Decluttering and Organizing Your Attic

June 26, 2025

Attics can be a great place to store things that you really want to keep, but they can also be a place to store a bunch of junk. It’s important to be mindful of what’s stored in the attic for mental clarity. Metaphorically, even though it’s out of sight, because attics are over your mind, a cluttered attic can contribute to a cluttered mind. It can feel like mental weight you’re carrying around but can’t figure out why. In this post, I’ll give you my top tips to get your attic organized.

-Try to schedule your attic organization for days when it’s not too hot, or only organize early in the morning, before your attic has gotten a chance to get sweltering. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids (add electrolytes as needed), and take breaks regularly.

-Lighting matters! This will make it so much easier to see what you have. If you don’t want to install proper hard-wired light fixtures, use rechargeable lanterns, string lights, or headlamps so that you can see what you’re doing.

-Declutter what you can. If there is some really tough stuff stored up in your attic, choose to go through the easier stuff first, until you feel ready to tackle the more difficult decisions. It’s better to open boxes and consolidate what you can, rather than avoiding boxes because you think you know what’s in them.

-Since attics are generally NOT climate controlled, they are not a place to store things like photos, paperwork, clothing, electronics, perishable items, or other things that need to be stored in room temperature environments. Even plastic can’t always be stored safely. I’m a longtime collector of plastic model Breyer horses, and have heard too many horror stories of other people’s collections that have bubbled and expanded, paint has peeled, and the horses have been ruined due to extra high and low temperatures and humidity levels. So unless your heirlooms or sentimental items are made from metal or other durable materials, if you want to keep them, don’t store them in the attic.

-When you’re deciding what to store in the attic, it’s important to think about how often you will need to access your things and how accessible it is to get in and out of the attic. Some attics are very easy to access (just go up a flight of stairs) and some are far less convenient.

-Depending on how easy the attic is to access, things you can store in the attic are tools, seasonal decor (depending on how fragile or heat sensitive), outdoor gear, extra furniture, outdoor furniture, spare kitchen items (especially China and glassware). In more temperate climates with well insulated attics, it should be ok to store things that will be stored short-term and rotated out like gifts or seasonal clothes.

-Safety considerations: don’t store flammable items like propane or aerosol cans in the attic. Don’t overload the space, and keep the area around electrical components and light fixtures clutter-free. Be extra cautious of extension cords and exposed wiring. Check structural load capacity if you’ll be storing heavy items.

-In addition to accessibility, it’s also important to consider how well insulated the attic is, and how secure things will need to be from bugs and other pests. Seal entry points, eliminate moisture, trim tree branches, cover vents, and call a professional pest control company when needed. Not only will this help preserve the longevity of your house, but it will keep your belongings safe as well. You may also want to choose containers that will keep pests out.

-When storing your things in the attic, label containers and use shelves to maximize your storage space. Avoid cardboard boxes because they can attract pests and deteriorate. Add desiccant packs to help absorb moisture. Create a storage map or list of inventory if you’ve got a lot stored in the attic. This will help you find what you need more quickly. You can even keep a digital list to help you remember what’s up there.

-Maintain the attic, on a regular basis. Check for leaks or signs of pests. To avoid clutter build-up, do a yearly review, and get rid of anything you don’t need.

What’s in your attic??