Furniture is one of the most common things people put in storage, and also one of the things most likely to come out damaged if it goes in without any preparation. Wood warps, fabric grows mildew, leather dries and cracks, and cushions develop a musty smell that's hard to get rid of.

In Louisiana's climate, the stakes are higher than in most places. Here's how to prep your furniture properly and give it the best chance of coming out of storage in the same condition it went in.

Clean Everything Before It Goes In

This step gets skipped more often than it should. Any dirt, grease, food residue, or moisture on a piece of furniture before it goes into storage will be worse when it comes out. Grime that's been sitting in a warm, enclosed space for months is significantly harder to deal with than fresh grime.

Wipe down hard surfaces with a clean, dry cloth. For upholstered pieces, vacuum thoroughly before covering. For wood furniture, a light application of furniture polish or paste wax adds a layer of protection against humidity. For leather, a conditioner applied before storage helps keep the material supple.

Disassemble What You Can

Legs off tables, arms off sectionals, frames off bed sets. Furniture that can be broken down takes up less floor space and is less prone to damage in transit and storage. Keep all hardware in a labeled zip-lock bag and tape it securely to the piece it belongs to so nothing gets lost.

Removing legs from sofas and chairs also makes them easier to wrap and reduces the chance of leg joints taking stress from being stored on a hard surface.

Wrap and Cover Everything

Moving blankets are the standard for protecting furniture surfaces from scratches, scuffs, and dust. Wrap wood surfaces, glass, and metal fully. For upholstered pieces, breathable furniture covers work better than plastic wrap, which traps moisture and can cause mildew.

Avoid using regular plastic sheeting directly against fabric, leather, or wood for extended storage periods. Plastic doesn't breathe, and in Louisiana's humidity, the moisture it traps becomes a mildew and warping problem fairly quickly.

For mirrors and glass tabletops, tape an X across the face with painter's tape before wrapping. This holds the pieces together if the glass cracks during a move or shift in the unit, and makes cleanup much safer.

Think Carefully About Climate Control

For solid wood furniture, antiques, leather pieces, and anything with upholstery you care about, climate-controlled storage is the right call in Louisiana. The combination of heat and humidity in a standard unit over a full summer is genuinely damaging to these materials.

If you're storing inexpensive furniture for a short period during a move, a standard drive-up unit is fine. But if the furniture has real value — financial or sentimental — the modest additional cost of climate control is good insurance.

How to Stack and Store Furniture in the Unit

Sofas stored on their end take up significantly less floor space than lying flat. Most sofas are built to handle this for storage periods. If you're storing a sofa with cushions, remove the cushions and store them separately so they don't compress under the weight of the sofa frame.

Dressers can be stored with drawers in place, which saves you from having to store the drawers separately. Leave the drawers in but remove any items from them first — stored weight inside drawers puts stress on the joints over time.

Elevate furniture off the concrete floor where possible. A few pallets, a sheet of plywood, or furniture feet risers keep pieces off the ground and away from any moisture that can collect at floor level, which is especially relevant during heavy rain periods.

Don't stack heavy items on top of upholstered furniture. Cushions and fabric compress permanently under sustained weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is too long to store wood furniture in Louisiana?

In a climate-controlled unit, wood furniture stores well indefinitely with proper preparation. In a standard unit, the risk increases significantly after a full summer season. Heat and humidity cycles cause wood to expand and contract repeatedly, which weakens joints and finishes over time.

Will my mattress be okay in a storage unit?

A mattress stored flat in a mattress bag, in a clean unit, will generally be fine for several months. Avoid storing it vertically for extended periods as the internal structure can shift. A climate-controlled unit is preferable for longer-term mattress storage.

Can I store a leather couch in a standard storage unit?

For a short period, yes. For longer storage in Louisiana, a climate-controlled unit is strongly recommended. Leather dries and cracks in extreme heat and can develop mildew in high humidity. Conditioning the leather before storage helps, but climate control is the more complete solution.



Should I leave furniture drawers open or closed in storage?

Closed is generally fine and keeps dust and pests out. In a climate-controlled unit, drawers can stay closed without concern. In a standard unit during humid months, leaving drawers slightly open allows a little airflow, which can help prevent mustiness inside the cabinet.