If only you had more space…it’s an easy solution. No wonder we all think the same way. But with proper storage solutions and some creative thinking, you don’t need to increase the size of your shed.
You can just do more with space you have already. Here are a few smart strategies for sorting out your shed:
- In with the new, out with the old
- Organise & Label
- Get creative with your space
They Call It Shed for a Reason
The dictionary definition of a shed is “to get rid of”, so in keeping with the true meaning of the word, once a year when you spring clean, be sure to go through everything you have in your shed and if you aren’t using it regularly, either shed it or rethink where you’re keeping it.
Items that don’t get used regularly shouldn’t be upfront taking up prime real-estate – these items should be tucked away up in the rafters, or storage containers – after all if you only use it once a year it’s not a big deal if it takes you a few minutes to get it out of your kit shed.
When you’re doing your yearly shed, remove everything and sort it into several categories, regularly use, seldom use and never use.
Either dispose of the items you never use, find a niche in your shed for them or store them somewhere else. They seldom use items should be at the back of the shed, where it takes a little effort to get to, and the regular use should be right up front where you need them.
It’s surprising how much space you’ll reclaim using this method – it also helps us think about what we really need in the shed and what can be donated, disposed of, or stored away somewhere else.
Organise Your Shed
Yes, we’ve all heard this so many times. It probably makes you want to scream out,“I know this, it’s obvious!”
Here’s an age-old method though that works, but still gets ignored as it requires a little work.
Take all the regularly used items and organise them using a system reflecting how you use your garden shed.
Are you a gardener, or do you just use your shed for the typical items like the lawnmower, bikes and other items that have been forced out of the garage and basement?
If you’re a gardener then get yourself lots of hanging hooks, shelving and storage containers. It makes the organisation much easier when everything has its place.
Soil, compost and seeds can all be kept in containers and if the size permits, on shelves.
Planters and flower pots can be stacked and placed on shelving – hanging baskets can be hung from the hooks.
If your shed has rafters, get a couple of sheets of plywood and install them up there – then keep a ladder handy (hanging on the wall works well), and you can store the items you’re only going to be using when you’re first planting, saving you precious space.
If you’re just a storage shed kind of person, then add shelving above the space where your lawnmower goes. If space is tight, and you’re physically able, get some large hooks and when you push your lawnmower into the shed, tilt it up and hook the handle onto the bike-storage hooks, reducing the footprint of the mower for bikes or other large items.
If this won’t work- then make sure you have the shelving we mentioned earlier.
If you live in a northern climate where you’re really only using your shed in the late spring, summer and fall and can’t get to the shed in the winter anyway, then get winter items out and store them in the garage or basement.
Look Outward and Upward
As we’ve mentioned already, rafters are an ideal spot for storing items that you don’t use regularly. There are some great storage systems on the market to help make the most of the traditionally unused upper space of your shed.
For those of us looking for something simpler, and have rafters to work with, get some simple plywood sheeting from the local home improvement centre, and mount them on the top of the rafters.
You’ll need to either create a built-in ladder or keep a step ladder hanging on the wall close by for easy access. Up here you can place lightweight but large items such as planters, backyard torches, basically anything you can manage to get up there on a ladder.
Another simple and cheap way to create overhead storage space is by using screw-in hooks in the underside of your rafters and then suspending equal lengths of steel chain.
Attach a large piece of plywood to the ends of the chains with some S hooks, you’ll have a place for anything that you can lift there.
Be sure to use durable, quality hooks and chain and to keep things from falling off, screw some 2 x 4’s standing on their sides along the perimeter of the plywood sheet. Again, just watch the weight of the items being stored up here.
Have some ideas you’d like to share with others on storage or looking for the best sheds for sale? Leave a comment and tell us about your storage and organization tips and ideas!
POSTED BY 
