Have you always just thrown boxes into the attic and then frustratedly tore through them to find what you were looking for? Have things piled up over the years and the clutter is driving you insane? Do you want to maximize the space in your home and utilize every room to your benefit? You’re in luck! Our new weekly Head-to-Toe Home Reno series will give you some small renovation ideas and organization tips for every room of your home. Welcome to the attic edition!

 

Much like a basement, attics can either be finished or unfinished. The first step to any of the following ideas is to decide what the most practical condition is for your lifestyle and budget so you can adapt the renovation and storage designs as needed.

 

Built-Ins: If you are thinking about finishing your attic, or are in the process of doing it, consider built-ins. They add style to practical function. You can store knick-knacks or cherished memories without all those broken and ugly cardboard boxes sitting around. There are many styles of built-ins, like drawers, shelves or cupboards. For some examples, check out this Pinterest page to see the endless possibilities.

 

Guest Space: Create a guest bedroom without losing quality storage space. Add a pull-out bed underneath shelving to maximize storage while giving the attic a multi-functioning purpose. You can even use those shelving units to store pillows and blankets for guests. Here is a site to give you some inspiration for this project. For this example, the homeowner has created a pull-out bed underneath a platform. From there, you can add shelving units with the platform as a base, creating the desired guest and storage space combo.

 

Extend Your Living Space: Use your attic as a living space and turn it into a kid’s playroom, game room, man cave, exercise studio, home theater or anything else you may need! By utilizing the attic space for these rooms, you don’t have to compromise the living space you already have. If you’re not sure how to get started or need design inspiration, browse through Pinterest for some great ideas.

 

Basic Wooden Shelves: Whether your attic is finished or unfinished, building some basic wooden shelves is a great way to easily store and organize your stuff. The best part of building them yourself is you can customize your shelves to the height and depth of the storage containers of your choice. In this article, you can look through some different ideas on how to make practical storage space out of an unfinished attic. For larger shelving needs, check out this article that gives you step by step directions on how to build an inexpensive wooden storage unit.

 

Old Furniture: Got a dresser you don’t want anymore? Move it to the attic to store off-season clothes, small seasonal decorations or kids’ toys. Upcycling projects, like this one, will save you time and money. This idea can also be applied to bookshelves, benches, end tables or any other piece of furniture that can be used for storage purposes.

 

Label Like There’s No Tomorrow: If you’re like me, you throw things in a bin and then never remember where you put anything. Whether you use a label maker or a piece of masking tape and a sharpie, labeling boxes, drawers and bags can save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. You can also take it to the next level and have a tiered labeling system. First, color code boxes by season, year or type of object that is in the container, and then label each box by what is in it specifically. For example, label all bins with Christmas decorations red and then label by object; lights, ornaments, tree skirt, etc. You’ll find whatever it is your looking for in seconds.

 

Levels: Do you find yourself digging for things that you know you just had a month ago? Try organizing your containers on a leveled system. Place things you hardly ever need, like old toys or childhood mementos, either on the floor or up on the top shelf. Reserve eye and mid-level storage space for things you need frequently, like seasonal décor and clothing, extra bedding or games.

 

Come back next week and we’ll explore renovation and storage ideas for the master bedroom. See you then!