The 9 Best Items You Can Store In Your Attic

If it's not squirrels, mice, or raccoons, it's that other rascally thing that turns attics into inhospitable areas of the home — drastic temperatures. Depending on where you live, the attic can get to be 150 degrees Fahrenheit or more in the summer, making it the one area you're forgetting when cooling down your house. In the winter? The temperatures can plummet below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which some home contractors consider too cold. Neither extreme is good for the house — and for your stuff.

Yes, both wild temperatures and wildlife can damage treasured items that might seem a no-brainer to store in the wide-open and empty space usually found in the attic. Think musical instruments, VHS tapes, delicate or sentimental holiday decorations, artwork, objects constructed of leather or wool, candles, electronics, documents, and furniture, as well as anything in a cardboard box. Give those items more life by keeping them out of your attic. Vermin and insects can eat away at materials, such as paintings on canvas, and moisture and humidity can create mildew and mold. Then, of course, materials can just melt or warp. And, you always want to avoid keeping anything there that's flammable, for your own safety. So, what can you store in the attic? Well, we've rounded up nine of the best items to store in this space, which include kitchenware, certain holiday decor, luggage, ceramic items, sports gear, camping supplies, metal items, crafts, and plastic toys.

Think about it. Your cookware is meant to withstand high temperatures and is sometimes placed in the refrigerator with leftovers. Because of this, pots and pans that you may be saving, say for an adult child who'll soon be getting their first apartment or for that epic donation to the thrift shop that you've been putting off, should be safe to store in the attic. It's also great extra layover space for roasting pans, skillets, utensils, small appliances, and other kitchen helpers you'll need for preparing and serving big meals during the holidays. Because, let's face it, who has that kind of space in the kitchen?

Where else are you going to stash your old-faithful faux Christmas tree or your prized menorahs, along with ornaments, tablecloths, seder dishes, porch decor, and other once-a-year things you need? Because attics tend to be dusty and you'll want to keep bugs and mice away, it's always a good idea to place these items in clearly labeled plastic bins and containers, making sure to cushion fragile pieces with bubble wrap. That's one of the most important tips for storing your Christmas ornaments or other treasures. With extra layers of protection, heat and cold shouldn't affect these items. Do, however, keep delicate or sentimental decorations out of the attic, just in case.

Luggage is a major space hogger, which is why smaller carry-ons are often stored inside larger suitcases. You need quite a big space to hold all your bulky suitcases. While you may need to brush off dust that settles on them, your large suitcases can typically weather an attic's ever-changing climate. However, if there is excessive moisture in your attic, consider wrapping suitcases in stretch wrap, which you can purchase from moving companies and home improvement centers. Also make sure to situate luggage in easy-to-access nooks, because going on an expedition to find them is the last thing you'll want to do when it's time to pack for vacation.

With all the great mugs, crockery, pottery, plates, bowls, flower pots, decorative pieces, and other knick-knacks to be had (whether they're brand-new or rescued second hand), it's likely that you've run out of room to display all your ceramics in your home. At the same time, they might be too precious to part with, particularly if they're valuable and you plan to sell or pass them on one day. If you have lots of ceramics but not enough display space, the attic is a safe area to store them. This is because ceramic is impervious to mold and mildew and can usually survive variations in temperature.

With each season comes the overwhelming task of swapping out sports equipment. All that stuff takes up a lot of room, so forget about keeping it in the foyer or even the garage. Footballs, tennis rackets, softball gloves, baseball cleats, skateboards, lacrosse sticks, and soccer nets are all quite durable, so this gear will survive in the attic. Store these items in the attic during the off-season or if you're holding onto items that may be handed down to younger family members. Even when all the items are outgrown, some of it will likely stay for sentimental value as well.

Equally durable are camping supplies, which are made to be tough, since they're used outdoors. Many items are produced with weather-resistant and durable materials, such as the thermoplastic polyurethane laminate in backpacks or the nylon ripstop often found on tents. So, for these reasons alone, camping equipment is typically safe to stash away in the attic. In addition to tents and backpacks, it'll also be okay to store sleeping bags, camp chairs, and lanterns, the latter drained of any fuel or with batteries removed. You may want to place these smaller items in labeled plastic bins so they're easy to find and extra protected.

When the garage or shed is just not big enough, there's the attic. It's a great place for anything that's made of metal, which can include items such as tools, industrial lamps, ladders, carts, and old-school office supplies. Unless there's a leak or dampness that can cause rust, things made of metal will be strong enough to endure other common problems with attic storage. This is often why you'll see metal shelving used in attics. This material is generally impervious to the temperature changes and limited amounts of moisture that are sometimes found in that environment.

As long as you use plastic bins to hold your items, it's generally considered safe to store crafting supplies in the attic. Just make sure to avoid paper, whether it's used for crafts or other products. Crafting supplies that are okay to keep in the attic include yarn, thread, needles, buttons, hooks, and paint brushes. That's a short list. Again, you don't want to keep anything in the attic that's flammable, such as turpentine and certain kinds of paint and tape, or products that can possibly melt, including wax, crayons, and plastic beads for melting. 

You already know that plastic bins are a good way to protect possessions in the attic, not only from heat and cold but for also from dust, mice, and insects. In that vein, the attic is also a sound home for other items made of plastic, most especially toys. Year after year and moment after moment, children grow out of toys. But they'll likely want to keep some as keepsakes long after they've been tossed aside. The attic is a great spot for holding onto them, whether they'll be kept or passed down to others.