Too many of us look inside our garden sheds only to realise there is just no space left to store yet more valuables. To put that right and address the clutter once and for all, we have put together a handy little guide on all aspects of shed organisation. You will learn how to become more productive, avoid accidental damage and breakages, and make far more efficient use of one of your property’s key storage spaces. Let us dive right in!
Step-by-step approach to a shed organisation makeover
As with many tasks in life, we see great results when we take a systematic approach. Our step-by-step guide examines all the details and leaves nothing to chance. Follow each of the steps below to execute a perfect reorganisation of your shed.
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Step 1 - Establish a plan
Taking back control of messy, cluttered garden sheds starts with having a plan in place. We honestly believe the adage is right, “Fail to plan and you plan to fail”. So, get a plan and follow it through the step-by-step process. Essentially, part of the planning process is to create a shed inventory with categorisation, which we achieve through decluttering the shed.
Step 2 - Declutter your shed to free up shed space
The key to garden shed organisation is to start by removing all belongings that are inside so you can start with a blank canvas. If you try and declutter while keeping everything inside your shed, you just will not get anywhere.
We like to approach tidying out garden sheds by placing the entire contents out on the lawn during a day with a clear sky and no forecast of rain. This little shed organisation hack will get you off to the perfect start so that you can then really start to focus on all the shed storage solutions that will make the decluttering mission that little bit easier.
You will want to separate items into key categories, and the following would be a good start -
- Keep - items you want to keep, which will subsequently need to be categorised (see step 3 below)
- Donate - belongings you can donate
- Sell – clearing out a shed brings a great opportunity to sell items which still have value. Ideas for places to sell to include:
- Garage sale – sell out of your garage to passersby
- Online marketplaces – places such as Craigslist, eBay, Gumtree, etc.
- Scrapyards – these might buy metal items, which can have surprisingly high valuations
- Social media – post items for sale on Facebook, X (Twitter), etc.
- Discard - stuff that needs to be thrown away
- Hazardous – there are various hazardous materials you need to ask your local rubbish tip about such as chemicals (e.g. fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides), oil (e.g. for lawnmowers), and paints & solvents
Step 3 - Categorise shed belongings
All organised garden sheds categorise items so that every item has a place to go that makes sense from the moment you open the door. Good shed organisation, creates more space for garden belongings by breaking down belongings into categories.
These might include DIY tools, extension cords, gardening accessories, gardening tools, hardware & fasteners, hazardous chemicals, jam jars, lawnmowers, paint cans & supplies, power tools, safety equipment, seasonal decorations, seed packets, spare parts, sports equipment and other outdoor equipment.
Another key shed organisation tip to take note of is to create an inventory so you can track everything that is entering or exiting your shed. Just like if you were moving into one of our brand-new garden offices, you need a checklist that makes sure nothing is overlooked.
Step 4 - Design your layout
All garden sheds need to be easily accessible, and that means having walkways and pathways through the items inside that make sense. Imagine you have a small workbench along the back wall, does it make sense to rest your bikes in front of it? No, you need to adjust the layout so you can walk straight to your bench and get to work when the mood takes you.
Putting items, you use less frequently to one side or near the back of your shed is a smart move to make. It is a simple shed organisation idea that will allow you to be the owner of one of the most organised, easy-to-use garden sheds in your neighbourhood. This is preferable when you want to be able to quickly and easily get hold of your garden furniture set when there is sunshine and you have guests on the way.
A little bit of pre-thought is what organising your shed is all about!
Step 5 - Add garden shed storage ideas and solutions
Garden sheds that follow best practices when it comes to shed organisation will make use of a variety of the best shed storage ideas, such as:
Adjustable shelving
Shed shelving is something that can be readily added to any size of garden shed and used to reclaim your precious floor space. Adjustable shelving will use firm metal brackets and suitably pitched wood screws to ensure strong anchorage into the shed wall.
Shed storage bins
These are an easy addition to make that will allow you to put odds and ends like kindling, hand tools and offcuts to one side. Choose bins you can easily lift and relocate and you will have a much more accessible shed in next to no time.
Wall hooks
These are a simple way to lift large awkward items like bikes, rakes or shovels off the precious floor space and out of the way. This wall storage enables you to hang tools and other gardening essentials and is one of the best shed storage ideas to implement. Make sure they can take the weight of what you plan to hang so that you avoid doing unwanted damage to the shed wall.
Wall mounted racks
These are an excellent way to maximise additional shed storage space, allowing for the efficient organisation of gardening tools and outdoor equipment. These racks can be installed at various heights to accommodate items of different sizes, ensuring that everything from garden tools and garden equipment to sports equipment is neatly stored and easily accessible.
Using adjustable wall storage systems will allow you to save valuable floor space and give you some added flexibility when compared to static shelving units. This is perfect for creating garden sheds that are just as versatile in terms of storage as some of our metal garages.
As with all garden shed options, it is important to choose weather-resistant materials that will withstand years of use. Galvanised metal and treated wood are the name of the game here.
Step 6 - Organise items
Our experts know from experience that when you want garden sheds that make life easy, you need to be organised with the way you tidy items away. Organising your shed can start with something as simple as using labels and labelled storage containers to keep items in the right place, and it is a practice that will pay off in no time at all.
You could also create a truly organised shed by keeping a running list of which gardening tools and accessories you tend to use most often. Taking a proactive approach to shed organisation in this manner will allow you to adjust and tweak your strategy over time so that nothing is overlooked.
You may also want to consider specialist bike storage so that one of the largest, most awkward-shaped items is gone from your shed for good. Matching your new dedicated shed storage solution to one of our many fencing options could really help enhance the ambience of your outdoor space.
Step 7 – Ongoing shed organisation
Garden sheds need to be given love, care and attention if they are going to stay organised for years to come. Messy garden sheds were often once tidy and clutter-free, only to be gradually swallowed up by unnecessary spare parts, offcuts, and items that just do not seem to have a home anywhere else.
Here are a few tips to make sure you never make this classic shed organisation mistake:
- Have a simple routine - at the end of each day that involves putting items away in their homes, starting with the biggest, ending with the smallest
- Discard out-of-date items – numerous items can become out-of-date or less effective. Discard out-of-date bulbs & seeds, chemicals, fertilisers, pesticides & herbicides, paint, etc.
- Carry out seasonal checks - so that you can see if you need to move a few items around if you need easy access to different gardening tools more often
- Read our shed buying guide - take a quick look at our handy shed buying guide to see if we already stock something that could be a far better fit than what you have at present
Final thoughts
The art of good garden shed organisation and ensuring a tidy garden shed doesn’t need to be the daunting task that you may feel it is right now. The key is to get moving, make changes one step at a time, and be consistent with how and where you put shed items away. These little actions each day will allow you to get on top of the clutter and make optimal use of a versatile outdoor storage space that has been crying out for a little TLC.
Contact us
Using our dedicated contact form is a simple way to connect with a Shedstore expert. You can ask us anything you like about materials, shed storage ideas, shed storage containers, garden furniture, installations or layouts and we will come right back with the answers you simply will not be able to find anywhere else.
We have ideal shed storage solutions for when you want to save space, conquer the clutter and find the perfect fit for your property so you can lay your hands on anything you need. We are also available at 0333 003 0518, as well as on live text chat via our app.