by Dakota Storage Buildings, on March 16, 2021
Taking full advantage of your current shed space could solve your storage problem.
Warm weather is just around the corner. Lawn and garden equipment and accessories are front and center at home improvement stores. Every person with a front lawn, backyard, or garden is eyeing up the brand new lawn mowers that promise to work faster and the portable fire pits that would perfectly cook hotdogs and s'mores. Yep, you've noticed, and you've been mentally price checking.
Whether you're comparing new lawn mowers, portable steel fire pits, or time-saving motorized garden tools, if you choose to buy it, you have to store it somewhere. Unfortunately, your backyard shed is full. You just have enough room for what's inside of it now. There's no room for anything else.
So, what now?
Well, you could buy a second, smaller backyard garden shed. But, honestly, your first step should be to clear out your current shed. Before making another purchase, take the time to rearrange and reorganize what you have. Taking steps to maximize your current space could be all you need, plus it would save some money. Starting the task may seem overwhelming or feel like a low priority. But you'll be glad you did it when the time comes to store that new equipment or pack up that fire pit before winter.
Here are a few space-saving ideas you can use in your shed to make the most of your storage space.
1. Keep, Toss, Donate
Go through your shed, and take out each item. As you do, determine:
- Which you want to keep — set these aside for now; they will go back into your shed later.
- Which are broken or unusable — toss 'em.
- Which work but you barely, if ever, use — you can drive these to the donation center later.
(Note: While you could sell these items, doing so would take more time and effort than if you donated them. To keep the process streamlined and minimize effort, we suggest donating instead of selling — it will bless your community and make your task list just a little shorter.)
Once your items have been categorized as keep, toss, or donate, it's time to contemplate the best organization systems for your "keep" pile.
2. Set Up Wall, Floor, and Overhead Storage
Consider which storage options will maximize your space — primarily that means walls, floors, and overhead area.
When creating a plan, factor in your large items as you'll need to work around them. For instance, if you have a riding lawn mower and a snowblower, think about where they'll set into your shed. They should be placed where they're easily accessible. From there, you can measure your leftover, usable wall and floor space.
For wall and floor storage, we suggest setting up a storage system that could include repurposed bookshelves, DIY shelves, or utility shelves. Metal, wire, or plastic utility shelving are best because they're durable, built to handle moderate weight, and have ventilated shelves that prevent mold and mildew. For more wall storage, consider wall-mounted storage racks perfect for tools with handles (think brooms, rakes, shovels) or utilizing the vertical space between wall studs with a kit like the VersaCaddy.
Finally, depending on the roofline of your shed, you might be able to utilize overhead space with an overhead storage kit or DIY loft. This is a great place to store items that you use seasonally or infrequently (e.g., camping gear, coolers, plastic storage bins with seasonal decor) so that valuable square footage is freed up.
As you measure your space for storage solutions, consider versatile storage options as they will allow you to reconfigure down the road if necessary — like when you decide to buy a lawn aerator and need to make room for that, too.
3. Organize the Small Things
With your large items accounted for and wall, floor, and overhead storage systems in place, you can turn your attention to smaller items. Store smaller items together and within the various storage systems you put into place. You can use clear plastic storage bins, tool boxes, glass jars, pegboards, and more.
For instance, you can hang your go-to gardening tools together on a pegboard or inside a large wooden crate. Or secure fertilizers and weed killer inside plastic storage bins to prevent spills, contain odors, and keep pests out. Or use a wall-mounted magnetic strip to hold magnetic containers with transparent lids perfect for storing seeds, nails, screws, and other small items that can be easily lost or misplaced.
4. Enjoy the Extra Room 🙌
With your large items accounted for, storage systems in place, and smaller items organized and stored, you should have more room in your shed than when you started. You've done all you can do to maximize your shed storage space — congrats! Now, when you're looking at riding lawn mowers or fancy new grills, you'll know whether or not you have room for it in your shed or if you'll need to store it somewhere else.
About Dakota Storage Buildings
Life is demanding and full of choices. We’d love to make just one aspect of your life a little easier. That’s why it’s our mission to provide storage solutions you can trust, from sheds and garages to coops and kennels. Customize your storage building with our online 3-D configurator, explore our stock buildings, or find a display location near you. Our team is now serving North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, western Wisconsin, northeast Nebraska, and north-central Iowa. Discover The Dakota Difference.
