Outdoor storage isn’t exactly straightforward. Unlike a home that has closets, cabinets, and drawers to hide your unappealing possessions, a backyard is wide open, meaning you have to think outside the box to organize and store your stuff.
But no matter your backyard situation—whether you have a teeny balcony, medium-sized patio, or sprawling lawn—there are plenty of easy, practical outdoor storage ideas to organize your landscaping tools, pool cleaning equipment, gardening materials, kids’ toys, and more.
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19 Best Backyard Storage Ideas, Tips & Hacks You Need To Try
1. Turn a bookcase into an outdoor storage bench
This genius tutorial from So You Think You’re Crafty repurposes a narrow bookcase to make a padded storage bench. Just gather some foam, fabric, a can of paint, and bam — your tired bookcase is reborn as a dual-purpose seating area.
As far as storage possibilities go, get creative:
Fill the cubbies in your bench with towels, blankets, baskets of gardening tools, or pretty planters.
Want more cool DIY storage ideas?
Check out these 10 DIY storage and furniture projects you can make in less than one hour.
2. Revamp your tool shed
Tool sheds are a convenient, efficient way to store the equipment you need to maintain and spruce up your backyard — like lawnmowers, landscaping tools, planters, and hoses.
The only problem?
Tool sheds don’t always feature a smart design on the inside.
If that’s the case, take a cue from the men behind The Cavender Diary and make a few basic changes to upgrade your tool shed.
Tear out bulky shelves. Install an IKEA Grundtal rail, utensil holder, and S-hook to hold small gardening tools. Add wall hooks. Or hang a sturdy bin to store items like fertilizer and plant spray.
Learn more: 15 Budget-Friendly Backyard Lighting Ideas 2024
3. Use a hanging organizer to store gardening tools
A hanging organizer is the baking soda equivalent of organizing tools: It fixes every problem.
You can use hanging organizers to store shoes, winter accessories, makeup, beauty products, crafts, and even cleaning supplies, so why not use them in your backyard, too?
Stuff the pockets with your gardening gloves, clippers, plant stakes, twine, and seed packets like The Coupon Project did, then hang it on the wall of your greenhouse or tool shed.
4. Make a DIY garden hose holder
This clever DIY garden hose holder accomplishes three important things:
- It keeps your hose accessible
- It prevents your hose from ending up in a tangled pile on the ground
- It looks surprisingly chic sitting in your garden.
What more could you want for garden storage ideas?
Check out the full tutorial at Love Grows Wild.
5. Build an outdoor coffee table with storage
This outdoor crate coffee table with storage is the ultimate fun yet practical DIY project.
Organize & Decorate Everything provides a detailed breakdown of the full process, but here’s the gist:
- Gather a few wooden crates (try your local farmer’s market or winery).
- Slap them with a fresh coat of paint.
- Glue them to a piece of sturdy plywood in the shape of a square.
- Add caster wheels, and voilà — you have a portable rustic coffee table with plenty of storage for bar essentials, gorgeous air-purifying houseplants, or maybe even some books.
6. DIY a covered kids car garage
No more tripping over tricycles, toy cars, and skateboards scattered around your backyard. Corral your kids’ toys and gear in this mini-covered kiddie parking garage by Mom Endeavors.
The DIY outdoor storage ideas — built from PVC pipes, a corrugated plastic panel, and cloth — expertly hides your kids’ outdoor stuff but is still easy enough for them to access.
7. Turn an old shutter into a towel rack
If your dilapidated, weather-beaten shutter is almost falling off its hinges, give it a new identity: flip it on its side, install a few hooks, and call it a shutter towel rack.
You don’t even have to paint it or sand down the edges if you don’t want to. The ramshackle look will only add to its rustic, antique charm.
8. Hide your garden hose in an outdoor planter
If you’re sick of dragging your hose to and from the backyard to water your plants, or leaving it in a messy pile in the middle of your garden because you’re too tired to put it away, here’s your solution:
Store the hose in a pretty outdoor planter. It’s simple, convenient, and actually looks good.
Read the post on That’s My Letter to learn exactly how to set up your own secret hose-hiding planter.
9. Build an outdoor buffet cabinet
Depending on your personality, backyard setup, and weekend routine, you might have a variety of different storage needs. You may need to store shovels, gravel, and extra terra cotta pots.
Maybe you have to make room for pool tools and kids’ toys. Or, you may need a place to store your party necessities.
Whatever the case, Oleander + Palm’s gorgeous DIY outdoor buffet cabinet is just the thing you need to easily host dinners, brunches, and game nights al fresco. The buffet top serves as a mini bar, while the cabinets hold everything from candle lanterns to glassware.
10. Store firewood in a DIY firewood cart with wheels
Cabin owners and mountain dwellers know how quickly a basic supply of firewood can stack up (pun intended) and take over your entire deck, patio, or garage.
To prevent this from happening, invest a Saturday afternoon into constructing your very own stylish and ultra-practical rolling firewood cart à la The Wood Grain Cottage. It’ll help maximize your outdoor space and keep your logs organized.
And did we mention it’s portable? Skip the heavy lifting and just roll your firewood wherever it needs to go.
