Is your attic chaos? Since attics are incredible storage spaces, it’s easy for them to become a catchall for your holiday decorations, out-of-season clothing, old appliances, and grown children’s toys.

If your attic is the “junk drawer” of your house, it’s time to organize. This post will help you transform the mess into an orderly storage space where you can actually find the things you need. Below are some tips from the article, “How to Organize an Attic,” written by Sarah Rutland on TLC.

Step 1: Take Inventory

It’s nearly impossible to organize your attic when you don’t know what’s up there. While opening totes and boxes that haven’t been touched in years may seem like a daunting — and somewhat scary — task, think of all the treasures you may unearth! Rutland suggests writing down everything you find and then looking for common themes among your possessions such as “seasonal décor” or “sports equipment.”

Step 2: Sort Possessions

Next you’ll divide all the attic’s contents into three piles: keep, donate, and throw away. Make sure you actually pitch the throw-away pile and donate the give-away pile. Sorting those piles and then leaving them in the attic is a waste of your time and space.

After removing unwanted items, it’s time to further sort the keep pile. Rutland says, “Once you have your attic contents narrowed down to what you want to keep, start sorting these items into categories. By grouping your belongings this way, you’ll be able to box and store them by category, which will make it easier to keep tabs on everything.”

Step 3: Store Belongings

If you’ve gotten this far, you’re well on your way to a more manageable attic. The last step is storing your items in an organized manner so you’ll be able to access them when needed. Follow the tips below:

• Label everything; don’t assume you’ll remember what’s in the boxes.

• Consider color coding. For example, putting all of your Christmas decorations in red totes will make them easier to find.

• Keep like items together.

Extra Storage Space

After sorting your possessions, you still may not have enough space for everything in the “keep” pile. If that’s the case, Freedom Storage Rentals is here to help. Our locations in Altoona, Ebensburg, and Blair County will help you stay organized.

We offer a variety of storage options, including everything from self storage and car storage to portable storage units. Better yet, we have climate-controlled units so you can rest assured that antiques and other valuables will be protected from destructive elements such as humidity and heat. Contact us at 814-695-9408 or at 866-876-7368 to reserve a unit. We look forward to serving you.