There are several areas of our home that tend to be dumping grounds for clutter that we don’t have any other place for. Attics are one such place. They tend to be cramped, cluttered places that are difficult to get to and even more difficult to get things out of. However, by keeping a few basic principles in mind, you can transform your attic space from crowded chaos into a useful storage solution for your home.
Keep it Relevant
Use your attic to store things that are useful rather than things that just don’t have a place. Holiday decorations, empty bins and boxes, and family memorabilia are all fine to keep stored in the attic. You may not use them often, but you use them and don’t want them cluttering up the closets. However, if there are items that your family will likely never use again, such as old baby clothes, toys, or sports equipment it may be time to sell or donate them.
Keep it Separate
Have a method for keeping like items together. Whether you use plastic totes, vacuum bags, cardboard boxes, or file drawers, you should have a way to hold kitchen items apart from basketballs and family photos. Ensure that fragile items are wrapped properly to prevent breakage. Even though these things don’t get moved around a lot, they make get other items placed on top of them. Also, keep groups of containers together in different areas. So all your boxes of holiday decorations in one area, all of your empty storage containers in another area, home furnishings in another, and so on.
Keep it Labelled
You’ll need a method for labeling your storage containers so that things can be found even when you’re not there. If you or another family member is looking for something in the midst of unlabeled containers, it can be a chore. The space will quickly become a chaotic mess as items are opened and shuffled in search of something else.
Keep it Pest Proof
Use storage containers that will help protect your items from pests. Even if rodents aren’t a problem in your area, insects could be. Keep cloth items tightly wrapped in bags or airtight plastic containers to keep out unwanted visitors who can damage them.
Keep it Protected from the Elements
Unless you have the latest and best insulation available, your attic will go through extreme temperature changes throughout the year. In some cases these extreme temperature changes can cause metal to warp, plastic to become brittle and crack, and moisture to form. This deterioration can damage your items beyond repair. Check your roof for leaks regularly and repair them quickly. Inspect packing materials and storage containers regularly for signs of deterioration due to the elements.
The attic of a home can be either a nightmare or a great storage solution depending on how well it is organized. By keeping a few basic principles in mind, you can turn your attic into a functional storage space and free up room in your living areas.