Want more smart home storage hacks?
These 12 best IKEA hacks and ideas will upgrade your entire apartment.
11. Hang gardening tools on a piece of wood
Have an old wooden plank laying around from your last DIY project?
Give it new life as a simple garden tool rack.
You don’t need a plain piece of wood, either. Repurpose an old coat rack, hockey stick, or longboard to add some personality to your storage.
12. Construct an outdoor storage bench
An outdoor storage bench is a no-brainer for your backyard. It’s a dual-purpose item that saves space, holds up to harsh weather, and looks great among your patio furniture. Especially if you build it yourself with help using Sand and Sisal’s DIY outdoor storage box tutorial.
Use it to store outdoor pillows, blankets for cozying up around the fire, games, pool toys, or towels. If you have enough seating space, it also doubles as a buffet table or drink station.
13. Use a wood pallet to store pool toys
Pool toys are some of the worst backyard clutter offenders. They come in a variety of (sometimes bulky) shapes and sizes, making them difficult to store unless you have a dedicated shed or massive bin to stash them in.
Luckily, thanks to this smart DIY wood pallet project from Funky Junk Interiors, you don’t need either of those options to store your pool toys. A basic wood pallet with a few added hooks on the front can accommodate pool noodles, rafts, kickboards, squirt guns, and even cleaning equipment.
14. Design a vertical cinder block planter
If you don’t have enough surface area to spread out your collection of herbs, plants, and flowers, go vertical using this DIY cinder block vertical planter tutorial from The Garden Glove.
All you need are some cinder blocks, heavy-duty construction glue, and a bit of imagination. Make your planter as tall or intricate as you like.
And if you’re not a fan of the urban grey vibe, spray paint your blocks to match your outdoor decor.
Pro Tip: Don’t stop with your yard. Give your home a green makeover, too. Here are the best house plants and planters for anyone who lives in a tiny apartment.
15. Organize kids’ toys in weatherproof baskets
Even your littlest tots will be able to declutter following these simple yet extremely effective organizing concepts from Useful Beautiful Home.
Just pick up a few lightweight plastic bins to store your kids’ assortment of toys. Bonus points if they’re color-coordinated, stackable, and perforated so dirt and water can fall through the bottom.
16. Transform a cabinet into a potting bench
If you have an outdated armoire, bookcase, or cabinet in your home, don’t throw it away. Bring it to the backyard instead. The Organised Housewife proves that a good scrub and a fresh coat of paint can transform an old cabinet into the perfect outdoor potting station.
Store gardening gloves, tools, and seed packets in the drawers, then use the shelves and cupboards to hold bags of soil, pesticides, and extra pots.
17. Build a wooden bench with crate storage
This wooden bench with crate storage project from The Kim Six Fix puts a fun twist on a classic storage bench. Use the open storage bench to slide in a couple of wooden crates that are perfect for storing blankets, towels, gardening tools, or kids’ toys.
If the weather turns foul, simply carry the crates inside to protect your belongings. For more inspiration, explore back porch storage ideas to keep your outdoor spaces tidy or side yard storage ideas to maximize unused areas effectively.
18. Hang storage buckets on your fence
Even backyards have vertical storage possibilities. Enter the minimalist backyard toy storage solution from Bless Our Nest. Just screw a couple of hooks into your fence and hang a durable plastic bucket from each.
For even more practicality, consider waterproof outdoor storage ideas like using sealed storage bins or weather-resistant cabinets to protect your items from rain and humidity.
These solutions ensure that toys, tools, and other essentials stay dry and organized no matter the weather.
19. When your backyard storage is maxed out, use Clutter
If you don’t have extra storage space for your stuff, use Clutter. We’ll store your bike rack, snowboarding gear, skis, surfboards, paddleboards, yoga mats, pet toys, and more.
All you have to do is schedule a pickup and pack your stuff. We’ll pick up everything from your home, transport it to our secure temperature-controlled storage facility, and create an online photo catalog of your stuff.
When you need something back from storage, simply browse your online photo catalog, click the item’s photo, and we’ll deliver it to you.
Most Common Storage Problems Faced by Homeowners
- Cluttered Garages: Homeowners have overflowing garages that become a catch-all space for tools, sports equipment, and seasonal items.
- Limited indoor space: Small homes or a lack of a basement forces homeowners to find alternative storage solutions for their belongings.
- Exposure to weather: Outdoor items such as garden tools and furniture often face wear and tear from rain, sunlight, and snow when left open.
- Pests: Backyards with disorganized items are likely to attract pests; this can be damage or just a messy situation.
- Inaccessibility: Unarranged storage will eventually make retrieval cumbersome and frustrating, thus wasting precious time.
Benefits of Correct Backyard Storage
- Organization: Backyard storage keeps the spaces less cluttered, with tools and equipment stored neatly and readily available.
- Prevention from Elements: Proper storage solutions protect outdoor items from damage by natural elements, making their usage longer.
- Improved Look: An organized yard with organized storage is beautiful and much more enjoyable to spend time in.
- Safe Raising: Organized storage of equipment and chemicals helps reduce accidents and keep toxic materials unreachable for the kids.
