It might not be somewhere we visit on a daily basis, but having an organised shed will make a world of difference when it comes to tackling those essential garden tasks.
It's easy to shove everything inside your shed, close the door, and hope for the best, but now is the time to get on top of this area and have it prepared for the summer season (and finally off your to-do list).
Below, I've rounded up some of the best (yet simple) ways to get your shed in order this spring – no matter how big your budget, shed or garden design may be.
Article continues below1. A rail to hang long tools
After spotting this garden tool storage solution on an episode of Gardeners' World, Homebuilding & Renovating's editor Beth Murton knew she had to give it a go in her own shed – especially since Monty Don had done something similar.
"We simply attached pieces of wood to the shed wall in two rows. The bottom row has wooden pegs inserted along the length of the timber, and it’s great for hanging larger garden tools such as spades. The top row has simple nails along its length and we hook smaller tools such as secateurs on this row," she explains.
"There’s also space behind the timber to tuck in items such as gardening gloves. It means our garden tools are kept neatly to one side of the shed and we can easily spot the tool we need without having to root around the shed looking for it. It’s a cheap and simple idea but really effective at keeping the space tidy."
Durable, smooth and easy to install, these birchwood pegs are ideal for hanging gardening equipment.
For the past 20+ years, Beth has worked for and contributed to a number of leading magazines and websites in the UK, including Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, Ideal Home, Period Living and Grand Designs.
2. A workstation for garden tasks
Whether you're re-potting seedlings or building a bird box, having a workstation in your shed is an excellent idea, saving you from bending down to floor level in the garden or bringing dirty items into the house.
In the example above, the station features a handy shelving area beneath the worktop, providing a convenient place to store tools and materials so you always know where to find them.
While there are plenty of pre-made options available, like the one below from Amazon, this is a job you could easily tackle yourself – especially if you have any leftover decking going spare!
With an aluminium worktop and two wooden shelves, this unit is the perfect place for potting plants.
3. Good lighting scheme
There’s nothing worse than spending hours looking for one specific item, which is why having a good shed lighting design is an absolute must. This may sound simple, but it’s often overlooked in our outbuildings.
In an ideal world, you would have natural lighting through a window, along with a ceiling light for general brightness, task lighting for everyday activities, and a portable light for moving around.
With its waterproof, portable, and rechargeable design, this light strip is ideal for tackling tasks in the shed.
4. Vertical wall-mounted shelving
Instead of piling your belongings on top of each other and creating a big old mess, install some wall-mounted shelving units to keep things neat and tidy. In the photo above, items have been grouped by category so that they’re easy to find.
Hanging a shelf is a simple DIY task that can be completed in four steps: placing and anchoring your brackets, preparing your shelf, installing the brackets and shelf, and then adding the finishing touches like wood protection and paint.
These floating shelves look neat and streamlined and can hold up to 10 kg each – suitable for small tools and pots.
5. A multi-functional storage solution
If space doesn’t allow for large shelves or built-in units, consider installing a hanging storage solution, as shown in the photo above. This rack is perfect for organising small – and often hard-to-find – items such as seedling pots, hand forks, scissors, and gloves, and it won’t take up too much room.
If you want to take your shed organisation to the next level, you could also add labels so everything has a permanent home.
This heavy-duty storage set can hold up to 22.7 kg per shelf and includes a tool organiser and set of hooks.
“Just as you wouldn’t expect a kitchen to function without shelves and drawers, or a wardrobe without rails and compartments, a shed works best when it is properly planned," says Jenny Davis, Head of Marketing for The Posh Shed Company. "With the right layout and smart storage solutions, even the most cluttered shed can be transformed into an organised, practical space."
For more garden inspiration, browse through these beautiful cottage garden patio ideas or discover how to smarten up your space with clever wheelie bin storage ideas.
