Is it an attic or a loft?

Many of us call it the loft. Some of us call it the attic. Either way, many of them are stuffed to the rafters with our old possessions. Is there a difference between a loft and an attic? Looking around the web there seems to be no clear definition other than “an attic runs the entire length of a house or property, while a loft is only part of it.” Attics are also generally used for storage, whereas a loft can be turned into an extra living space or workplace/home office. Generally, a loft has a hatch to gain entry, whereas an attic will have an entrance via stairs.

To be honest, though it doesn’t matter what it’s called: it’s still a mess!