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Maybe you are lucky enough to have an attic, but are you using it? We know the story: the attic is dusty, musty, and impossible to get to, especially if you don't have stairs. And who wants to lug the ladder from the garage into the house (again)?

Check out this statistic: out of the 53 million people who have an attic with a hatch, only 17% tap their attics for storage. The attic has the potential to serve as an entire floor dedicated solely to storage. Seasonal decorations and lighting, files, old clothes, and grandma's heirlooms can be safely tucked away, freeing up room in the garage for a car, maybe two. (What a concept!)

Also, easy access to your attic can really open up some more do-it-yourself projects. You can add insulation or patch your heating ducts for increased energy efficiency--and money savings. Other projects include adding recessed lighting or a whole house fan. And in some cases your heating and cooling systems may be located in the attic; if they are, sooner or later someone will need access to it.

The solution lies in a recessed ladder. This simple device sits neatly behind the hatch and can be accessed with the wave of a wand. Okay, it's not really a wand; it's a rod that you use to pull the ladder down. We used a product from Werner; a company that sells all sorts of ladders (attic, step, platform) made to fit in any space. The Televator is the ladder that worked for us--we went for the 10' model priced at $239.00, but it also comes in an 8' version, priced at $199.99. Both models require that you have a hatch with an opening that's at least 22 and a half inches by 22 and a half inches. Installation takes 2-3 hours, but you can definitely do it yourself.

If your attic currently has no ceiling hatch, you should call in a carpenter to determine if one can be added.

Most of us live in a place where space is at a premium so it is extremely impractical to waste precious attic space; the key is making it accessible. So check out the idea of adding a ladder and use that attic space to free up space in your garage, closets, or wherever your unused stuff may be.

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