New paint, a bigger bed, smarter storage, new flooring… Renovating a child’s bedroom is an exciting project, but it quickly turns the room into a building site. Between dismantling furniture, protecting toys and moving clothes, you soon wonder where to put everything during the works. Here are some ideas for smart temporary storage – at home or in a nearby self-storage unit in the Basque Country – without turning your whole home upside down.

Why should you really empty the room before work starts?

It may be tempting to “work around” the furniture and toys. In practice, this rarely goes well.

Safety: screws, tools, stepladders and paint pots do not mix well with curious children.
Protection: paint, sanding dust and falling tools can easily damage toys, books, cuddly toys and textiles.
Faster work: a clear room lets tradespeople work more quickly and cleanly.
Changing furniture: moving from a toddler bed to a junior bed or from a child’s desk to a teen desk often means removing some pieces.
Perfect time to declutter: renovations are a great opportunity to sort toys and clothes.

Emptying the room as much as possible makes the renovation safer, quicker and less stressful.

Step 1: sorting toys, books and clothes with your child

Before boxes and storage units, start with a proper sort – ideally with your child if they are old enough.

Set up three piles: “keep for the new room”, “keep but store elsewhere / in a unit”, “donate / sell”.
Explain the project to your child: new room, new colours, why you are clearing things out.
Start with toys: keep favourites and regularly used items, set aside toys for later, donate those that are no longer used.
Continue with books: a small selection for the new room, the rest in boxes or another bookcase.
Finish with clothes: keep current and next-season clothing easily accessible, store the rest elsewhere.

The more you declutter in advance, the smaller the volume you need to store temporarily, at home or in a unit.

Step 2: what needs to stay accessible during the works?

Even if the bedroom is off limits for a while, your child still needs to sleep, play a little and get dressed. Create a simple temporary “life kit”.

A small selection of toys in one box or crate: favourite soft toy, a few books, calm activities.
Everyday clothes for one to two weeks, stored in a shared wardrobe or a temporary chest of drawers.
Bedtime essentials: soft toy, night light, pyjamas, bedding, maybe a sleeping bag.
School items: a box with schoolbag, exercise books and pencil case, set up on the dining table or in a corner of the living-room.
A “temporary bedroom corner” in another room: fold-out bed, mattress or travel cot depending on age.

Everything else – furniture, bulky toys, off-season clothes – can be removed from the work zone for a few weeks.

Step 3: where to put furniture during the renovation?

Beds, wardrobes, chests of drawers, desks and shelves may need to be dismantled or moved, depending on the work (painting, flooring, electrics).

Another room such as a study, guest room or large living-room can store a few dismantled items.
Hallways and entrances can host small pieces for a short time, as long as circulation remains safe.
Cellar or garage are options only if they are dry, secure and well ventilated, and if furniture is well protected.
A self-storage unit is often the best solution if you lack space or are renovating several rooms.

A 3–4 m² storage unit is usually enough to hold all the furniture from a child’s bedroom plus boxes of toys and books.

Renovating in the Basque Country: why consider self-storage?

In Bayonne, Anglet and Biarritz, many homes are compact and lack dry cellars or attics. As soon as you start renovating, space becomes an issue.

Completely clear the bedroom for painting, flooring, electrics or new furniture.
Avoid overloading the living-room with toys and furniture during the works.
Protect furniture from damp and knocks in a clean, dry, secure environment.
Store “on hold” toys (large garages, play kitchens, playhouses) in a unit and bring them back gradually.
Benefit from flexible contracts lasting a few weeks or months, with no long-term commitment.

Use our storage size calculator and ask our teams in Bayonne and Anglet for help choosing the right unit. If you have practical questions about how self-storage works (duration, conditions, what you can store), you can also check our FAQ.

Packing toys and children’s belongings properly

Children’s belongings are quick to pack… and just as quick to scatter again if you do not plan ahead.

Pack by theme: “soft toys”, “books”, “building sets”, “dress-up”, “board games”, etc.
Use lidded plastic boxes for toys and books, especially in humid regions.
Secure small pieces (LEGO, Playmobil, puzzles) in sturdy boxes then place them together in larger cartons.
Label boxes clearly – words and/or symbols – so your child can help set up the new room.
Protect furniture with moving blankets and bubble wrap on corners, and dismantle where possible.

Involving your child in the project

A bedroom renovation can be unsettling. Involving your child in packing and storing helps turn it into a positive project.

Choose a “treasure box” together with special items that stay close during the renovation.
Use colour codes on boxes so your child can spot theirs easily.
Show them the storage unit if you rent one – seeing where their toys are kept can be reassuring.
Talk about the future room: colours, furniture, how their space will change.
Celebrate the end of the works by unpacking and decorating the new room together.

Case study: renovating a child’s room without filling the living-room

In Anglet, Léa and Thomas want to transform their 5-year-old daughter’s bedroom with new flooring, paint, a bigger bed and custom storage. Their 3-room flat does not have enough space to store all the furniture. They sort belongings with their daughter, keep a “toy kit” and a few clothes in the living-room and rent a 3 m² self-storage unit nearby. They store the bed, chest of drawers, bulky toys and boxes of books there. The bedroom is cleared in one morning, tradespeople work faster and the living-room remains usable. Two weeks later, they bring things back gradually, leaving some bulky toys in the unit for later rotation.

Use bedroom renovation as a chance to sort toys, books and clothes with your child.
Create a simple temporary “life kit” and remove the rest from the work zone.
Protect and store furniture in a dry, secure space, ideally a storage unit if space is tight.
Label and organise boxes by theme to simplify setting up the new room.
Use a self-storage unit in the Basque Country as a temporary solution during renovation projects.

Planning to renovate your child’s bedroom in Bayonne, Anglet or Biarritz and not sure where to put toys, clothes and furniture? By sorting, creating a temporary kit and using a self-storage unit in the Basque Country for everything else, you make renovation easier while keeping family life running smoothly. Estimate your needs, explore our centres and book your storage unit online in just a few clicks.