how to make the most of your loft/attic space.
Loft spaces are such a valuable storage addition to any home but can often be under utilised. In this blog I will share my top tips for an organised loft/attic space, giving you storage and easy access to your belongings.
Over the years we accumulate items that we may want to keep, so up it goes.
Out of sight out of mind.
Imagine a space that doesn't fill you with dread on having to go and get something and a home not cluttered with duplicate purchases because you forgot what you had up in the loft.
And no more moving home and saying "those boxes have been up there still packed since we came here" (I hear that one alot when I help my clients move home).
So here are my top tips for an organised loft space...
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1: Access
Ensure you have a safe and functional ladder. If you have to go outside, carry a ladder up your stairs and then balance precariously to open the hatch to enter your loft, chances are you are not going to use it much and therefore it won't be a functional space.
Having a ladder that you can pull down or opens with a button makes it much easier to get to whenever you want access.
2: Boarding
Ensuring you have the correct insulation for your home, having your loft or attic space boarded as much as possible, gives you much more space without any walking on beams and risking your foot coming through the ceiling. That would however have erased one of my favourite memories of my late father. When I was a young girl I walked up the stairs to see his foot through the ceiling and heard a few swear words coming from the attic. He then told me not to tell my mother. I felt his foot through the ceiling probably meant she would see without me having to tell her!
There are numerous companies who will be advertising near you who can install boarding and an easy access ladder.
3: Light
Having good lighting makes it a less scary and unsafe place and means you can easily see what you have stored up there. LED bulbs will help light the area and the bulbs will not get hot.
If ever you are replacing/repairing your roof and budget and planning permissions allow, I would highly recommend installing a Velux window. We did this a few years ago and the light is wonderful. Plus when the weather is very hot, we can open the loft hatch and open the Velux window so the hot air rises and helps keeps our home cooler.
4: Declutter
Now I am not going to pretend that this isn't the hard bit. So much can be up in your loft that you haven't seen for years.
Are you holding onto adult children items as they don't have the space? (more on that shortly).
Unless you have lots of help and a whole day/days to clear, then I suggest decluttering little and often. Get some items down and empty out and sort. Please get help getting items down so you don't do this alone or hurt yourself.
Ask yourself:
Do I need to keep this?
Why am I holding onto this?
What is it?
Will I need this in the future?
Put like with like so you can actually see what you have.
Do you need 8 suitcases?
Camping equipment if you no longer camp?
An old dinner service?
Children's artwork and school books from a decade or more ago?
Inherited items being stored out of guilt?
I am not here to tell you to get rid of everything. I would however question how much is being kept "just in case" or because family members want you to store it for them.
5: Have an exit plan for unwanted items
This is often the hardest part, you may make a quick decision that you don't want to keep something, but then it has to leave the house. My Useful Info page is full of information on where items can be sold or donated.
Check out my blog on how I made £600 decluttering as motivation to sell your newly unwanted items.
On the subject of adult children's belongings you may be storing because they don't have the time or room to go through - I have heard a few different suggestions in my career as a professional organiser on how to deal with this, and also with my own son as we are clearing our attic due to an imminent downsizing home move.
You have 6 weeks to come and take what you want or we will throw it (my parents!)
Please come and sort as we are moving and cannot take it all, if not, storage will be £** per week which you will need to pay (my son came the next week!)
I will store 50% for you so come home next month to decide what 50% you want to keep (client of mine to her adult children.)
This can be a contentious topic so keep if you have room and are happy to, but maybe some of the suggestions above may help start a conversation.
6: Storage
Now you have decluttered and are only keeping what you want and need, it is time to organise.
I absolutely love Really Useful Storage Boxes. They are stackable, clear and highly durable. Putting like for like items in them means you can see what is contained, make use of height by stacking them and they won't break. They also keep everything dust and damage free.
Vacuum storage bags are brilliant for duvets, pillows and winter coats. Top tip is to label the seal once you have finished the vacuum part so you can easily read what is inside. A tumble dryer sheet within also helps keep the contents smelling fresh for next season.
Seasonal swapping of clothes frees up space in your wardrobe so using your loft to store out of season clothes is a great idea. Clothes bags will keep them crease free and protected. As with vacuum storage bags, store with a tumble dryer sheet to keep them smelling fresh.
Label as much as you can. Even with clear crates and vacuum storage bags, it saves time by reading a label so you know exactly what is inside.
7: Organise the zones
Now that you are only storing what you want to keep having decluttered, it is time to put your belongings back in their storage boxes or bags.
Keep what you use the most closest to the hatch for easy access. For us that is luggage and travel items.
Christmas decorations will only be used once a year so they can go into a corner.
Seasonal clothes can be in one area with sentimental items in another zone so you know where everything is should you need access or want to add an item to it.
Ensure all labels are clearly visible and then step back (don't fall down the ladder) and admire your organised loft.
In conclusion: An organised and decluttered loft space helps to make your home work for you and not against you. Knowing what you are storing and where it is, having easy and safe access means it is an extension of your home, valuable storage and will add value in the future when you sell.
I hope you liked this blog - please let me know and share with anyone you think may enjoy it 💞
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