Attic stairs are a part of many homes, and a lot of them are built to open by pulling a cord. You would think that my builder would have come out with something more aesthetically pleasing. My cord looks bad, and it keeps hitting me on my face every time I get up from my chair on my home office desk. So, naturally, I want to get rid of it. So the question is, how can I hide the annoying cord in a pull down attic stair?
The best way to hide the annoying cord is to replace it with a hook. This is cheap and easy to do. Another option is to install a small cord holder nearby to hold the end of it, so it doesn’t hang down. And the third option is to be creative and replace the cord with something attractive.
Whatever option you go for, it will be better than having the annoying cord hanging down.
Replace It With a Hook
The easiest way to hide the annoying cord in a pull down attic stair is to remove it. But, you still have to be able to pull the stair down. Before you do anything, make sure that the stair is down. Otherwise, you will remove the cord and have no other way to pull it down.
This method is very easy to do, cheap, and requires just basic tools. Actually, the only tool you will need is something to drill a hole with.
What material you will need is:
- An eye hook with a nut
- A 2 to 3 ft long rod.
All of this will cost you just a few dollars.
The next step you should take is to remove the cord. I just cut it with scissors.
Now, you may have to drill the existing cord hole a bit wider to be able to insert a hook. Some of you may skip this step if the hole is wide enough –like in my case.
Install a hook through the hole. Make sure the hook has a screw that is long enough to go through to the other side, but not too long. You don’t want the screw to stick out a lot on the other side. Then add the nut. For better results, you can use a couple of washers.
And the hardest part is over, you got rid of the annoying cord and installed a barely visible hook. But, how to pull down the stair?
Get a wooden rod, 2 to 3 feet long. The length of it will depend on your ceiling height, and your height too. It has to be long enough so that you can reach the hook, but not much longer than that.
Drill a hole at the end of the rod and install a screw hook, or something similar. This wooden rod is your tool to attach a hook on a stair and pull the stair down. When not in use, you can store the rod close by but out of sight.
This method is not exactly hiding the annoying cord, but in the long run, this is the best method for those who can’t stand the fact that the cord is taking up space.
For a couple of dollars more, you can even buy a kit for this. You will get a rod with a hook already installed and a hook, together with nuts and washers. The whole replacement process is going to take about 5 minutes.
I didn’t need a rod because I have a floral cultivator tool we used to pick oranges from an orange tree in our Pasadena home. It is a little longer than I need but as you can see from the pictures, it works just fine, and we seldom need to access the attic.
Install a Cord Holder
If you are not comfortable with removing the cord and installing a hook, there is another option.
The closer the cord is to a wall, the easier it will be for this option.
You can attach a small hook high on a wall next to it, simply take the end of a cord and attach it to it, so it is not hanging in the middle of everything. It will still be visible, but at least you’re going to be able to walk under it without running into it.
This option is good for spaces where you often walk but do not spend time in. This solution is functional but not very pretty.
These hooks can even be those small plastic hooks that have adhesives on them so you can just glue them on a wall, so drilling will not be necessary.
If you are not a fan of these small hooks, you can glue a small but strong magnet high on the wall, and attach a piece of metal, or another magnet, at the end of a cord. When not in use, simply take the end of the cord and put it on a wall magnet. It is going to hold it in place.
Those who have attic stairs and cords away from side walls may do this too, but you will have to install a holder to the ceiling. When attached, the cord will be almost flushed with the ceiling, but to get it, you will have to use some kind of a tool, like a previously mentioned wooden rod.
Other Creative Options
Some of you probably have a beautiful attic door, that is flushed with a ceiling, and its color is a perfect match to a ceiling color. Others may not be so lucky. If you have an ugly attic door, think about painting it. Use your imagination. How about painting it like a cloudy sky and use a cord to hang a bird at the end. It may be fun. Your kids will love it.
This is a solution for those who don’t mind the cord hanging, but want it to look pretty. Maybe you want to replace the ugly cord with a nice metal chain to make a statement.
Hey! It is your house –you do what you want with it 🙂
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