- Space Efficiency: Outdoor storage solutions can create indoor and garage areas available for any use, thus providing maximum home storage.
Types of Backyard Storage Solutions
- Sheds: These will be big enough and long-lasting, and can fit lawn equipment, bicycles, or larger tools. They have their materials in wood, metal, or plastic, and they can serve individual requirements.
- Deck Boxes: Portable and weather-resistant, deck boxes can add shade and seating while storing cushions, pool supplies, or gardening tools in your own little space.
- Storage Benches: Functional and aesthetic, storage benches are perfect for small-sized backyards that need items to be stored while also offering a seat.
- Shelving: Open shelving in the covered patio or garage wall keeps frequently used items organized and within easy access.
- Wall-Mounted Racks: These are excellent when keeping tools, hoses, and sports equipment while saving floor space.
Creative DIY Backyard Storage Ideas
- Pallet Tool Organizer: Repurpose wooden pallets to create a rustic tool rack for hanging garden tools and hoses.
- Upcycled Cabinets: Transform old kitchen cabinets into weatherproof storage for smaller items, adding a coat of outdoor-friendly paint.
- Vertical Planter with Storage: Build a vertical planter with hidden compartments to store gardening supplies discreetly.
- Hanging Mason Jar Shelves: Use mason jars mounted under shelves to store small items like screws, nails, or seeds.
- Repurposed Barrels: Cut wine barrels into half and use them for storing firewood or as decorative storage bins.
Storage Ideas for Specific Backyard Items
- Garden Tools: Use a wall-mounted pegboard to hang tools and keep them organized.
- Outdoor Furniture Cushions: Store cushions in a weatherproof deck box to prevent mold and mildew.
- Firewood: Stack firewood neatly in a covered rack to keep it dry and off the ground.
- Kids’ Toys: Use labeled plastic bins or storage benches to organize outdoor toys for easy cleanup.
- BBQ Supplies: Install a small cabinet or utility cart near the grill to store utensils, charcoal, and cleaning tools.
Knowing How to Pick the Right Backyard Storage Solution
In choosing the right backyard storage solution, consider available space. Think about the size, kind, and weather protection requirements of the items you intend to store, as well as how easy and accessible the system should be to use—essential items should be easily accessed. Durability, aesthetic value, and budget also play a key role in deciding the best option for your backyard. Additionally, ensure the storage blends well with your outdoor décor and offers long-term value.
For versatile patio storage ideas, consider weatherproof benches with hidden compartments or sleek storage cabinets that double as stylish décor. If you’re exploring deck storage ideas, opt for multi-functional furniture like ottomans or planters with built-in storage to keep items organized without sacrificing space or aesthetics. These solutions not only provide functionality but also enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor spaces.
Maintenance Tips for Your Backyard Storage
This ensures that your yard storage solutions remain efficient and aesthetically pleasing. Clean and check storage units regularly to ensure that dirt buildup, rust, or mold do not gain a foothold. Use weatherproof coatings, or resurface wooden pieces, to increase durability.
Arrange the storage space and make it more efficient in every way. Clean all gaps or holes around units for pest entry, and put repellents around them. Lastly, proper drainage around storage areas and spaces should be ensured to prevent water damage.
Store with Peace of Mind—Secure Your Space Today!
Conclusion
Backyard storage solutions create an organized and aesthetically pleasing safe space outdoors. Knowing the common storage challenges, discussing creative ideas, and then selecting the right options to make the backyard a working extension of a home will greatly benefit homeowners. All of these are surely going to keep your backyard clean, with your belongings secure for years to come.
FAQs for Best Backyard Storage Ideas
1. How can I make a storage solution for my backyard that is budget-friendly?
Build some custom storage units out of repurposed pallets, crates, or wooden planks, and protect your DIY from the elements by using waterproof tarps or outdoor paint. Otherwise, you can scour through various second-hand markets for refurbished pre-loved storage items that turn out to be good usable belongings.
2. What are the most durable and weatherproof storage materials?
Resin, pressure-treated wood, galvanized steel, and heavy-duty plastic should be utilized in weatherproof storage. These materials are not sensitive to moisture, UV rays, or temperature changes, thus extending the lifespan of your storage solution.
3. Is the storage bench and deck box able to hold large items such as lawnmowers?
While storage benches or deck boxes make fantastic places to house smaller tools and cushions, they won’t provide enough room in case you need to house larger equipment such as lawnmowers. For such items, a garden shed or an open horizontal storage unit built to house larger gear would be a better fit.
4. How can I add seating and storage to my backyard?
Storage benches or built-in seating with secret compartments is a marvelous concept. These will provide a place to sit while offering a clean appearance of the yard. Look for options that are made from weather-resistant material to increase longevity.
5. What type of backyard storage is best for movers and groovers?
Storage solutions suitable for a frequent mover need to be lightweight and portable. Examples of these include resin sheds, collapsible storage bins, or modular storage systems. These can be disassembled and reassembled at a new location without losing durability or function.
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Clutter is more than just storage.
To find out how you can declutter your life, talk to one of our space experts. We’ll get you started with the right storage plan for you.