, Failsworth and Salford, helping households create more usable space without making rushed decisions about their belongings.
And for a limited period, your first month of storage is just £1 with our 2-week flash offer.
Call 0161 470 0288, email info@securestoreselfstorage.co.uk, or visit 574 Manchester Road, Bury to enquire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use self storage to clear a spare bedroom before taking in a lodger?
Yes. Self storage can be useful for suitable furniture, seasonal belongings, boxes and personal possessions you want to retain but don’t need in the room.
What is SecureStore’s current flash offer?
For a limited two-week period, the first month of storage is £1, subject to promotional terms, eligibility and availability. Contact SecureStore for full details.
Can SecureStore help move furniture out of the spare room?
Yes. SecureStore provides Removal + Storage. Tell our team what needs moving so we can discuss your requirements.
Do I need permission to take in a lodger?
Your circumstances matter. Check your mortgage or tenancy arrangements, insurance and the current official guidance before proceeding. GOV.UK provides information about renting out a room in your home.
What happens to my stored furniture when the lodger leaves?
You can decide whether you want to bring suitable stored furniture back into the room, use it elsewhere, continue storing it or make another longer-term decision.
