Kitchen renovation: where to store dishes and appliances?
Kitchen under renovation, cupboards emptied, appliances disconnected… Learn where and how to store your dishes and appliances during the works with the help of self-storage near the BAB.
New worktop, replacement units, electrician, plumber… A kitchen renovation quickly turns into a major project. Drawers are emptied, appliances disconnected, dust everywhere – and yet you still need to cook a little and live comfortably. In the BAB area, where cupboards and storage are limited, the big question soon becomes: where can you put all those plates, pans and appliances during the works?
Why kitchen renovation takes over the whole flat
The kitchen concentrates a lot of items in a very small space: everyday dishes, special-occasion tableware, pots and pans, gadgets, large appliances, pantry… As soon as you empty the cupboards for the works, everything has to be moved somewhere else.
- Boxes of glassware and plates pile up in the living-room, hallway or spare room.
- Dismantled units take up floor space and make it harder for tradespeople to move around.
- Dust from sanding or drilling settles on appliances left in the room.
- Improvised “mini kitchens” pop up in different corners of the flat and you no longer know where anything is.
- The home becomes less pleasant to live in, especially if the renovation lasts several weeks.
Without a temporary storage solution, a kitchen renovation ends up disrupting the whole home. The idea is to remove from the living space everything that is not strictly necessary for day-to-day cooking.
A self-storage unit: your kitchen “outside the home”
Renting a self-storage unit for the duration of the works allows you to create a small “off-site kitchen”. You can move out your bulky tableware, rarely used gadgets and even dismantled units, and keep only a minimalist kit at home.
In a clean, dry and secure building, your boxes are protected from dust, knocks and humidity. From Bayonne, Anglet or the surrounding towns, a unit close to home – for example in our Bayonne Les Arènes centre – remains easily accessible if you need to pick up an extra dish or appliance during the works.
- You fully clear the kitchen so tradespeople can work faster and more safely.
- You keep your living-room and bedrooms usable, without piles of boxes everywhere.
- Your dishes and appliances are protected from dust, paint and accidental bumps.
- You can extend or shorten the rental period depending on how the project progresses.
- A few square metres are usually enough to store a complete kitchen if units are dismantled.
Real-life example: a renovation without losing the living-room
In Bayonne, a couple renovating their open-plan kitchen decided to rent a 3 m² storage unit for six weeks. They stored around twenty boxes of dishes, their weekend appliances (stand mixer, raclette set, plancha) and a dismantled sideboard. At home, they kept only a very small “camping kitchen” with a few plates, glasses and pans. The result: a clear workspace for tradespeople, no boxes in the living-room and a flat that remained pleasant to live in throughout the renovation.
Preparing dishes and appliances before storing them
A bit of preparation before you load the unit will save breakages and make re-installing the kitchen much easier.
- Put together a survival kit with just enough dishes and utensils for a few weeks of simple cooking.
- Use strong boxes for fragile items, with bubble wrap, tissue paper or tea towels between plates and bowls.
- Avoid very heavy boxes: several small boxes are easier to carry up and down stairs.
- Prepare small appliances: empty tanks, clean them, wrap cables and protect corners and controls.
- Get large appliances ready: defrost fridges and freezers, let them dry completely and secure the doors.
- Label boxes clearly (for example “Fragile dishes”, “Small appliances”, “Dry food”) so that you know what to bring back first.
Organising your storage unit for easy access
A well-organised storage unit lets you retrieve a dish or gadget without unpacking everything.
- Place at the back what you will only use when the kitchen is finished (party tableware, seasonal appliances).
- Keep at the front one or two “buffer” boxes in case the works take longer than expected.
- Leave a central aisle so you can reach any box without having to empty the unit.
- Group boxes by category (dishes, small appliances, large appliances, pantry items) and note the layout on your phone.
- Choose the right size of unit using our volume calculator: for a typical kitchen, a few well-packed square metres are enough.
More tips for stress-free home renovation
- Plan your storage solution before work starts so you don’t have to move boxes at the last minute.
- Clear the kitchen properly to make life easier for tradespeople and reduce dust on your belongings.
- Choose a unit with easy access from Bayonne, Anglet or nearby towns to simplify trips back and forth.
- Take advantage of flexible monthly rental so your belongings stay safe until the project is really finished.
- Ask our local team to help you choose the right volume for your kitchen.
A kitchen renovation doesn’t have to mean chaos at home. With some sorting, good preparation and a nearby storage unit in the BAB area, you can protect your dishes and appliances while keeping a comfortable living space. You can book a unit online in just a few clicks and start your project with peace of mind.