The Easiest (and Cheapest) Ways to Turn Your Attic Into Useful Storage Space.
If you own a home with an unfinished attic, you’ve likely wondered how you could use this valuable space more effectively. While the attic already plays a vital role in regulating the temperature and humidity in your home, that doesn’t mean it can’t serve a more significant purpose. With the right budget, you can transform it into a bedroom or study, or even a bright, well-lit storage space.
However, if you don’t have the budget for a full-fledged attic renovation, you can still make it a more useful space, even if it’s small or a little intimidating. With just a few modest purchases (and perhaps a little DIY effort), you can transform your attic into the perfect storage space.
Install simple modular flooring in your attic.
The first step to making your attic functional is ensuring safe movement. Even if your attic is shallow and standing upright is impossible, having a stable surface will reduce the risk of falling through the ceiling.
Laying down plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) is a cheap and relatively easy option, but it’s also labor-intensive and quite durable. If you need a quicker solution, floor panels like these from Attic Dek are sized to fit most standard joist spacings and are designed to simply snap into place, allowing for quick installation without the need for cutting. They come with screws, and it’s recommended to secure them in place, but if you only need a temporary floor capable of supporting weight (up to 250 pounds), you can simply snap them in place and screw them in place later.
Install wiring-free light fixtures on the attic ceiling.
If your attic doesn’t have wiring or lighting, you don’t need to hire an electrician or spend a ton of money. Just buy one or two of these rechargeable ceiling lights and attach them to the ceiling or joists (literally—you stick a magnetic sticker to the ceiling, and it holds the light in place—no screws required). They’re motion-activated, so every time you enter the attic, the light turns on, eliminating the need to wander around in the dark.
Install adjustable storage systems that fit the size.
Once you have a sturdy and secure attic floor, you can begin installing storage systems. Sure, you could just pile up boxes or containers and call it a day, but you can do much better without breaking the bank:
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Installing multiple hangers designed for sloped surfaces (such as an attic ceiling or rafters) will allow you to hang clothes or storage bags without cluttering the floor.
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A few inexpensive adjustable shelves like this one can add all the storage space you need to keep things organized and off the floor, making it easier to store and retrieve items.
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If your attic is cramped and the rafters make storage difficult, you can install shelves that fit these structures. This is a relatively simple DIY project, which can be accomplished by screwing a few support brackets to the rafters (as shown here ). If your attic has no floor, avoid placing heavy boxes or storage containers directly on the insulation—compressed insulation is not very effective. You can purchase special brackets for rafter systems that allow you to place plastic or other storage boxes off the floor.
Install a device for moving things into the attic.
Once you’ve set up your storage space, you’ll need a way to get your things into the attic, which may be more challenging than you expect. Lifting awkward, heavy boxes up flimsy extension ladders into the attic is a surefire recipe for accidents, so consider installing a mechanical assistance system. You can spend a pretty penny on an expensive lifting system , which will make lifting items into the attic much easier. But if that’s too much for you, you can opt for a simpler winch system , which allows you to lift up to 200 kg (440 lbs) of items at a time. If that’s still too much, you can also opt for a classic pulley system , using good old-fashioned mechanical advantage to lift items into the attic.