Five Project Ideas for Easy Attic Storage
A lot of houses have an attic, but not many people make good use of that space. We usually end up tossing a couple boxes of holiday decorations up there and forget about it, but with some organization and a few bits of DIY ingenuity, you can turn your attic into a functional and accessible storage space. Get five project ideas for easy attic storage in this Lowe’s video:
1. Plywood Flooring:
A lot of attic are difficult to use as storage because flooring is either limited or non-existent. This can be change with just some plywood. Be careful when stepping into an unfinished area and only place your feet on the ceiling joists. If you put weight on the drywall between the joists, you’ll damage it and possibly fall through.
In the attic featured in this video, the ceiling joists are 16 inches on center, so 3/4-inch plywood can be screwed right down on top. If your joists are spaced further apart, or you’re dealing with a truss system, you may want to add additional bracing, or better yet, consult an engineer.
2. Bins and Shelves:
Having a lot of space to put things doesn’t really help if you can’t find any of them. That’s why the most important item in storage are clear storage bins. They keep out moisture and dust, they’re stackable, they have handles, and best of all, they’re clear so you can see exactly what’s inside without having to pull everything off the shelf. Use with basic labels to help you organize everything effectively. If you have a flat wall, you can use shelving units to create a more organized area for your bins. Place heavier items on the bottom to keep the shelf stable and put larger items in the back so you can clearly see everything at a glance.
3. Built-In Shelving:
One of the difficulties in most attics is the angle of the roof, which really limits what you can do with the space. You can install shelves parallel to the floor using the roof rafters as a support. If your roof has a strut coming from the rafter to the floor, you can use both parts as the basis for your shelves; if not, you can add some 2x4s between the rafters and the floor joists to play the same role.
Cut plywood to the same width as the space between the struts so you can slide them in. Use additional 2x4s to act as braces, then place the plywood onto the frame you’ve created and screw it all together. It’s a simple fix, but adding these shelves can really improve the amount of space you have to store bins, baskets, and more.
4. Rods and Hooks:
With a couple brackets and a closet rod, you can hang things like winter coats, seasonal clothes, wreaths and more. Dry cleaning bags or garbage bags can help keep the dust off if you want to keep things looking their best. Basic screw-in hooks can also be a great tool for organization as you can hang items from individual hooks or use two hooks together to hold a basket or bucket by the handle.
5. Pivoting Storage Box:
If you want to get a bit more involved in building, you can really maximize space with a pivoting storage box that mounts between the roof rafters and folds down to reveal storage for lots of different items.
Measure the space between the rafters and subtract 1/4-inch, then cut two 2x4s to this width. Determine the total length of the box you want to make and subtract the width of the 2x4s you just cut; this will be the length of your side pieces. Cut two more 2x4s to this size. Now you can screw the pieces together at the ends. Measure the size of your finished box and cut a piece of plywood to that same size. Attach it to the back of the box with screws. This will be your storage box.
Hold the box in place and drill a hole on either side through the box and the roof rafters. Place carriage bolts through the rafters and the box to act as a pivot point. You can secure the box in the upright position with an eye hook or wooden cleat on a slightly loosened screw.
A small board or bungee cord can hold items in place in the vertical position. Don’t overload these boxes. if they get too heavy, it can be unsafe to open and close them.
