How To Organize A Storage Shed? 

A backyard utility storage shed is a great way to instantly add storage space to your home. You may even free up some much-needed space inside the garage as well. However, if you’re not careful, the storage shed can quickly become an organizational nightmare. Many people start off with good intentions, but over time they toss tools into the shed, stack paint cans, and shove garden equipment into whatever space is available. 

Not only does a disorganized shed make it difficult to find the tools and equipment you’re looking for, but it can make the space a fire hazard if you’re not careful. That is exactly why you need to know how to organize a storage shed. With these simple tips and tricks, you’ll maximize your storage space while making it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Make Sure Everything Has A Dual Purpose

If you are going to add a workspace to your shed (a popular feature when you want to store tools and other equipment in your shed), you will want to make sure the workspace isn’t just a desk. You will want to make sure the entire area underneath it can be used for storage. This can be anything from a series of drawers and cabinets to shelving. Space is a premium inside your shed, which is exactly why you need to do everything in your power to take advantage of the space that is at your disposal.

Shelving

Shelving in a storage shed is a game changer. If you don’t have shelving installed in your shed, now is the time to do so. Depending on the square footage of your shed, you might be able to run shelving around all three walls of the building. If this isn’t possible, you likely can, at the very least, install shelving along the rear wall. 

With shelves installed, you can further organize the space while, at the same time, making it easier to find equipment because you won’t be stacking everything. You will want to avoid stacking as much as possible because not only does stacking make it difficult to find what you’re searching for, but it forces you to move all kinds of material out of the way just to grab the item you require.

Storage Containers

Adding shelves to your shed is always a great way to help organize your shed. This way, you won’t rely solely on stacking random items on top of one another (which is a quick way to have a completely cluttered space that prevents you from ever finding anything). Storage containers make it that much easier for you to take advantage of the shelving. It also keeps everything unified and easy to maintain. 

Typically, it is best to use similar-sized storage containers so then, if necessary, you can stack them on top of one another. Plus, you can clearly mark the storage containers, so you know where everything is. Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you have something inside the shed but not knowing exactly where it is, and then after hours of searching, you just give up (only to find it months later when looking for something else).

Clear storage containers do make it easier to look inside without popping the tops, while solid-colored containers help tidy up the look and reduce the appearance of clutter. Whatever fits your needs.

Pegboards

Possibly the one piece of organization material that is even more beneficial than shelving is the classic pegboard. This is especially the case if you use your storage shed for your lawn care tools and equipment. Shovels of various sizes, rakes, hammers, and whatever other tools you have can easily take up space while making your shed disorganized. Tools with long handles resting against walls quickly become tripping obstacles. However, on a pegboard, you can hang all of your tools along the wall. This makes it easy to see everything you have while freeing up space off of the ground.

Depending on the amount of space you have inside of your shed, you can install an entire pegboard wall, or, if you have a workspace inside of the shed, you might want to add pegboard over the workspace. This is a great addition to smaller tools. It also keeps all of your tools at arm’s length, so instead of sifting through boxes and bins for the right tool, all you need to do is look up and grab the tool from the wall.

Pegboards can also be customizable, so if you ever want to tweak your storage setup, add space for new tools, or swap what you’re hanging on the wall, you can easily do this without much of a problem.

Storage Pallets

Are you someone that likes to hold onto discarded wood of random sizes after finishing a project? After all, you never know when you might need that extra piece of 2×4, right? The problem with this is where are you going to put it? Sticking it on a shelf takes up valuable space, and yet if you put it into a box or bin, you might not remember where it is when the time comes to use it.

For this issue, you can actually use shipping pallets and convert them into storage pallets. By removing one side beam from the pallet, you can install it along a wall (just make sure the side with the now removed beam is at the top). From here, you can add the wood you’re saving into the pallet, which will easily hold your scrap wood. This is a great option if you’re looking for ways to organize scraps and don’t want to go out and spend any money. 

Chances are, there are plenty of retailers around town that have plenty of shipping pallets they no longer need (you can also check on websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for locations giving these items away).

Add a Loft

Do you have a high arching ceiling? Some sheds have relatively little clearance space along the ceiling, while other shed designs offer considerable space. This added ceiling clearance is unused storage space that you can absolutely take advantage of.

It doesn’t take much work to add a loft to your shed. The loft doesn’t even need to span the entire ceiling. You may just want to install a partial loft at the end of the shed. This might be enough space to hold several objects, ranging anywhere from coolers to sporting goods, old holiday decorations, or other odds and ends you don’t use frequently but also want to hold onto. 

It’s amazing just how much additional storage space installing a loft into your shed will give you. It is also something to consider if you want to add a new shed to your property. By designing a shed with a high-arching roof, you have the ability to bring a second floor to your space, which in turn will allow you to maximize your storage capacity.

Begin Designing Your New Shed

Are you tired of your current shed, and you’d like to upgrade your outdoor storage space? Or maybe you don’t have a shed, and you would like to add the space to your property that meets all of your specific design needs. Whatever it is you’re looking for, whatever your requirements and whatever kind of size you’re interested in when it comes to designing the ultimate storage shed from the ground up, the team at Barnyard Utility Buildings is here to help. And all you need to do to get the process started is give our friendly customer service staff a call at your earliest convenience.