How to Overhaul and Organise Your Garden Shed
Is your garden shed on the untidy side? Follow these easy tips for getting it shipshape and ready for the summer
The sun’s shining and your garden’s calling, but you’ve got to get to your tools first. If you have a garden shed, lucky you. But if it looks anything like mine, you might start thinking your weeds are more attractive than the prospect of climbing over rakes, brooms and shovels to reach your implements. Here’s how to get your shed back in shape.
Evaluate your needs
The first step in reordering your shed is deciding which items are essential. Sheds are usually small, and most people try to stash too much in them, says Bob Trainor, owner of Garden Tech Horticultural Services, a landscaping company that builds sheds and other garden structures in addition to doing garden design and installation.
Be realistic about what you can store in there. If you’re building a new shed, take stock and make sure you pick a size that will accommodate your needs. For instance, you may require space for your lawn mower or outdoor patio furniture during winter.
Store things where you use them Don’t put your rakes and brooms inside your garage if it’s far from your garden. Likewise, don’t shove your power tools in an outdoor closet if your workbench is in the garage.
Take an inventory Instead of pulling everything outside at once, Dusina suggests concentrating on one wall at a time, so the project isn’t so overwhelming.
Create piles Set up four categories: donate, keep, relocate and bin.
Be ruthless Ask yourself: Do I really need three rakes, five hammers and two string trimmers? How often do I use the rototiller and tile saw? If it’s once every few years or even once a year, you can sell these tools, says James Angus, a homeowner who recently reorganised his garage and shed, and has a blog about do-it-yourself home improvement. He suggests renting items as needed instead.
The first step in reordering your shed is deciding which items are essential. Sheds are usually small, and most people try to stash too much in them, says Bob Trainor, owner of Garden Tech Horticultural Services, a landscaping company that builds sheds and other garden structures in addition to doing garden design and installation.
Be realistic about what you can store in there. If you’re building a new shed, take stock and make sure you pick a size that will accommodate your needs. For instance, you may require space for your lawn mower or outdoor patio furniture during winter.
Store things where you use them Don’t put your rakes and brooms inside your garage if it’s far from your garden. Likewise, don’t shove your power tools in an outdoor closet if your workbench is in the garage.
Take an inventory Instead of pulling everything outside at once, Dusina suggests concentrating on one wall at a time, so the project isn’t so overwhelming.
Create piles Set up four categories: donate, keep, relocate and bin.
Be ruthless Ask yourself: Do I really need three rakes, five hammers and two string trimmers? How often do I use the rototiller and tile saw? If it’s once every few years or even once a year, you can sell these tools, says James Angus, a homeowner who recently reorganised his garage and shed, and has a blog about do-it-yourself home improvement. He suggests renting items as needed instead.
Consider your storage options
Now that you’ve got your stuff down to the bare minimum, evaluate your storage options.
Look overhead Think about putting things up high that you don’t use on a regular basis, Trainor says. This 10ft x 10ft shed features an overhead shelf, allowing the homeowner to stash items that aren’t regularly needed.
Now that you’ve got your stuff down to the bare minimum, evaluate your storage options.
Look overhead Think about putting things up high that you don’t use on a regular basis, Trainor says. This 10ft x 10ft shed features an overhead shelf, allowing the homeowner to stash items that aren’t regularly needed.
Hang things Tools such as shovels, rakes and sledgehammers can go on a wall. You can use a track system with hooks, as shown here. For a cheaper version, hammer heavy-duty nails or drill hooks into studs in the wall. Make sure you allow enough space between your tools, so you can easily pull them off the wall and return them once you’ve finished.
Bring in buckets If you don’t have the wall space to hang long tools, you can house them in large, deep buckets. Just keep the number of tools inside each one manageable, so you aren’t fighting to untangle your rake from your broom.
Get magnetic For small tools, consider using knife magnets. They beat searching through a drawer for what you need and are a better way to dry items such as paintbrushes, Angus says.
Use adjustable shelving Keep things off the floor with shelves. Dusina suggests ventilated, adjustable shelving, as seen here. The grates allow dust and dirt to fall to the floor, making it easier to clean the space. And the adjustability allows you to change shelf height and placement as your storage needs fluctuate.
Trainor likes shelving for pots especially. These items easily topple and typically clutter the floor of a garden shed.
Trainor likes shelving for pots especially. These items easily topple and typically clutter the floor of a garden shed.
Steal from your kitchen This homeowner uses large glass jars to store seeds. Dusina stashes hers in an accordion recipe file that she labels so she can easily find what she needs. If she harvests seeds from her garden, she puts them in old spice jars.
Follow these steps to get a shed you’ll love to potter in
Follow these steps to get a shed you’ll love to potter in
Angus likes to upcycle soup cans and salsa jars to house screws, nuts, bolts, small tools and more. It’s a cheap and an effective way to keep things contained, viewable and easy to access.
Employ your doors Hang baskets or hooks on the inside of doors to hold small items, such as twine, garden shears and gloves, Trainor says.
Corral chemicals and fertilisers Place heavy bags of garden soil and fertiliser on low shelves or in heavy-duty bins that are easy to slide in and out. It’s wise to put chemicals in locked cabinets if you have the space. If you’re storing fuel and fertiliser in the same place, make sure it’s ventilated and the two aren’t near each other. Put supplies such as birdseed in metal containers with lids to protect them from rodents.
Consider smaller spaces, too Not everyone has room for a large shed. You may find that once you get the spot organised, you have items that still need a home. This storage unit was custom-built and houses frequently used garden tools.
Use the space under eaves This is another clever way to store long tools if you don’t have the space inside your shed. They’re easily accessible, and dirt stays outside.
Think tiny This small box houses frequently used tools and can be installed near a garden area.
Go outdoors If you’re really tight on space, you could consider storing your tools outside. This homeowner used galvanised piping inserted in the ground to hold his implements. Trainor has seen this done with 6in PVC pipe, too. He warns, however, that storing tools outside means they’ll deteriorate and rust faster.
Keep it clean
Because of what we keep in them, sheds can often look cluttered. To make yours easier on the eye, paint it white or a uniform colour. You’ll be able to spot things more readily.
Lighting Don’t forget about lighting, Dusina says. If your shed doesn’t already have a fixture, get a battery-operated light, such as a camping lantern, which is a cheap and easy alternative.
Tidy up Plan on spending time once a week or month, depending on how frequently you use your shed, to straighten up. (Angus takes about 30 minutes each week to put away recently used items.) This will help keep it tidy all year.
TELL US…
When was the last time you tidied your shed? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Because of what we keep in them, sheds can often look cluttered. To make yours easier on the eye, paint it white or a uniform colour. You’ll be able to spot things more readily.
Lighting Don’t forget about lighting, Dusina says. If your shed doesn’t already have a fixture, get a battery-operated light, such as a camping lantern, which is a cheap and easy alternative.
Tidy up Plan on spending time once a week or month, depending on how frequently you use your shed, to straighten up. (Angus takes about 30 minutes each week to put away recently used items.) This will help keep it tidy all year.
TELL US…
When was the last time you tidied your shed? Share your tips in the Comments below.
Time Half a day
Tip It’s important that everyone who uses the space be part of the task, says Jennifer Dusina of Organized Living, a US company that specialises in custom organisation tools for the home, garage and storage units. This way, the whole family participates in deciding what to keep and where those things are supposed to go.
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