Without an attic ladder or set of stairs, a home’s attic usually has untapped potential. Homeowners know it’s up there, but it’s a hassle to access for storage, much less use as a living space.

Q: I have an attic that runs the entire length of the house. The peak of the roof is high enough to allow me to stand up in the space. The obvious storage opportunities have me foaming at the mouth.

For any homeowner with an attic, the value of the extra space cannot be quantified. Whether you have filled it to the brim with old holiday decorations and boxes of baby clothes or you're in the ...