Buying a smaller home right now is actually one of the best financial moves you can make.
44% would downsize for savings if they needed cheaper housing, Bankrate’s 2024 Home Affordability Report found.
Sure, but what about all those hobbies?
Storage spaces get smaller when the house gets smaller. But hobbies don’t. Whether it’s woodworking, sewing, cycling, photography, or model train building — those supplies stay the same size. They tend to grow over time.
Unless the goal is to hear those words… “you should just get rid of it.”
Enter business storage rental.
For Southwest-dwellers who love the idea of downsizing, but are asking “what about the hobbies?” storage units in Arizona are a cost-effective, convenient option to keep business storage rental costs down — while ensuring every piece of gear stays protected.
Here’s what’s covered…
What’s On This Page:
- Why Downsizers Are Choosing Business Storage Rental
- The Price of Parting with Your Passion
- Unit Sizes: How Much Space Do You Need?
- How to Organise Your Business Storage Rental
- Storage Tips You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Why Downsizers Are Choosing Business Storage Rental
Let’s look at the data.
StorageCafe tells us that 1 in 3 Americans use storage when they need more room. It’s not hard to see why. After all, the average American home has decreased by nearly 300 square feet in the last decade alone. From 2,466 square feet back in 2016 to just 2,150 square feet in 2024, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
So homes are getting smaller. But hobbies aren’t.
The space crunch creates a dilemma. And for people who love to build, sew, ride, craft, and tinker in their free time — that dilemma can seem downright heartbreaking.
That’s where business storage rental comes in.
Renting a storage unit buys back all the space lost when trading the last home for something more affordable. It keeps supplies secure and accessible without taking over the house. But unlike the house, it’s 100% dedicated to the hobbies.
Essentially, it’s like renting an expansion to the home. One that’s climate-controlled, secure, and holds only what belongs there.
The Price of Parting with Your Passion
Here’s the mistake most people make when they downsize.
They want to start fresh. That usually means getting rid of old hobby supplies. Scrap building supplies. Cycling gear. Photography equipment. Tools.
Stop.
Think about how long it took to actually accumulate that stuff. Could it all be replaced for cheap? Very unlikely. A nice cabinet saw for woodworking alone won’t come cheap.
Donating feels good now. Buying replacements does not.
Renting a storage unit keeps that equipment protected from scratches, theft, and serious downsizers with backyard sales.
The U.S. monthly cost to rent a storage unit was roughly $85 in 2024, according to SpareFoot’s quarterly data. It doesn’t get much cheaper than that to protect decades of equipment. Plus, around 9% of storage users nationally rent units to store sporting equipment or hobby gear specifically.
Unit Sizes: How Much Space Do You Need?
Choosing the wrong size storage unit is probably the biggest mistake you can make.
Pick a unit that’s too small and everything gets crammed together. Accessibility and protection go right out the window. Choose a container that’s too big and the cost grows every month.
So how big should it be? It depends on what’s being stored.
Take a look at the list below for a quick frame of reference:
- 5×5 unit — perfect for storing smaller gear like art supplies, photography extras, or hobby-level crafting materials
- 5×10 unit — great choice for medium-size collections of equipment like cycling, tools, or fabric bins
- 10×10 unit — works well for large sets of tools, collapsible workbenches, larger canvases, or bicycles
- 10×20 unit — ideal when a hobby supports a lifestyle. Larger furniture, extra inventory, or bulky equipment
Before picking a unit size, make a list of everything planned for storage. Break it down by size. Then go one unit bigger than seems necessary — cramped units quickly become unused units.
How to Organise Your Business Storage Rental
Getting the right storage container is half the battle. Keeping it organised for the long haul? That’s where many homeowners trip up.
Think of a business storage rental like a real workshop or studio. Efficient organisation means grabbing what’s needed and leaving. Every single time. Here’s how to set it up that way:
- Use labels. Clear, waterproof labels on every box and bin. Don’t just note what’s inside — mark which side is “up” too
- Install shelving racks. Don’t let valuable vertical space go to waste. Keep floor areas clear by installing shelves along the walls
- Group similar items together. Paints with paints. Clothes with clothes. Tools with tools
- Put regularly accessed items up front. Having to unload half the unit to access riding gear makes storage frustrating fast
- Use clear bins when possible. Seeing exactly what’s inside saves time on every visit
Climate-controlled storage is worth a few extra dollars per month for paints, electronics, canvases, leather goods, or wood. Heat can warp or degrade those supplies and many others. That’s especially important in warmer states like Arizona.
A business storage rental only works as hard as the system built around it. Organise it well from day one.
Tips That Make Every Square Foot Count
A few bonus tips from die-hard hobbyists:
- Take things apart. If it can be dismantled, do it. Bikes, easels, shelving — none of these have to be stored standing tall
- Stack smart. Heavy things on the bottom. Lighter or fragile items on top
- Leave walk room. Don’t stack items wall-to-wall. Leave space down the middle to reach the back without moving everything else
- Utilise the walls. A small pegboard on the back wall holds tools and hanging items perfectly
- Visit monthly. Knowing there’s a storage unit means using it. Schedule time each month to clean, reorganise, and check everything is in good shape. Units that aren’t visited regularly become messy fast
Pro-tip: a business storage rental is only as good as the habits built around it.
Downsizing Your House: Never Downsize Your Passions
There’s no reason to let moving into a smaller home impact the hobbies worth keeping.
Storage containers give enthusiasts across the Southwest a safe, affordable way to hold onto all the gear without throwing it into a house that’s simply not built for it.
Pick the proper unit size. Organise it from day one. And remember: a storage unit can be a secondary workshop. Treat it that way and it will feel like one.
Rent a storage unit and downsize the stress instead.