Roof space and basements offer huge amounts of built-in storage in the home. However, cellars can become damp and damage your belongings, while loft spaces require some additional handy work before they can be used safely, often putting people off using these spaces to their full potential.
Storage experts at Space Station have shared their need to know tips, to help those in need of a little extra space to get the most out of these forgotten areas.
1: Empty and re-organise
Often, the temptation is to stash belongings up into a loft or down into your cellar that will rarely see the light of day, such as Christmas decorations or boxes of old toys. This isn’t an efficient way of utilising the space. Instead, consider starting from scratch and emptying out these areas, before putting a plan in place to outline what you would like to store and what you can afford to get rid of, then you can plan how you will organise the space effectively.
2: Make the spaces safe and durable
Lofts and cellars are usually low on the list when it comes to living space, but it’s vital to make the areas safe before you store any important belongings. Damp-proofing your cellar and boarding the floor of your loft are two simple and cost-effective ways to make these areas secure enough to withstand the demands of storing substantial items.
3: Be selective
There is sometimes a reluctance to throw items out or give them away, resulting in belongings being relegated to the cellar or loft instead so they are ‘out of sight, out of mind’. To overcome this and get the most out of your storage space, clear out old items that are no longer needed. By giving forgotten clothes or toys to charity or finding them a new home you are freeing up more space for the things you still want to store and can make much better use of your space as a result.
4: Maximise the space
Although lofts and cellars are often quite spacious, due to spanning the dimensions of your overall property, there are things you can do to make sure every square metre is accessible for storage. Installing shelving, either in the outer reaches of the roof or around the walls of your cellar, can increase the storage potential tenfold.
5: Use airtight containers
Anything stashed away in a cellar or loft is likely to be there for a long time, leaving it prone to gathering dust or becoming damaged. Avoiding this is straightforward, just keep everything stored in airtight plastic containers. Doing this will also help you to use the space more efficiently.
6: Store upwards, not outwards
Spreading your items across the floor will quickly take up floor space and make the area harder to access and use. Instead, store your items upwards rather than outwards. This will require your items to be stored away in solid containers, but once they are you can easily stack them and you’ll soon realise how much more you can fit in the space. Consider any items you’re likely to need access to quite frequently, so you can ensure these are at the top of the stack.
Vlatka Lake, Marketing Manager at Space Station, says:
“It is really easy to stress about the lack of space at home, whilst often forgetting about the space that goes virtually unused.
“A huge range of properties, both old and new, have cellar and loft space that will either not be used at all or is simply a dumping ground for those old belongings we’re putting off sorting out or avoiding throwing away.
“With just a few easy steps, you can quickly turn these forgotten spaces into a primary area for storing even some of your more bulky items, to help you really get the most out of your living space, and we’re confident our tips will encourage homeowners to do just that without breaking the bank.”
