Over recent years, Montreal has been among the more affordable Canadian cities to live, especially when compared with other metropolitan hubs. However, in the past decade, the market has surged and prices have even exceeded those of Vancouver and Montreal. It presents significant challenges for millennials trying to make apartment living work with growing families. This is why they are using self storage to make decluttering into an art form.
A range of storage units in Montreal
As the condos and apartment blocks continue to rise across the Canadian landscape, so does the ever-increasing choice of storage units in Montreal. One of the biggest changes is that storage facilities are no longer exclusively in commercial districts such as downtown or Lachine. You will also find them in popular residential areas including Longueuil, St Hubert and Candiac.This is core to the 21st century millennial lifestyle in Montreal. While past generations had the luxury of owning larger homes with basements, attics and outbuildings for home storage, 70 percent of today’s Montreal residents are renters and about half of them live in apartments.
But having a storage unit in close proximity is not just about having somewhere to hoard spare furniture and other unused belongings that you do not look at from one year to the next. A storage unit provides for flexible living in terms of seasonal rotation of clothes and other items such as storing snow tires in summer and camping equipment in winter. It can also be a boon for millennials who combine gig work with raising a growing family.
Charming but challenging Ville Marie
With its low crime rate, accessible public transport network, family-centric amenities and generous parental leave benefits, Montreal is one of the top cities in Canada for raising a family. Known as Ville Marie to them locals, the strong French heritage and bilingual culture give Montreal a unique vibe that sets it apart from other Canadian cities. It also has a fabulous choice of places to live, ranging from quirky period homes in Old Longueuil to the Le SE7T condo development in Griffintown. As recently as 10 years ago, these properties were also highly affordable, and a family home could be purchased for about $300,000. However, Montreal’s economic and cultural attractions have proved irresistible to both investors and homebuyers, and real estate prices are rapidly catching up with the rest.For Montreal millennials with growing families, that presents a challenge. Upscaling is likely to be unaffordable, so the key to remaining in the city they love is to make better use of the space they have. That means cutting out the clutter and this in turn is what is driving so many young Montrealers to incorporate self storage into their everyday living arrangements.
Uncluttered harmony
Living without clutter does not mean a life spent in stark, sterile surroundings. On the contrary, when you have space to breathe, you can emphasize the things that matter and let your personality and values show through in your living space. Do it right, and decluttering truly becomes an art form.For example, an apartment might be furnished with clean and fuss-free furnishings from Ikea or with carefully curated shabby chic vintage pieces from thrift stores. Or best of all, with a subtle blend of both that can combine with home made accessories to create something that is truly unique.
Making smart use of your storage facility also means you can take seasonal rotation to the next level throughout your home. Throws and cushions in dark colors are perfect for nesting up in winter, but they can be packed away each spring to make way for lightweight fabrics and linens in pastel shades. It’s just one example that can be replicated across the home. And when you’re clutter-free, it can be achieved in a matter of minutes.
.jpg)