Storage for Your Attic

by Gillian Markson | More from this Blogger

21 Jun 2006 08:58 PM

If you are lucky enough to have an attic in your home, then chances are that if you are not using it as an extra room, you are using it as storage. Attics are generally very safe and secure places to store just about anything. They are dry, somewhat temperature controlled, and out of the way.

Before you store anything in your attic, make sure that your attic is suitable for the items. Many time, for example, people will store things such as family photo albums in their attics that are not temperature-controlled. In the hot winter, your photos can become glued together or the pages can even melt.

Also, make sure that if you have wool items that they are protected from potential moth infestations. Protecting your belongings before they go into the attic can help to ensure that they have a long life with you.

Here are some attic storage options that may work for you.

Shelving Many people enjoy using shelves in their attics. Shelves are easy way to store away items in a neat way. You can purchase shelves of varying sizes and shapes to suit your needs to a mold. If your roof is slanted, then make sure that your shelves have more depth on the bottom to accommodate the slanted roof. Also, make sure that your shelves have enough space in between the shelves themselves to store large items such as boxes.

Closet poles If you have any clothing items, then make sure that you have a pole to hang them on. By hanging items on poles rather than folding them for storage, you can ensure their long life and form. Make sure to place each item in a plastic bag so that dust and other debris do not infiltrate the fabric. Also, make sure that your attic does not have moths or other animals if you leave the clothes relatively unprotected.

Cedar chests Store items such as wool blankets and quilts in a cedar chest to keep them safe from moths and other small animals. Cedar chests can usually be locked too, if you are worried about the security of valuables. When you remove items from the cedar chest, the will have a warm scent of cedar (as long as you do not also store them with moth balls.) It is recommended that you open the cedar chest at least once a year to make sure that animals and insects have not infiltrated the chest and nibbled at your valuables.

Boxes and Bins When storing large amounts of items, such as holiday decorations, it is generally a good idea to keep them together with boxes and bins. Boxes and bins can be stacked on shelves or on top of one another to create more space (rather than leaving them out on the floor.)

Keep in mind that when boxes and bins are stacked, they can be hard to access, so make sure that you clearly label them so that you do not have to wade through them once stacked.

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