Where to start when tidying and decluttering the loft, Tips from a professional organizer in Cleveland, Ohio

What Is a Loft and How Is It Different from an Attic?

So, first to define quickly what a loft is, it's when you have a ladder or pull-down stair into a little hatch door, like a trap door and then the enclosed space as a loft.

I think of a loft (regionally, here in Ohio) as a second floor space with a railing, like a balcony, where you can look out over the first floor, but after going online, I learned that in this situation a “loft” is this little enclosed space. I think of that as an attic. The difference between an attic and a loft is that an attic has a regular door and stairs and the loft has more of a ladder situation and a trapdoor.

Interestingly, we have loft storage both in my garage and in my home at the top of my home and we do not use it. We have nothing in either of those spaces. So, that's what I recommend. Don't use it. It's like a storage unit. Anything that goes in there has to come out eventually, and that's going to be challenging.

Safety Tips for Decluttering Loft and Eave Storage Spaces

However, I know not everyone has enough storage space and so you may be using the loft or a similar storage space. I’m thinking of one home that we organized that had storage in the eaves. We've done a couple of those and they're very difficult because they have tiny little doors and you have to crawl inside and people shove things back in there and you have to drag them out.

Ideally just pull things out as much as you can if you have to deal with a small space like that.

Those eaves that I am thinking of had fiberglass insulation which got onto our skin so we were itchy. So really cover up and shower off right away because you don't want to get that glass fiber in your skin and you don't want to breathe it in either. Also wear a mask. Make sure you have enough clothing and coverage if there's any kind of open insulation to protect yourself.

The Three Box Method for Decluttering Your Loft

Generally, I recommend the three box method. You want to start by gathering your supplies: a box, a garbage bag, and then maybe a laundry basket or storage tote. The three box method is very straightforward, if it's trash, you put it in the trash bag. If it's a keep, you put it into the laundry basket or bin. If it's a donate, you can put it into the box. So you start making these three different piles through the use of the containers. You will use this basic decluttering technique and pair it with any of the three following strategies for the loft.

Three Simple Decluttering Strategies for Loft Organization

The first strategy that you could use is easy wins to the hardest. Looking around, what are those easy wins that you can have? Is it grabbing the garbage bag, pulling out as much garbage as you can, and then going on to the next thing that seems pretty easy?

Make the piles right by the trap door and ideally have a partner at the bottom of the ladder so you can hand things down safely.

Another strategy is simply a left to right strategy. When I'm feeling overwhelmed in a room this is a great strategy. You come up the hatch, turn to the left, start at the corner, and begin working your way to the right. You don’t have to know what the category is. You just begin sorting as you go.

At the end, you could go back and do a more perfect sort. If there’s enough space, you could label bins like holiday things, kitchen overflow, or family items. Then as you create space, you can have those bins and be sorting as you go.

The third strategy is by category. You might say, today I’m going to work on decorations, or even more specific like Halloween or Valentine’s Day decorations. You can go in and work on one category at a time. You would pull out as many items from that single category as you can and carefully store in the the container that you want so it would be complete. Then move on to the next category.

What Should You Actually Store in a Loft?

You want to consider how often you are using the loft and really declutter as much as you can. I love minimalism and leaning into minimalism. If it’s been in the loft for years without any use, I would question if you really need it or if it is serving you.

There are certain items that are appropriate for storage. Seasonal items, things you use once or twice a year. For example, holiday decor or winter gear like boots, gloves, and snow pants.

Another category is luggage. Think about how often you travel and what you use most. A large suitcase you use every couple of years is appropriate for storage, while your everyday carry-on should be more accessible if you travel frequently and might live in your closet.

You can also store sentimental items, but you want to be careful about how much. This could include heirlooms or items from loved ones. You want to consider how long you’re keeping them and whether there’s a plan for them.

A lot of times, one or maybe two storage bins per person is a reasonable amount of sentimental items. If you have more, you might consider taking photos, digitizing items, or thinning things out over time.

Why Labeling Is the Most Important Step in Organizing Your Loft or Attic

The last thing I wanted to say, and this is the most important thing, is label, label, label, label.

I have been to places where it is a sea of brown boxes. Even though the person knows what’s inside at the moment, you can’t find anything later because all the boxes look the same.

A month from now, you won’t remember what’s in there. So, you have to label it.

It can be as simple as masking tape and a permanent marker. It does not have to be complicated. You can label what is inside, and that will help you significantly later when you go back to see what you saved.