The attic can be a scary place. Clutter and junk tend to accumulate until it is impossible to navigate. A little attic organization can transform your attic from a place where none dare to venture to a well-organized storage room.

Empty it out.
Most attics are so full of stuff that is impossible to know what is in there. If you’re ready to do some serious attic organization, the best thing to do is empty it out entirely. This must either be done at night (assuming there is adequate lighting) or during cooler months, as the temperature in attics can quickly soar.

Toss, donate, keep.
Once you’ve started your attic organization project, you must follow through. Now that everything is out of your attic, sort through it. Do you have sporting equipment up there? Chances are you haven’t used it in years. Donate it. Is there a broken lamp that you have been keeping for some reason? Now is the chance to throw it away. Sort through everything. Throw away as much as you can, donate a lot, and keep just what you need.

Organize.
Now that you have decided what you are going to keep, the next step in your attic organization project is to put what you decide to keep back into the attic. Make sure it is organized first, though. Buy big plastic bins or sturdy boxes. Clearly label each one so you can easily tell its contents. As you put things back, organize them all into specific areas. For example, store all of the holiday decorations together. Next, store sentimental items or keepsakes together. Have a specific place for everything to make it easier to find when you need it.

A little attic organization will go a long way in making your attic a useful extension of your home.