12 Hacks to Turn Your Unfinished Attic Into an Organized Haven
Transform your go-to dumping ground into a clutter-free zone.
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The fake Christmas tree, old holiday decorations, and out-of-season clothes all have one thing in common: They live in your unfinished attic. Though tackling your upstairs clutter may seem like only a task Marie Kondo herself can handle, these simple tips and tricks will have you organized in no time.
Hang Your Wreaths
It's so fun having a wreath for each holiday and season — Christmas, Easter, Halloween, you name it! Keep them nice and fluffy by hanging them up on a tension rod.
Use Transparent Bins
Gilat Tunit, a professional organizer for Project Neat, stacked clear bins on plastic shelves so her client could easily see what's inside. No more hunting for that holiday tablecloth.
These bins make it easy to find what you're looking for. And they're stackable!
Conquer Paper Clutter With Labeled Boxes
Project Neat also gave each kid in this family their own mini bin to tackle paper clutter. Keep favorite artwork, birthday cards, and awesome essays inside and off their desks.
Label everything! Stick one of these on the side of each bin with a detailed list of what's inside.
Create a Smart Stair System
Half of the hassle with attics is trying to heave all of your boxes up into the cramped quarters — but this genius DIY makes heavy lifting so much easier. We recommend installing this before you hurt your back.
Hang a Rod for Clothing Spillover
If you've got a slanted ceiling or roof line, shelves can be tough. Add a rod instead. This is especially handy for puffy winter jackets that seem to take up half of the coat closet.
Make Your Wall Work Harder
Instead of piling all of your boxes in the middle, use the space between your trusses. Then, the remaining floor space can hold big ticket items, like that Christmas tree you refuse to take apart.
Add Some Ceiling Drawers
Put these boxes-on-hinges in the space between your rafters to store your less-used items. This would also be an excellent spot to hide Christmas and birthday presents.
Organize by Seasonality
Attics are basically known for storing out-of-season decor. This shelving organizer offers enough space for every single holiday — and then some!
Hang Boxes From the Ceiling
Once you use up the floor space, look up. Semi-transparent boxes means you can peek through to see what's inside (ahh, that's where the Christmas ornaments went!), but don't look junky.
Hook Baskets Onto Rafters
Hooks screwed into the rafters are perfect for hanging storage. Stash wreaths on 'em or anything else you don't want to get crushed or wrinkled during the off-season.
Convert Unusable Floor Space
You've probably been told to "watch your step" every single time you've gone into your attic, but these nifty organizers transform the trusses into workable storage.
Add a Second Shelf
When you add shelves around the perimeter, you literally double its potential for storing your kid's favorite childhood mementos — just make sure you're prepared for all the nostalgia you're bound to experience.
WATCH: 5 Packing Hacks for Holiday Décor
Start saving those egg cartons for easy ornament clean-up!
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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