Seasonal Storage Swaps: What to Store as Winter Approaches

Published On: 19 May, 2025|4.3 min read|

Temperatures are starting to fall, the days are getting shorter and winter is on the horizon. As cooler climes loom, many homeowners will embark upon clearouts and tidy-up operations. As winter approaches, it’s a great idea to organise your stuff to free up space. In this guide, we’ll outline some top seasonal storage swaps, sharing winter self storage tips to help you store everything you don’t need for the colder months safely and efficiently.

Open suitcase packed for a summer holiday.

Top Seasonal Storage Swaps: What To Store During Winter

A change of season marks the departure of warm, sunny days and the arrival of cooler conditions. Many of us like to adapt and adjust our homes for winter. This often means changing the décor slightly and adding cosy touches and heavier fabrics, but it’s also an excellent idea to think about storage. If you’ve got a room full of stuff or you have a storage unit, swapping items over will help you free up space and ensure you have quick and easy access to the belongings you need in the days and weeks ahead.

To help you get ready for winter, here are some top seasonal storage swaps:

1. Winter clothing for summer gear

A chill in the air prompts many of us to overhaul our wardrobes. As the temperature drops, it’s time to bid farewell to shorts, tees, tanks, summer dresses, skirts and lightweight trousers and usher in cold-weather clothing. Now is the time to go through your storage boxes and containers, audit your wardrobe and dig out the sweaters, jumpers, coats, boots, scarves and hats.

When you’re packing up your summer wardrobe, it’s helpful to use packing cubes or protective bags to separate items by category and keep your clothes in pristine condition. Labelling also makes it easy to find items if you need them before next summer.

2. Outdoor furniture and garden toys

Summer is all about spending as much time as possible outside and enjoying the sunshine, blue skies and warm, hazy evenings. As winter approaches, you may want to think about storing outdoor furniture and garden toys. When it’s cold and wet outside, you may not use them as frequently, and there’s a risk of damage and wear and tear if they’re exposed to the elements. Storage units are a brilliant option for large items if you don’t have a shed. If you stow away tables, chairs, outdoor sofas, large cushions, hammocks and toys, you can enjoy peace of mind that they’ll be in exactly the same condition when warmer climes return.

3. Equipment for summer hobbies and interests

The weather can influence how we spend our time and which types of hobbies and interests we pursue. If you have interests and activities you only enjoy during the warmer months, storing your stuff during winter is an easy way to create more space and declutter at home. From fishing rods and hiking boots to sport equipment and gardening tools, renting a storage unit enables you to store safely all the things you won’t use, while freeing up room in spare rooms and garages.

4. Camping equipment

Camping is a popular Aussie pastime, especially during the spring and summer months. While camping is an awesome way to explore spectacular places and embrace outdoor living, it involves buying and storing all kinds of equipment. If your garage is full of tents, stoves and backpacks, storing camping equipment is an ingenious idea. Not only will it keep all your gear in perfect condition, but it’ll also make it much easier to keep your home tidy and clutter-free.

5. Summer home accessories and furniture

The impending arrival of a new season inspires many of us to experiment with different interior design trends and modify the look and ambience of our homes. While bright blue skies and sunshine encourage us to opt for fresh, clean and vibrant colours and trends, such as bringing the outdoors in and natural décor, wintry weather urges us to opt for darker, warmer colourways and a cosy atmosphere. If you’re swapping cushion covers, replacing lightweight throws and rugs for more sumptuous soft furnishings or buying new curtains, store your summer stuff. You can also store home accessories and any furniture you won’t use during the cooler months.

6. Outdoor sports gear

Exercise is important all year round, but most of us adapt our regimes and the sports and activities we participate in as the weather changes. In summer, nothing beats riding the waves, meandering through mountain tracks on two wheels and wild swimming. When it’s cold and miserable outside on a grey day, you may be more inclined to go swimming, hit the gym or play badminton, indoor tennis, soccer, basketball or rugby. If you don’t tend to use surfboards, paddleboards and bikes, swap your summer sports stuff for winter gear.