Did you know that there are over 300,000 items in the average home? That’s a lot of stuff that’s cluttering up your space. If you’re like many people, you’re stacking it all in your garage or loft. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Well, that’s right until you need to start finding some of those things. Then, you’re battling piles of clutter and finding it impossible to get to the things that you’re looking for!
It’s time for some serious loft organization. We’re here to talk about how to turn your loft into a neat and tidy storage solution. Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
1. Start By Decluttering
This is going to be the most annoying part of organizing your loft space, but it’s a must-do, especially if you barely have room to breathe when you’re up there. Spring cleaning might be a few months in the past, but it’s decluttering time.
Decluttering your loft isn’t going to be easy. After all, your loft is where you’ve been putting all of the things that were cluttering up the rest of your house!
If possible, try to get some help with this. Friends and family members will be great resources while you’re trying to declutter everything. You’ll be able to move faster and you’ll be surrounded by people who might not have the same sentimental attachment to things that you do (meaning they’ll be better at throwing things away).
Keep 5 bags or boxes with you. Label them:
- Keep
- Throw away
- Donate
- Repurpose
- Wrong room
Larger objects may not be able to fit in the boxes, but you can set them alongside them.
Every time you pick up an object, determine which box or bag it belongs in. If you know you need it, it goes in the “keep” box. If you no longer need it, it goes in the “throw away” box if it’s in bad condition or the “donate” box if it’s in good condition.
The “repurpose” box is for things that might be able to be used as rags or craft supplies (or similar) and the “wrong room” box is for things that actually belong elsewhere.
This should help you reduce the mass amount of “stuff” that you have in the loft.
2. Consider What You Need to Store
Once you have everything sorted out, take a look at the “keep” and “repurpose” boxes (or bags) and determine if all of those things actually need to go into storage. Not everything needs to be in a storage loft, especially if you’re short on room.
Things that should go in storage lofts include (among other things):
- Holiday decorations
- Luggage
- Sports items that aren’t in use
- Memory boxes (or other sentimental items)
There are other things that might make sense depending on your situation. For example, you may keep baby clothes or children’s clothes if you know that you plan on having another baby or if you know that a grandchild is on the way.
Other objects might be better off elsewhere, such as seasonal clothes (which you can create storage for in bedrooms), books, and tools (among other things).
If something can find another home elsewhere in your house, move it. You could even consider renting a storage unit for items that are too large, but that you’re also not ready to get rid of (like furniture or large Christmas decorations).
3. Make a Plan
Now your space is clean and tidy. Start making a plan for where things are going to go. You want to include room to walk in this plan because having a storage loft isn’t helpful if you’re not able to navigate it.
Make sure that you plan for your loft ladder installation (if necessary) and clear out the space around it. You need that area to be clear if you want it to be safe.
Take note of the amount of space that you have to work with. Measure your space and do a quick sketch of what you want the final product to look like. This will make things easier when you’re buying supplies for your storage space.
4. Invest in Stackable Storage Containers
This is one of the best things that you can do when you only have a small amount of space for storage. Stackable storage containers are a game-changer.
Not only will your loft space look uniform and neat, but you won’t have to deal with any messy and broken cardboard boxes. You’ll be able to see where everything is all at once.
Bonus suggestion: get shelves that can hold your storage containers if you have room to do so (as an alternative to stacking). This way you can pull out a container when you need it at a moment’s notice.
This is also a great way to use vertical space. When you’re only using the floor, you’re going to end up with a mess. Shelves bring your storage up, make it easier to find, and make your loft safer to navigate.
5. Label Everything
It’s time to buy a label-maker. Before you know it, you’ll be labeling everything just for fun around your entire house. Right now, however, you’re using it for your storage containers.
Try to think about how you’ll remember things best. Some people prefer to add dates to their labels while others just want to label the contents of the boxes.
Before you label, it’s important that all of your boxes only contain one category of contents. It wouldn’t make sense to label your “Christmas decorations” box if it also contains winter clothes or beach toys, for example.
Bonus tip: Consider stacking the boxes in alphabetical order so you always know where everything is without having to search. This will take more time, but it will make your life far easier in the long run.
It’s Time for Serious Loft Organization
With all of these tips in mind, it’s time to dive right into your loft organization project. We know it looks overwhelming, but take a deep breath, grab a few boxes and bags, and get to work! You’ll have a clean and organized loft in no time.
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