When it comes to home storage, having a shed in your backyard can be a lifesaver. Sheds, not surprisingly, allow you to store various items that usually take up valuable space in your garage. Things like outdoor furniture, barbecue grills, lawnmowers, and lawn care tools can be stored in your shed instead, freeing up valuable storage space in the rest of your home.
Of course, like any space, your shed can become cluttered and disorganized if you’re not careful, which can be frustrating and time-consuming if you need to find something specific. Before that happens (or if it already has and you need help), look at the top tips for organizing your shed below. They’re brought to you by the storage pros at Move It Storage, so you know they’re going to be super-helpful!
Tip 1. Check the Weather Report
Organizing a shed can often be an hours-long affair. For starters, you’ll need to take a lot of stuff out of the shed, which means putting items outside on your driveway or lawn. The last thing you need is for it to start raining and soak all your stuff, so be sure to check the weather report before starting. That way, you’ll be sure to have dry weather while you organize.
Tip 2. Take Everything Out of Your Shed
As you can imagine, it’s difficult to organize a shed that’s full to the brim with stuff. It’s better to take everything out so you can start with a clean slate.
Tip 3. Use a Tarp when Organizing a Garden Shed
If you’re emptying your garden shed, and it’s surrounded by grass, put down a large tarp first. That way, you can lay out all of your tools on the tarp, see them better, protect them from possible wet grass, and protect your grass, also.
Tip 4. Assess Your Space
Once your shed is completely cleared, give yourself a few minutes to check it out and determine exactly the amount of space you’re dealing with. Is there room to put up shelving? Does it have rafters to hang stuff? Where can you place certain items so you can access them easily? If you answer these questions before organizing, you’ll have better results in maximizing shed space.
Tip 5. Use Shelving
There’s no denying that shelving of any kind can significantly increase the amount of storage space in your shed by utilizing vertical space. Some of the bigger metal shelving you can find in big-box home improvement stores can be upwards of 6 feet tall and have 5 or 6 big, roomy shelves.
Of course, since it’s a shed, you can put up any shelving you want. Even better, you can attach shelf brackets directly to the wooden beams. If you have extra lumber, turning it into shelves and using simple brackets can be a great money-saving solution. Plus, you can go even higher and use more vertical space. (Just be careful!)
Tip 6. Create Dedicated Spaces in Your Shed
Your typical shed will contain various items, including lawn care, outdoor furniture, and sports equipment. A well-organized shed has dedicated spaces for all of these different items. The left rear corner is for outdoor furniture; for example, the right is for lawn care, the ceiling rafters are for hoses and extension cords, etc.
By creating dedicated spaces, you’ll keep your shed better organized, and it will be much easier and faster to find specific items when needed. (Just be sure to put everything back in its designated space after every use.)
Tip 7. Put an Emphasis on Power Tool Organization
A good rake or shovel can set you back 20 or 30 bucks. On the other hand, a high-quality table saw, cordless drill, wood planer, or welding equipment can set you back several hundred dollars or more. Organizing your power tools demands more attention than regular hand tools.
Experts recommend custom holders and pegboards to keep power tools organized well and away from possibly wet or humid surfaces. It’s also recommended to store batteries and chargers in a designated spot and create a charging area for all your battery-operated power tools. In short, take extra care when organizing power tools so they stay in excellent working condition.
Tip 8. Make a Gardening Tool Holder with PVC Pipes
A garden tool holder can be a lifesaver when organizing a shed and will keep long-handled tools from creating clutter. Here’s how to make it;
- Start with a 5-gallon plastic bucket. You can reuse a paint bucket or purchase a new one.
- Purchase 20 feet of 2-inch PVC pipe and cut it into 2-foot lengths.
- Fill the bottom of the bucket about 6 to 8 inches using a small bag of quick-drying cement.
- Before the cement dries completely, but after it has hardened slightly, place the ten 2-foot long PVC pipes into it, standing vertically and spaced equally.
- Ensure the PVC pipes are stable and not leaning to one side.
- Let the concrete dry completely.
- Place your new garden tool holder in a corner of your shed and fill it with up to 10 large garden tools.
Honorable Mention DIY Shed Organization Tips
- Use magnetic strips to organize small hand tools.
- Store small items in clear containers, including plastic and glass
- Using large hooks, hang bicycles, hoses, extension cords, and other items from the ceiling rafters.
- Use a pegboard to organize hand tools.
- Clean up each time you use something. This will help keep your shed organized long-term.
- Use the back of your shed’s doors to hang stuff on hooks
- Repurpose an old dresser as a toolbox.
Last Words about Organizing Your Shed
At Move It Storage, we know a thing or two about organizing a storage area! We hope today’s tips will help you organize your shed just how you like it. If you need more storage space, however, we can help. Move It rents several sizes of storage units to fit practically anything, even cars and boats! Whatever you need to store, we can help you do it safely and affordably. Reserve a storage unit from Move It Storage today, and let us help you keep your home and your life well-organized!