6 Ideas for Organising your Shed

A garden shed is a wonderful asset to any home. It’s a great place to store all your outdoor equipment, sports gear, or even just extra boxes and furniture. But sheds can quickly become cluttered and unorganised. If you find yourself constantly searching for things in your shed, it’s time to get it organised. In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to organise your shed so that you can easily find what you need when you need it. From shelves and bins to hooks and racks, we’ll help you get your shed organised in no time.

Step 1: Declutter

Firstly, you'll need to declutter. Here's some tips for decluttering your shed: 

Sheds can quickly become a dumping ground for all of the unwanted junk in your house. If your shed is full of stuff that you no longer need or want, it's time for a purge. The first step to organising your shed is to declutter it. This means getting rid of anything that you don't need or use anymore.

You can start by taking everything out of the shed and sorting through it. Make three piles: one for items to keep, one for items to donate or sell, and one for items to throw away. Be ruthless as you go through each item; if you haven't used it in the past year, chances are you won't use it again. Once you have sorted everything, put only the necessary items back into the shed.

If you find yourself struggling to let go of some of the items, ask yourself why you are holding on to them. Do they hold sentimental value? Can they be replaced if necessary? If the answer is no to both questions, then it's time to say goodbye. Letting go of things can be difficult, but it will make more space in your shed (and your life) for things that are actually important to you.

Step 2: Clean

Once you have decluttered your shed, it's time to give it a good cleaning. This will help prepare the space for better organisation.

Start by sweeping out all the dirt and debris. If you have any shelves or cabinets in the shed, remove everything from them so you can clean them thoroughly. Use a mild soap and a soft cloth to clean all surfaces. Be sure to rinse everything off completely so that no soap residue is left behind.

Now might be a good time, to repaint your shed if it hasn't been done for a while. You could always consider painting the inside in a lighter coloured shade at the same time.

Once everything is clean and dry, you can start putting things back in the shed. But before you do, take a moment to think about how you want to organise things. This will make the process much easier and quicker.

Step 3: Sort and group

If your garden shed is cluttered and unorganised, it can be difficult to find what you're looking for. Sorting and grouping your items into categories will make it much easier to find what you need, when you need it.

Start by sorting your items into categories. For example, gardening tools, sporting equipment, household items, garden furniture, etc. Then, within each category, group items together that are similar in size or function. This will make it much easier to find what you're looking for, and to keep your shed organised.

Step 4: Label

Assuming you have already decluttered and sorted through your items, it is now time to label. This step will help you to keep your shed organised in the future as it will be easier to find items and put them back in the correct place.

To label, you will need some form of labels and a marker pen. You can either buy pre-made labels or make your own. If you are making your own labels, make sure they are waterproof and sturdy so they will last.

Once you have your labels, start by labeling each shelf or area of your shed. Write down what goes in that area and where it should go. For example, if you have a gardening section, label it as such and write down which tools go where.

If you have items that don't fit into a specific category, create a catch-all area for them and label it accordingly. Once everything is labeled, put everything back in its rightful place and enjoy your newly organised shed!

Step 5: Put it all back

When you've finished decluttering and cleaning your shed, it's time to start putting everything back. You'll want to start with the big items first, such as any lawnmowers or garden furniture. Once those are in place, you can start filling in the smaller items.

It's important to take a bit of time when putting things back into your shed, as you want to make sure everything has a home. This will make it much easier to keep your shed organised in the future. If you're not sure where something should go, take a look at how you use it most often and try to find a spot near there.

Ensure you maximise storage by adding shelves and a waist height workbench. This too can have further storage underneath. Greenhouse shelving is often ideal for this purpose, but it's also easy to make your own. 

Screw the lid of jam jars and other clear coloured screw top jars underneath shelves and use these as easy storage for screws, nails, bolts, washers, etc. The glass jars are easily removable to access the contents and as they reside under the shelf, they not only stay put, but they also make use of dead space.

Add nails or hooks to the walls to keep tools off the floor. You can also draw a line around the perimeter of small tools so you can easily put them back in the correct place once you've finished using them. 

Once everything is back in its place, you can step back and admire your work! A well-organised shed can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying your time outside.

Maintenance

It's important to keep your shed organised, not only for aesthetic purposes but also for practicality. A well-organised shed will be easier to maintain and will last longer. Here are some tips on how to keep your shed organised:

1. Make a plan: Before you start organising your shed, it's important to make a plan. Decide what you want to use your shed for and what needs to go where. This will help you make the most of the space available and ensure that everything has its place.

2. Declutter: One of the first steps in organising your shed is to declutter. Get rid of any unwanted or unused items that are taking up space. This will make it much easier to organise the remainder of your belongings.

3. Sort into categories: Once you've decluttered, it's time to sort the remaining items into categories. This will help you know where everything is and make it easier to grab what you need when you need it. Common categories include gardening tools, sports equipment, garden furniture and household items.

4. Label everything: Labelling is key when it comes to keeping an organised shed. Use labels or tags on shelves and storage containers so that you know exactly what is inside them. This will save you time and frustration when searching for items.

5. Invest in storage solutions: There are many different storage solutions available for sheds, so take advantage of them! Shelving units, bins, and clear plastic tubs. 

6. Get a dustbin: Having a dustbin in the corner of your shed means you will throw away rubbish at the time rather than holding onto it and this will prevent you from building up the clutter once more.

Rowlinson Premier Potting Station

Conclusion

A well-organised shed can make all the difference in your gardening or DIY projects. By following these simple tips, you can turn your shed into a space that is both functional and stylish. Don't be afraid to get creative and make use of all the available storage options. With a little effort, you can turn your shed into a home from home.