With the housing costs these days, plots of land are not as big as they used to be, and sometimes sheds are just set down with no thought or bother.
What backyard you do have is manky and does not do much for the curb appeal of your home. When you don’t have a big backyard, sometimes the shed cannot provide the storage you need,
Fear not!
There’s a plethora of ideas out there that can help you extend your living space, or at least prevent you from having to store the toolbox and Christmas decorations in the kitchen. You can build up and repurpose negative space with customization and multifunctional furniture.
Have a look at these design ideas to help make a shed storage and a beautiful, transformative space.
Solution 1
| Vertical sheds (space-saving) |
If your current shed isn’t too badly located, look at the building as a whole and think ‘UP’:
- Second-floor addition
- Floor-to-ceiling storage zones
- Outdoor stairs to access the 2nd floor
- Adding a loft for seasonal storage
Imagine a series of ropes and pulleys helping raise shelves to the second floor, or even an automated lift to carry seasonal things on pallets.
You can make purpose-built bins, drawers, or slots on one pallet and store winter things like:
- skis and boots
- snow shovels
- snow blower
- salt and sand
- Winter clothes
You could make pallets for all seasons, personalize and customize at will.
Of course, the climate you live in will affect your material choices.
So if you’re living in an area where there’s regular cold winters and hot summers, such as Lebanon County (PA), you’ll need sheds built up to standard. As you could imagine, shed repairs Lebanon County residents often have to pay for are mostly caused by damage from snow loads, thawing/cracking, plus other humidity-related issues.
In areas where there’s a more arid climate, such as Cochise County (AZ), shed repair businesses will have to deal with various damage caused by high heat and dehydration (UV damage, warping, dry rot, etc.).
The damage to a structure that you might expect is very dependent on where you live, so be sure to check what you should be looking for based on already collected data. If you’re unsure who to ask, your best bet is your local shed repair business – they know better what issues they’re dealing with.
This way, you’ll get a better idea of what would be required for new construction that’ll give you longevity from your vertical shed.
Solution 2
| Multifunctional furniture (bench storage) |
If you are a DIYer, consider building a multipurpose storage bench. You could have a fun lounge for the kids with a bench and pillows, but you can store your electric tools in the bench and have it pull up as a table when you want to do some woodworking.
When you want to multipurpose a room, almost anything could do the trick – it’s up to your creativity to determine which furniture choice you’re going with:
- Hidden airing cupboard – for laundry drying
- Fold up an ironing board – can be raised when done
- Shelves on the side of a door – leading outside for storage
The possibilities are (almost) endless. With enough imagination and creativity, you can have the appearance of a minimal but functional space for you and your family.
Solution 3
| Repurposed storage options (eco-friendly) |
If you have a collection of extra jars or enjoy garage sales and thrift stores, have a look around for interesting ideas for storage:
- Jars for buttons or screws
- Old milk delivery boxes for woolen blankets or sweaters
- Newspaper rollers for paper fire logs
- Used furniture with missing pieces could be plant holders, water features, or make cosy chairs or worktables
- Hat boxes could be handy for vintage treasures, pictures
You can find all kinds of treasures to use as something else, and you can pick up loads of ideas for repurposing all over the internet.
Solution 4
| Under-deck storage (maximizing unused space) |
Often, there is an unused space under your deck, and it seems a shame to waste it.
You could build a little trap door that can be lowered under the deck and will pop up…if you had the space, you could store tools for the BBQ, a small shovel, or your gardening tools.
If you wanted to make little hidey holes in the railings, you might have storage for Christmas lights or outside decorations.
Just make sure the storage box is weatherproof and can withstand cold temps.
Solution 5
| Custom-built mini sheds (durable for harsh climates) |
If you are starting from scratch, think of an Amish-made shed on a smaller scale for your yard size.
These are quite popular at the moment because:
- They are American-built
- Local Amish know what materials are best for the climate
- Quality workmanship
- Long lasting
Conclusion
If you are repairing your old shed or starting fresh, try to create a design that will complement your house, be functional, and, if you use your creativity, it won’t cost a fortune either. Your small backyard shed could be the cutest, most tranquil, useful thing about your home, inspiring garden art and beautiful flowers. Enjoy it all, the journey is the joy as well as the final product.
Last word of advice is make sure you have a maintenance plan for your shed, making sure any upkeep is done promptly, and your shed will last a good long time.