Home renovations in Ireland are booming — from kitchen refits and bathroom upgrades to full-house extensions. But there's one thing most people underestimate: where to put everything while the work is happening. Dust gets everywhere, tradespeople need clear access, and furniture left in a room being renovated is furniture that gets damaged.
Here's how to sort your storage during a renovation without blowing your budget.
Why You Can't Just "Move Everything to Another Room"
It sounds logical — just shift the furniture into the spare bedroom while the kitchen is being ripped out. In reality:
- Dust from building work travels through the entire house, no matter how many sheets you hang.
- Tradespeople need to move through hallways with tools, materials, and skips.
- A house crammed with furniture from other rooms is miserable to live in for weeks or months.
- Items stacked in a rush get damaged — scratched, dented, or worse.
For anything beyond a weekend paint job, getting items out of the house entirely is worth the investment.
How Long Will You Need Storage?
Renovation timelines in Ireland are notoriously optimistic. A good rule of thumb: take the builder's estimated timeframe and add 30%. Here are typical durations:
- Kitchen refit: 3–6 weeks (plan for 2 months of storage)
- Bathroom renovation: 2–4 weeks (plan for 6 weeks)
- Extension: 3–6 months (plan for 4–7 months)
- Full-house renovation: 6–12 months (plan accordingly)
Month-to-month storage with no long contract is ideal here — you don't want to be locked in for 6 months when the work finishes in 4.
What Should You Store?
Anything that could be damaged by dust, moisture, or physical knocks. That typically includes:
- Upholstered furniture (sofas, armchairs, mattresses)
- Electronics and appliances
- Artwork and mirrors
- Books and documents
- Curtains, rugs, and soft furnishings
- Children's toys (especially anything with small parts that could attract dust)
Storage Options During a Renovation
You have three main choices:
- Commercial self-storage: €150–€350/month in Dublin for a unit large enough for a room's worth of furniture. Reliable but expensive, especially for longer renovations.
- Mobile storage (PODS or similar): A container delivered to your driveway. Convenient but costs €150–€250/month and takes up parking space.
- Peer-to-peer storage: A host's garage, spare room, or outbuilding nearby. Typically €60–€150/month on Packhood — often the cheapest option and with month-to-month flexibility.
How to Protect Your Items in Storage During a Renovation
- Wrap upholstery in old sheets or plastic covers. Dust is the enemy, even in a clean garage.
- Disassemble what you can. Bed frames, table legs, and shelving units all take up less space in pieces.
- Stand mattresses upright to save floor space, supported against a wall.
- Keep an inventory. A photo and a simple list means you won't forget what's where when it's time to move back in.
- Store items you'll need first at the front. Think about the order you'll move things back and load the storage space accordingly.
Timing Your Storage Booking
Book your storage at least 2 weeks before the renovation starts. This gives you time to move things out gradually rather than in a panicked rush the night before the builders arrive. Most Packhood hosts can accommodate short-notice bookings, but earlier is always easier.
The Bottom Line
A renovation is stressful enough without your belongings being damaged or your home being unliveable. Affordable, flexible storage — ideally nearby and month-to-month — takes one major worry off your plate.
Find renovation storage near you on Packhood and protect your belongings while the work gets done.