Moving in Ljubljana, where and how to store your belongings during a move

Temporary storage during an in city move

Moving can be stressful, especially in a city where move out and move in dates rarely match. If you are moving to a new flat in Ljubljana but must empty the old one first, you need a temporary place for furniture and boxes. Temporary storage during a move in Ljubljana lets you keep items safe for a week or two, or longer, and avoids chaos in the gap period. You gain time and space, you can clear the old flat on schedule, and your belongings wait in an organised warehouse until you move in. Well planned storage during a move brings peace of mind, since everything is dry, secure, and accessible when you need it.

Typical situations where short term storage helps include bridging the time gap between moving out and moving in, renovating a flat when furniture must be removed for a while, and long distance moves when you have not yet found a suitable home but need a place for your things. In these cases a short term storage rental, for example 1 to 8 weeks, solves many problems. You can place your items in a personal mini storage unit and collect them when you are ready to move in, without filling a relative’s hallway or stacking boxes around a temporary apartment.

Estimating volume, how much space will your belongings take

The first step in organising a move and storage is to estimate how much you own. This matters for choosing the right vehicle and for picking the right storage unit size. Make a room by room list, for example how many boxes from the bedroom, which furniture from the living room, which appliances from the kitchen. This makes it easier to calculate total volume. Most moving companies use cubic metres, m³, to measure move size.

As a rough guide, about 8 standard moving boxes, around 50 × 50 × 50 cm, fill 1 m³. If you expect about 20 boxes with personal items, they will take roughly 2.5 m³. Add larger furniture and appliances. For example, a typical two seater or small sofa can take about 2 m³, a three seater around 2.5 m³. A double bed, mattress and frame, can add 2 to 3 m³. A larger wardrobe is about 1 to 2 m³, depending on dimensions and whether it is disassembled. A mid size fridge is around 1.2 m³, a washing machine a little under 1 m³. It adds up quickly, so estimate the total volume in advance to know which storage unit to rent and how big a transport you need to organise.

Tip, counting boxes without overloading them - Do not pack boxes too heavy. Use more small or medium boxes instead, they are easier to handle. Put heavier items, books, documents, dishes, in smaller boxes. Put lighter items, clothes, bedding, in larger ones. This also makes volume estimation easier, boxes of similar size stack better and you can measure how much space they take together

Packing and materials, room by room preparation and item protection

Once you know what you will store, it is time for systematic packing. Pack by rooms or groups, this makes tracking easier. Label every box with contents and target room, for example kitchen, plates and glasses, living room, books. This way you will find the right box quickly when unpacking or when you need something from storage. Use sturdy cardboard moving boxes. If you do not have enough, buy them or ask local shops. Besides boxes, prepare moving supplies, markers for labels, strong tape to seal boxes, protective wrap, bubble wrap or foam for fragile items, and stretch wrap or blankets for larger furniture pieces.

Be extra careful with fragile items. Wrap glasses, plates, porcelain, lamps and other delicate objects so they do not get damaged during transport or storage. You can use bubble wrap, packing paper or foam. An eco friendly option is to use what you already have, clothes, towels and other textiles. Clothes work well as a bubble wrap substitute, shirts, T shirts or towels can wrap plates and glasses, bedding or blankets can protect a TV or monitors. This double purpose packing, using clothes as protection, has two benefits, you save on packaging and you pack clothes at the same time. Once fragile items are wrapped, fill empty spaces in the box with paper, foam or soft material so things do not move. Clearly mark each box with fragile items with “Fragile”, so you know to handle it with care.

Furniture and larger itemsDisassemble when possible if it saves volume or makes carrying easier. Remove legs from tables and sofas, take shelves out of wardrobes, disassemble the bed frame. Put screws and small parts in a bag and tape it to the furniture or label it clearly, so nothing gets lost when you reassemble. Protect edges with cardboard corner guards or bubble wrap. Wrap sensitive surfaces, for example a wooden table or a TV screen, in a soft blanket or foam wrap to prevent scratches. For upholstered furniture, sofas and mattresses, use protective covers or stretch wrap to guard against dirt and moisture, but make sure the material can breathe. Do not wrap furniture too tightly in regular plastic wrap, trapped moisture can cause condensation or mold during storage. Use dedicated furniture covers or moving blankets, then a loose plastic layer on top as dust protection. Everything that goes into storage must be clean and dry, dirt can cause stains over time and attract pests, moisture can lead to mold. Wipe furniture before storage, dry textiles thoroughly, shake out and dry rugs, so you do not pack moisture into the unit.

