Find Outdoor Storage Space You Never Knew You Had
You've focused on the storage options indoors, but have you thought about how you can stash all the stuff that gathers outdoors?
Candice Day
8 May 2015
Houzz Contributor based in Perth. Qualified Landscape Designer at LD TOTAL.
When you stop to think about it, it’s easy to come up with a long list of items that belong outdoors. They’re sometimes pretty, and can frequently be fun, but more often than not, they’re purely practical. Think outdoor chairs and cushions, children’s toys and bikes, rubbish and recycling bins, firewood and garden tools.
Wherever possible, it’s best to incorporate storage space into your initial garden design so you end up with some clever dual-purpose elements and a seamless outdoor look. As a landscape designer, I always think carefully about what needs to be stored and then come up with ideas to make sure it can be stowed neatly and inconspicuously.
Wherever possible, it’s best to incorporate storage space into your initial garden design so you end up with some clever dual-purpose elements and a seamless outdoor look. As a landscape designer, I always think carefully about what needs to be stored and then come up with ideas to make sure it can be stowed neatly and inconspicuously.
Build around your barbecue
Maximise storage around your barbecue by adding cupboards and drawers. An outdoor kitchen is another great place that offers invaluable extra storage capacity. Items can be kept away from the elements and out of sight, but are easy to grab when you need them. It’s a perfect spot for entertaining essentials such as drinks, coasters, napkins, barbecue tongs, picnic glasses and mozzie spray.
Maximise storage around your barbecue by adding cupboards and drawers. An outdoor kitchen is another great place that offers invaluable extra storage capacity. Items can be kept away from the elements and out of sight, but are easy to grab when you need them. It’s a perfect spot for entertaining essentials such as drinks, coasters, napkins, barbecue tongs, picnic glasses and mozzie spray.
Add shelving
It may seem simple, but adding clever shelving can make the world of difference when it comes to creating extra outdoor storage. Take a good look at the areas and furniture you already have and consider if anything can be altered or adapted. This is particularly important in existing gardens. Does the corner of your shed have space for a few extra shelves? Can your garage accommodate wire shelving racks? It will probably mean these areas can contain more than just garden tools and half-empty bags of compost.
It may seem simple, but adding clever shelving can make the world of difference when it comes to creating extra outdoor storage. Take a good look at the areas and furniture you already have and consider if anything can be altered or adapted. This is particularly important in existing gardens. Does the corner of your shed have space for a few extra shelves? Can your garage accommodate wire shelving racks? It will probably mean these areas can contain more than just garden tools and half-empty bags of compost.
Make the most of a side garden or passageway
Think differently about how you use ‘hidden’ outdoor spaces, such as passageways down the side of your house, or walls that face away from entertaining areas. Peg boards and hooks are great ways to store everything from garden equipment to outdoor toys and pool toys, without cluttering up pathways and access points.
Bike racks are a great example and there are lots of options from wall-mounted to overhead and even extension stands. Companies such as PWS and Cora have a huge range of wall-mounting options that can be ordered online and are easy to install yourself.
Think differently about how you use ‘hidden’ outdoor spaces, such as passageways down the side of your house, or walls that face away from entertaining areas. Peg boards and hooks are great ways to store everything from garden equipment to outdoor toys and pool toys, without cluttering up pathways and access points.
Bike racks are a great example and there are lots of options from wall-mounted to overhead and even extension stands. Companies such as PWS and Cora have a huge range of wall-mounting options that can be ordered online and are easy to install yourself.
Hang your tools
Garden sheds are renowned for accumulating clutter. Gardening tools can be particularly tricky to find amongst the mess, and tool boxes can take up precious space. A magnetic storage strip or a peg board could resolve these issues. You can find them at hardware and storage stores such as Bunnings and Lifespace.
Garden sheds are renowned for accumulating clutter. Gardening tools can be particularly tricky to find amongst the mess, and tool boxes can take up precious space. A magnetic storage strip or a peg board could resolve these issues. You can find them at hardware and storage stores such as Bunnings and Lifespace.
Build in bench storage
Consider incorporating custom-built seating that conceals handy storage. This type of storage blends seamlessly with your garden design and is great for stashing away outdoor cushions, for example. Add in an icebox and you have the perfect party piece. Incorporate storage into bench-style seating along a retaining wall and you have the ideal hideaway for the kids’ outdoor games and pool toys.
Consider incorporating custom-built seating that conceals handy storage. This type of storage blends seamlessly with your garden design and is great for stashing away outdoor cushions, for example. Add in an icebox and you have the perfect party piece. Incorporate storage into bench-style seating along a retaining wall and you have the ideal hideaway for the kids’ outdoor games and pool toys.
Invest in storage boxes
Outdoor storage boxes are so simple, but so effective. Look for ones that have been especially designed for outdoors. There are even storage boxes that can double up as an outdoor seat, and Ikea has a great range of storage containers on wheels, so you can move what you need to where you need it. Outdoor trolleys and shelving units can also provide excellent storage while helping to style your outdoor oasis.
Outdoor storage boxes are so simple, but so effective. Look for ones that have been especially designed for outdoors. There are even storage boxes that can double up as an outdoor seat, and Ikea has a great range of storage containers on wheels, so you can move what you need to where you need it. Outdoor trolleys and shelving units can also provide excellent storage while helping to style your outdoor oasis.
Go big with shipping containers
Shipping containers make for great storage where space permits, whether you need a mini cube or something of epic proportions. Royal Wolf specialises in containers of all sizes, which can be turned into practical storage, especially for those occasional-use or seasonal items, such as extra outdoor chairs for parties, garden umbrellas and sun lounges. They can also be a good storage solution for large outdoor equipment including ride-on mowers.
Shipping containers make for great storage where space permits, whether you need a mini cube or something of epic proportions. Royal Wolf specialises in containers of all sizes, which can be turned into practical storage, especially for those occasional-use or seasonal items, such as extra outdoor chairs for parties, garden umbrellas and sun lounges. They can also be a good storage solution for large outdoor equipment including ride-on mowers.
Take over the kids’ cubby house
Let your imagination run free! If you’re adding a new element to your garden, look at it as an opportunity to add in clever storage, too. A kids’ cubby house is the perfect spot to store your outdoor equipment. Why not use the space on the ground floor as a mini storeroom and build the play house above? It won’t get in the way of the kids having fun, but will allow you to keep your things out of sight and out of mind.
TELL US
Have you got a clever outdoor storage tip you can share? Let us know in the Comments section.
MORE
20 Storage Ideas That Say “Now, Why Didn’t I Think of That?”
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Putting Something in Storage
11 Cleaning Tricks for Outdoor Furniture
Let your imagination run free! If you’re adding a new element to your garden, look at it as an opportunity to add in clever storage, too. A kids’ cubby house is the perfect spot to store your outdoor equipment. Why not use the space on the ground floor as a mini storeroom and build the play house above? It won’t get in the way of the kids having fun, but will allow you to keep your things out of sight and out of mind.
TELL US
Have you got a clever outdoor storage tip you can share? Let us know in the Comments section.
MORE
20 Storage Ideas That Say “Now, Why Didn’t I Think of That?”
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Putting Something in Storage
11 Cleaning Tricks for Outdoor Furniture
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Bench storage is not a good idea. You'd be surprised how many unwelcome inhabitants appreciate dark little nooks and crannies...like red back spiders and whitetails and a few of the reptile variety. Even free standing decorative storage boxes are on their list.