Simple Pleasures: Digging in the Attic

A rainy spring day when you can’t dig in your garden is the perfect opportunity to dig for buried treasure in the attic instead. Brew yourself a hot cuppa, put on some old music and a favorite sweater, and start exploring. Here are tips to make the most of your excavations — and a few decorating ideas for the attic as well.

Tea, cookies and nostalgia. A cool and rainy spring day is simply made for spending time digging through old things — something about the rain encourages nostalgia. I advise brewing yourself a nice pot of hot tea or coffee and toting it with you. A few little sandwiches or cookies on a plate wouldn’t hurt, either. If you have an attic filled with boxes and old treasures, of course that is where you should head. If not, go wherever the stuff is — the basement, closet or garage, or maybe those photo boxes in the living room.

Attic decorating idea: So what if your attic isn’t regulation height or fully finished? That doesn’t mean you can’t create a romantic little nook to escape to from time to time. Try placing a small writing desk in the center of the room and covering the windows in diaphanous white curtains.


Treasured photos. Sifting through old photos is like excavating the past. Who are these ladies in fancy dresses sitting in a row? Was this one taken in front of Great-Grandma’s old cabin? Set aside photos whose stories you want to uncover.

Display idea: Set up a little photo exploration station somewhere in your home, so you can continue to enjoy and sift through the old photos you’ve found at your leisure.

Use an old container with some character, like a suitcase, a typewriter case or an old wooden fruit crate, to pile up the photos in. Place it on a small table pushed up against a wall, and use the wall just above it to tack up a few of your favorites.


Make it a family affair. Have a sibling or cherished old friend who lives nearby? Give the person a call and see if he or she wants to join you for tea, cake and treasure hunting — it’s so much more satisfying to exclaim over a rediscovered memento when you have someone with you who knows all of the old stories. If no one’s nearby when you find something that stirs up a wonderful memory, snap a picture of it and send it with a little note ("Remember this?") to the friend or relative who will appreciate it the most.

Display idea: Have you found an object you would love to display, but it won’t fit in a traditional frame or shadow box? Use a pedestal or wooden bracket as a base and place the object on top. It doesn’t matter what it is; if it’s on a pedestal, it instantly looks more important.


Stir your creativity. Old treasures like tintype photos, lockets and delicate linens yellowed with age just beg to have their stories told. If you are feeling in a creative mood (no matter whether you think of yourself as a creative type), let your imagination run away with you a bit. Write freely (without stopping or editing yourself) for 10 minutes about who you imagine owned these items and what they were like. Have fun weaving your story and allow yourself to embellish the truth as much as you like. Prefer not to write? Try using the found treasures to inspire artwork, a poem or a piece of music.


Create a cozy space. As long as you are in your attic (or basement or shed), why not spruce it up? Consolidate and stack boxes as best as you can to make more room. Clear away a corner or section of the space and consider what you could bring in to make it cozy and inviting.

A twin bed tucked under an eave, with a simple curtain that can be pulled across the room for privacy, is charming. Add a small rocker and a bit of warmth in the form of lamplight and blankets, and you’ll be all set.


Take a break. After digging through boxes, you’re bound to be hungry and ready for a break. Go make yourself something utterly comforting that reminds you of childhood. Cinnamon toast, perhaps? Or a grilled cheese and some tomato soup?





Play antiques detective. Found an old painting or two? Or perhaps an intriguing vase or plate? See what you can discover about it — today’s online resources make it easier than ever to research antiques and vintage finds. Start by carefully looking over your piece from top to bottom, inside and out, looking for markings that may indicate who made it or where or when it was made. Once you’ve found something, plug it into an online search along with a few key details (for instance, “blue teacup Germany") and see what comes up. You never know what you’ll find.

Clean up. Try to start wrapping things up before you’ve completely lost all energy, so you can take the time you need to put everything neatly away; hopefully better than how you found it.

Tell us: Do you enjoy digging through old treasures? What’s the most interesting thing you’ve found in an attic or another storage area?

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