White goods and electronics, special preparationFridges and freezers need extra steps. Switch them off at least 24 hours in advance, empty and defrost them completely. Place trays for meltwater and wipe the interior dry. Keep the door slightly open during storage, you can wedge it with folded cardboard, to allow airflow, this prevents odors and mold. For a washing machine, unplug it and drain water from the drum and hoses. Lock the drum with transport bolts, if you do not have them, at least pad the drum with soft material, so it does not swing and damage the suspension. Also drain any remaining water from a dishwasher. If you store a TV or computer monitor, wrap it in foam or a blanket and use the original box if available. Always add extra impact protection for electronics. Documents, valuables and personal items of higher value, jewelry, important papers, are best kept separately and with you, not in storage, or make sure they are insured separately.

Transport logistics, one, two, or more trips

Once everything is packed, the next question is how to transport it to storage and later to the new place. If you have your own vehicle, estimate how much fits in one round trip. A small car will take roughly one cubic metre of items, a few boxes and small stuff, so you may need several trips. Moving with a personal car makes sense only for very small moves, a student room or a studio with little furniture, or when you have several days and a short distance. For a one bedroom or two bedroom flat, renting a van is usually the best choice. Moving vans range from about 5 m³ up to 12 to 15 m³, which is enough to move everything from a smaller flat in one or two trips. If you have a lot of furniture, a larger apartment or a house, consider a small truck, for example 20 m³, which lets you complete the move in one trip. The advantage of a single larger transport is that you save time and fuel, since there are no repeated runs.

When planning transport, align the timeline, when you must leave the old flat and when you can bring items into the new one. The gap in between determines how long your things will sit in storage. If possible, organise transport so that you deliver everything to storage at once. Professional storage providers, such as mojBOX, sometimes offer a free first drop off to storage with a van, which you can use to move furniture and boxes in one step. If you cannot do it in one trip, make a plan, first take larger and heavier items, furniture and appliances, then take the remaining boxes and small items in the second run. Load bigger pieces first, then stack boxes around them, this uses space efficiently. Always secure heavy items well, so they do not shift and get damaged while driving. If there are multiple trips, load essentials for immediate use so they are accessible at the first stop, or keep them with you outside storage if you will need them soon. Ask about access at the storage site, does the facility have a ramp, an elevator, enough space to park a van. Modern urban storage sites are designed for easy vehicle access and quick unloading, which helps a lot.

If you do not have a vehicle or the move is larger, you can hire a moving company. They provide a van or truck and a team that can also help carry and load heavy items. Another benefit is their experience with load securing. Transport insurance is usually included, so in the event of an accident during transport your belongings are not solely your responsibility. Whatever transport you choose, plan logistics in advance, book the vehicle or crew for the right date, arrange parking permits if needed, in the centre of Ljubljana this can be useful, and inform neighbours about potential elevator or stair use, so the move goes as smoothly as possible.

Storage security, access, monitoring, and insurance

When you entrust your personal belongings to temporary storage, you want to be sure they are safe. When choosing a storage facility in Ljubljana for the time of your move, check that it offers proper security. Ideally it is a protected site with an intruder alarm and 24,7 video surveillance. Controlled access means only you, or people you authorise in writing, can reach your unit during agreed hours, and the provider logs every entry. This protects your items from unauthorised access. Also check the access schedule. Some providers allow visits to the unit by prior notice outside regular hours, which is convenient if you urgently need something from a box. With mojBOX you typically have one free access per month, additional visits by arrangement, which is usually more than enough during a move.

Besides security, consider environmental conditions. The space should be dry, tidy, and protected from moisture. Damp cellars without temperature control are not suitable for longer storage of furniture. Wood can swell or get moldy, electronics can corrode. Choose a facility that offers dry and ventilated units. If you are storing sensitive items for longer, consider climate controlled space. In Ljubljana this may not always be available for short term rentals, but it is important that the space is not exposed to extreme temperature swings and that there are no leaks. You can add moisture protection by avoiding direct contact with the floor in traditional storage, for example garage style units. Put furniture on a pallet or cardboard so it is slightly raised. In mojBOX this is not necessary, since storage uses special crates on racks, not on the floor.

