Wish you could utilize all that extra space in your attic to store rarely used items, but aren’t sure how to? Here are some great attic storage ideas I’ve found.  Soon, all those Christmas decorations, seasonal sports equipment, and other odds and ends will be organized neatly for easy access.

The attic is a great place to store things that aren’t often used but you still want to keep.  You know, things like those boxes of Christmas ornaments, your pool toys in winter, and boxes of winter gear in summer. The attic is a great untapped storage place.

 Now, keep in mind that, unlike basements that are damp, attics tend to be very dry. And, this is a no-brainer, but even with lots of insulation, they tend to get warmer than the rest of the house.  So, take it from me, do not store your box of Christmas candles in your attic if you live in Florida…  Just sayin’.

Here are the best ways to store those Christmas items!

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Use the correct storage containers for attic storage.

Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT store your items in cardboard boxes! It is way too easy for them to get damaged.

Invest in sealable plastic storage containers (preferably the clear kind so you can see what is in each bin). This will keep out bugs, rodents, water (if you ever have a roof leak), and dust much better than cardboard boxes.  

And, please, write what is in each box on an index card in Sharpie and then use clear packing tape to attach it to the box, especially if you have opaque bins.  That way you can see at a glance what each box contains.  Trust me, it is worth it to take a few extra minutes NOW before you put items in the attic to do this.

By the way, as a professional organizer, I also highly recommend using clear containers in your pantry! Not only does it make it easy to see everything, but it also keeps those pesky pests out, too!

See how here:

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Attic storage ideas: Create a stable floor between the rafters.

It is really easy to lay down sheets of plywood between the rafters.  You definitely do not want to step through your ceiling, and adding the flooring may be all the storage area you need.

Here is an example for just a small space between rafters. But you can still store a lot of bins, even in this little space!

Here is a much larger space.  Ooh, think of all the possibilities…

Second, make it easy to get your heavy items into the attic.

If you have a drop-down stair that folds into the ceiling, you can create a simple pulley system to hoist those heavy, awkward boxes easily into the attic instead of trying to go up the ladder while carrying them.

Here are the directions to make one.

Attic storage ideas: Shelving.

There are lots of ways to add shelving and it all depends on the amount of space you have to work with and the pitch and angle of your rafters and roof.  If you are lucky enough to have plenty of standing room, you can simply bring up or build stand-alone shelving.

Stand-alone shelving.

Here is store-bought plastic shelving sturdy enough to store plastic bins. And I love the fact that are using clear containers and labels. This is the ideal way to use storage containers!

Calling all crafters!

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I get it. You may already have good storage containers that are opaque and don’t want to invest in clear ones at the moment. That’s okay.

But, you really must take the time to slap a label on your containers! Attics can get brutally hot in the summer. Do you really want to spend extra time up there peeking in every box trying to find the one box you need?

Of course not!

So even though I LOVE the design of this DIY shelving (Here are the directions to make it), I am NOT a fan of these blank, naked containers!

Use good tape and write what’s in the box on it with a Sharpie, or attach a clear sheet protector to each box. Simply write down everything in the box on a piece of paper and stick it in the protector.

Here is another set of DIY shelving you can make from PVC pipe. Here are the directions. (And, look, they have labeled the containers!!!!)

Between the rafters shelving.

Building the shelves right in between the rafters is a great way to add storage.  You can make individual shelves in between each rafter, like this:

Or you can build a large single shelf that is braced on the rafters instead. This is such a great way to use all the space because attics are full of weirdly-shaped areas!

You can also build hanging boxes to store items in between the rafters, like this.  Here are the directions to make this.

Or these hangers you attach right to the rafters to store bins. Love it! Here are the directions.

Like these attic storage ideas?

No matter which storage ways you choose, it is so smart to use your attic space, especially for those seasonal items that tend to clutter up the garage the rest of the year!

I hope you found some great attic storage ideas here. Since you’ll be getting all of that stuff out of the garage, here are some ways to find some extra storage in forgotten areas of your garage, too!

What kinds of things will you (or do you) store in your attic?

Happy organizing!

~ Pam