How to make the most of your storage space
Whether it’s the attic, your closet, or an extra room where you keep all the “loot” you’ve accumulated over the years, people pay very little attention to their storage space. Most of the time, they just keep throwing more and more objects into it. Before you know it, you may never be able to find that family album, or your precious old dollhouse, or that dress you wanted to send to the dry cleaner. Don’t let this happen to you. Be more organized.
regular cleaning days
If you want to keep your storage space clean and organized, have regular general cleaning days, especially for that area, and try to get rid of things you no longer need. Do this at least three times a year. Prepare two large boxes and collect items for which you will no longer find any use in the next two years.
Store precious keepsakes (such as carefully selected albums, toys and trinkets, wedding dresses, etc.) in a place that is easily accessible. Invest in good shelf spaces and safe cabinets for things you plan to keep, and be emotionally prepared to donate items (like old sweaters, shoes, etc.) to charity if you think they’re just gathering dust in your attic.
Group and tag
Group your keepsakes carefully, and if you must box them, label them properly. You should still have walkways in your attic, and these items should be well secured so you won’t put yourself in danger if you’re trapped in there during an earthquake. If you have children in the house, you may want to keep the attic or storage areas closed just to prevent accidents.
Once everything is grouped and labeled correctly, it will be easier for you to check its condition during your regular cleaning days. Discard memories that termites or mold slowly eat away at. Mold and mildew buildup typically occurs in storage spaces that are not kept clean and organized, and you don’t want to expose yourself or your family to this type of risk.
Make your storage area available
Assigning small storage areas throughout your home can help you keep your memories in check. Use your attic as a study or living room and soon you’ll be forced to keep things neat, organized and manageable. When you allocate a single room for your storage area, the tendency for you is to simply forget about the space and keep moving items into it that you still can’t let go of due to emotional attachments.
If you organize everything in your attic right, you could even turn it into a small display area for your family memorabilia. After all, there is no reason to keep these things inside the box if they can be used as decorative elements. Don’t let your storage rooms keep unpleasant secrets that you want to keep away from your guests. Try to be more organized and soon you will literally be proud of every corner of your house.
Hold garage sales
Garage sales are great ways to get motivated enough to drop your old stuff. If you don’t want to just give your old things to charity, or throw them away, you can raise money for a new sofa by leaving your old one in the attic, or use the money you’ve earned by letting go of your old dresses to redecorate your bedroom. The possibilities are endless. Just be creative and you’ll find a way to get rid of your clutter and make better use of your storage space.