Tired of all the clutter in your life? So is your brain! Studies show that clutter can affect our mental health by causing a suffocating feeling in our heads. But where do you put all of your stuff?
One great solution is any attic space you may have in your home. Most people either don’t use their attics for storage, or they don’t use the space to its fullest potential.
Regardless of which category you fall under in this article, we’ll give you some helpful advice on how to maximize your attic storage. Let’s get started!
Assess the Attic Storage and Calculate How Much Stuff You Can Fit
Before you begin storing things in your attic your first need to make sure that you have a viable space.
This doesn’t just involve figuring out how many things you can fit in the attic—you must first make sure that the boxes, clothing, and furniture that your store will be safe.
Once you figure out what will be safe in the space, then you can calculate how much will fit. Here are three things you should consider before moving anything.
1. Make Sure Your Attic is Rain-Proof
Older roofs and attics are much more prone to leaking than new roofs, but you should always check regardless. There are obvious signs of a leaky roof – water damage, stains, and heavy condensation on the windows.
However, there are also less obvious signs you should consider. For example, make sure that bathroom fans don’t lead to the attic as these features pump moisture into the room.
2. Check the Floor Framing
The next thing you should do is figure out how strong your attic floors are. Most attics use joist systems with floorboards. While these joists are strong enough to support some boxes and a person or two, we don’t recommend storing heavy furniture on them.
However, it ultimately depends on the thickness of the joists. If you find boards in your attic that are a 2 x 8 size or larger, then it should be safe to store a couch or similar furniture in the room.
3. Make Sure You Factor in the Temperature
It’s important to remember that many attics are not temperature controlled like the rest of the house. This means that they get sweltering hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter. As such, you should make sure you aren’t storing anything that becomes damaged in these fluctuating temperatures.
Things like old furniture, documents, and electronics can be affected by hot and cold weather. If you need storage space for these temperature-sensitive objects, then we recommend investing in a climate-controlled attic space.
Organize Your Things and Label All the Boxes
The key to utilizing all your closet space is proper organization. Unfortunately, this quality doesn’t always come naturally for some people. However, it’s never too late to start!
Start by putting your storage belongings into piles of categories that can be stored. For example, you might store Christmas decorations in one pile, while another one might contain clothes organized by seasons.
Then put these things into boxes and label the outside so you don’t forget what’s inside. Labels like ‘springs clothes’ or ‘old records’ can help you find what you’re looking for much easier than a bunch of unmarked boxes.
Store Your Things in See-Through Bins
Cardboard boxes are great for moving things and storing certain things, but they do come with a major flaw – you can’t see what’s inside!
If you have multiple objects in a cardboard box, then you will need to open it up and dig around to see what’s inside. One solution is clear, see-through plastic bins.
These transparent products give you a quick visual look at what’s in the bin so you don’t need to waste time searching. If you have lots of miscellaneous things in your boxes, then this is a great fix.
Utilize the Slanted Space of Your Access
Most attics will have limited storage space toward the corners of the room due to the slanted nature of the roof. As a result, items will often get pushed toward the center of the room which takes up space needed for bigger objects.
The answer to this problem is utilizing the slanted space in your attic. One way you can do this is by stacking smaller boxes in this unused space. Alternatively, you can install a shelving system to fit larger boxes and bins.
Or, you can get creative and add a rod for hanging storage clothing. This process will free up the center of your attic for walking or big objects like Christmas trees.
Organize Your Boxes According to Season
Even properly labeled boxes won’t help an attic space with no sections – without it, the attic would just be a jumble of cardboard boxes. We recommended organizing your boxes by their specific uses – decorations in one section, clothes in another.
You can also get creative and section off different areas for different seasons. This is a great idea for people with a lot of cold-weather clothes and holiday decorations because it allows you to easily access them when the time comes.
Choose the Right Ladder for Carrying Up Boxes
Getting all of your boxes up into the attic is no easy task if your only entrance is an old, unstable ladder. Luckily, there are a variety of products out there that can hold a lot of weight while still retracting after use.
You can even find certain loft ladders with pulley systems for hoisting up cardboard boxes. Just make sure you follow a good guide so you pick the right one for your home.
Improve Your Mental Health By Decluttering
I hope this article helped spark some new ideas on how to maximize the space in your attic storage project.
Remember that decluttering your living space doesn’t just open up rooms and closets in your house – it can improve both your physical and mental health. As such, it’s always worth it to give organizing show. Now go and get started with you attic storage today!
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