Insurance is another consideration. Check whether the storage provider includes any content insurance. Some companies include basic coverage for fire or flooding. In other cases you need to arrange cover for high value items yourself, through your insurer. It is essential not to store prohibited or hazardous materials. Most providers, and the law, prohibit storing flammable liquids, gases, explosives, toxic chemicals, and similar items. You also must not store perishable foods or anything that could attract pests. In practice this means no food in boxes, no plants, and no wet or dirty clothes, only dry, clean, non perishable items. This keeps your property in the same condition as at drop off.

Finally, for safety and organisation, take time to keep records. Create an inventory list of boxes and contents, you can also photograph higher value items before storage. This list will help you find things faster and will be useful if you ever need to make an insurance claim. For most people, storage during a move goes smoothly, especially when they choose a trusted personal storage provider with proper security. There are several options in Ljubljana. For example mojBOX in BTC offers a secure facility with alarms and cameras, quick access from the ring road, and transparent rental prices, starting at €9.99 per month. With the right provider you can sleep soundly, your belongings will stay safe until moving day in your new home.

Choosing the right storage size, mini calculator

How much space do you need for temporary storage? It depends on the volume of your belongings. In Ljubljana, mojBOX offers two core container sizes, storage units, the standard mojBOX, internal size about 120 × 80 × 80 cm, roughly 0.8 m³, and the larger mojBOX+, 120 × 80 × 160 cm, about 1.5 m³. These units work like big crates where you place your boxes and smaller furniture. If you have more items, you can rent multiple units. The provider can group several units for you. Below is an indicative table to help you estimate the right combination by total volume.

Move size, estimate	Recommended storage	Approx monthly cost
Small volume up to ~1 m³, for example up to 8 boxes or small items	Rent 1× mojBOX, ≈0.8 m³	€24.99 per month
Medium volume up to ~1.5 m³, for example ~12 boxes or some furniture	Rent 1× mojBOX+, ≈1.5 m³	€34.99 per month
Larger volume up to ~3 m³, for example ~20 boxes or boxes plus small furniture	Rent 2× mojBOX+, ≈3 m³	~€69.98 per month
Big volume up to ~6 m³, for example 20 boxes plus a sofa, a bed, a wardrobe	Rent 4× mojBOX+, ≈6 m³	~€139.96 per month

Note, prices are indicative, monthly rental, VAT included. If you need storage for a shorter period, for example one month or less, check the minimum billing period. At mojBOX the rental is usually monthly. Even if you need your things back after three weeks, a one month rental solves the gap. The volume estimates above assume that furniture is disassembled and packed as compactly as possible. Example from practice, if you move a one bedroom flat with about 20 boxes and a few larger pieces, for example a sofa, a double bed, a wardrobe, you will need roughly 5 to 6 m³, which equals about four larger mojBOX+ units. For smaller moves, for example a studio with 10 boxes and no large wardrobes, you may need only 1 to 2 m³, so one to two standard units.

Conclusion, a calm move with interim storage

Temporary storage during a move in Ljubljana is the simplest way to turn moving chaos into a manageable process. Instead of rushing between landlords or asking friends for a garage, you place your things in a secure facility and buy extra time for the move. Once furniture and boxes are safe, you can prepare the new flat step by step, without stress. A good moving plan with interim storage means you can first empty the old home, then bring items to the new one when it is ready. Storage keeps your home from being overrun with boxes, you get the freedom to move in stages, not all at once.

At the end of the day, the goal is a calm move. Follow practical tips, pack by rooms, protect furniture, choose the correct storage size, plan safe transport. Your move will be much easier. Ljubljana providers, such as mojBOX, offer modern, secure, and affordable mini storage, a great solution for individuals and families during a move. When you face a pile of boxes and furniture with a time gap before the new home, remember that temporary storage can solve the problem. Your belongings will wait safely, and you can complete the move in an organised, low stress way. Good luck with your move.