8 Shed Storage Ideas to Help Beat Garden Clutter
Use shelves, racks and other clever storage techniques to keep your garden shed clean and organized
Victoria Harrison
October 5, 2019
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Garden clutter can build up quickly, so a well-organized shed is essential for keeping on top of everything. Take a look at these ideas for making the most of the storage space in yours.
1. Start With Shelves
When it comes to sheds, you can almost never have too many shelves, so try to factor in as many as possible when adding a new garden shed. If you don’t have the option to build your own, you can buy an adjustable shelving system to place inside the shed; just try to find one that goes right up to the roof.
To work out how much storage you need, sort items into groups, such as outdoor living (lanterns, chair cushions and torches), gardening (baskets, bulbs, watering cans) and wildlife (bird feeders, boxes of seed) then allocate shelf space to each.
Place the most frequently used items on the middle shelves to avoid unnecessary bending down or stretching up to reach things.
When it comes to sheds, you can almost never have too many shelves, so try to factor in as many as possible when adding a new garden shed. If you don’t have the option to build your own, you can buy an adjustable shelving system to place inside the shed; just try to find one that goes right up to the roof.
To work out how much storage you need, sort items into groups, such as outdoor living (lanterns, chair cushions and torches), gardening (baskets, bulbs, watering cans) and wildlife (bird feeders, boxes of seed) then allocate shelf space to each.
Place the most frequently used items on the middle shelves to avoid unnecessary bending down or stretching up to reach things.
2. Maximize Wall Space With a Rack
Garden tools in frequent use need to be quick to find and easy to put away at the end of the day, so a wall-hung storage rack like this one will keep them all close at hand.
A wire grid with S hooks allows for the perfect configuration of items, and it can be set up exactly as you want it. Try to keep like with like and arrange in ascending height order for a pleasingly neat display.
Upgrading your outdoor spaces? Find a garden designer on Houzz
Garden tools in frequent use need to be quick to find and easy to put away at the end of the day, so a wall-hung storage rack like this one will keep them all close at hand.
A wire grid with S hooks allows for the perfect configuration of items, and it can be set up exactly as you want it. Try to keep like with like and arrange in ascending height order for a pleasingly neat display.
Upgrading your outdoor spaces? Find a garden designer on Houzz
3. Hang Magnetic Strips
An alternative way to store metal tools is to run a couple of magnetic strips along your shed wall and suspend brushes, pliers and so on. Small items, such as pencils and plant labels, can be stored in metal tins attached to the strip.
If children have access to the shed, however, ensure this is fixed high up the wall to keep sharp items away from small hands.
Shop for magnetic wall racks on Houzz
An alternative way to store metal tools is to run a couple of magnetic strips along your shed wall and suspend brushes, pliers and so on. Small items, such as pencils and plant labels, can be stored in metal tins attached to the strip.
If children have access to the shed, however, ensure this is fixed high up the wall to keep sharp items away from small hands.
Shop for magnetic wall racks on Houzz
4. Store Seeds in Glass Jars
Take inspiration from your kitchen pantry and store small garden “ingredients,” such as seeds, in small glass jars for a consistent display that’s easy to navigate. Just make sure each jar is clearly labeled to avoid mix-ups.
Larger glass jars are also useful for keeping twine, plant labels and other small items tidied away but clearly visible.
See more glass jars
Take inspiration from your kitchen pantry and store small garden “ingredients,” such as seeds, in small glass jars for a consistent display that’s easy to navigate. Just make sure each jar is clearly labeled to avoid mix-ups.
Larger glass jars are also useful for keeping twine, plant labels and other small items tidied away but clearly visible.
See more glass jars
5. Use the Door
Doors provide handy vertical storage space that’s often overlooked, so add a row or two of wall hooks to yours and you’ll instantly gain a valuable extra spot for stashing shed paraphernalia.
Avoid hanging up anything heavy, such as tools, that could swing and knock against the door each time you open it. Stick to lightweight items instead, such as canvas bags, aprons or kneeling cushions.
Doors provide handy vertical storage space that’s often overlooked, so add a row or two of wall hooks to yours and you’ll instantly gain a valuable extra spot for stashing shed paraphernalia.
Avoid hanging up anything heavy, such as tools, that could swing and knock against the door each time you open it. Stick to lightweight items instead, such as canvas bags, aprons or kneeling cushions.
6. Repurpose a Piece of Furniture
Salvaged items seem to fit very well in a garden, particularly if they have a rustic finish. So if you’re looking for a storage unit for your shed, consider giving your secondhand find a new lease on life.
Dressers or bookshelves can all work well as workstations and storage areas, and shelf units can be fitted with hooks to hang tools and twine.
Be sure the furniture you choose to repurpose is made for outdoor use and will hold up in the weather outside. Otherwise, stick it in the shed, under a covered patio or in a garage.
Salvaged items seem to fit very well in a garden, particularly if they have a rustic finish. So if you’re looking for a storage unit for your shed, consider giving your secondhand find a new lease on life.
Dressers or bookshelves can all work well as workstations and storage areas, and shelf units can be fitted with hooks to hang tools and twine.
Be sure the furniture you choose to repurpose is made for outdoor use and will hold up in the weather outside. Otherwise, stick it in the shed, under a covered patio or in a garage.
7. Squeeze in a Potting Bench
A sturdy bench with storage space underneath will provide an essential work surface for gardeners to sow seeds and pot up young plants. If you want your shed to be a working space, you’ll need to make room for a bench.
This will eat into valuable floor space, though, so look for one with a shelf underneath to help organize compost bags, pots and watering cans, and combine it with wall storage above for a hardworking potting station.
Browse potting benches on Houzz
A sturdy bench with storage space underneath will provide an essential work surface for gardeners to sow seeds and pot up young plants. If you want your shed to be a working space, you’ll need to make room for a bench.
This will eat into valuable floor space, though, so look for one with a shelf underneath to help organize compost bags, pots and watering cans, and combine it with wall storage above for a hardworking potting station.
Browse potting benches on Houzz
8. Use the Outside Wall
If space is tight inside your shed, don’t forget about the outside. You could hang up a slim storage unit (in this case, an old pallet). While it couldn’t be used for things that need to be kept dry, you could store sturdy items such as plant pots, or add a few hooks to hang a watering can or garden hose.
You could also use this wall to create a vertical garden or living wall in a small space, provided adequate drainage is factored in so water isn’t allowed to run down the wall of the shed.
Your turn: What are your shed storage tips? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
How to Declutter Your Garden
Browse thousands of shed ideas
Find a landscape designer
Shop for outdoor storage
If space is tight inside your shed, don’t forget about the outside. You could hang up a slim storage unit (in this case, an old pallet). While it couldn’t be used for things that need to be kept dry, you could store sturdy items such as plant pots, or add a few hooks to hang a watering can or garden hose.
You could also use this wall to create a vertical garden or living wall in a small space, provided adequate drainage is factored in so water isn’t allowed to run down the wall of the shed.
Your turn: What are your shed storage tips? Share in the Comments.
More on Houzz
How to Declutter Your Garden
Browse thousands of shed ideas
Find a landscape designer
Shop for outdoor storage
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spiders. why are sheds always FULL of spiders?!!
These sheds were beautiful. You know the moment you hang your apron and hat in there some gargantuan spider family is moving in when that door closes. No thank you, sir.
As luck would have it, we’ve just had a new shed installed. Not a massively expensive one (well, it was, but not in the great scheme of things and compared to others!) and I’ve already built in some shelves and put up a couple of those gripping hanger strips, but that idea of magnet strips…love it! Also, as luck would have it (again), we’re off to IKEA
soon so will definitely be getting some of those :)
I’ll be getting some hooks on the door for kneeling pads, too.
Some great ideas here (and I just might copy that idea of painting the inside white…