Storage Shed Organization 101

So, you’re working on a shed organization project. Good for you! This might seem like a big task, and it is, but you can go about it in an organized manner so that it’s not overwhelming. After all, having an organized storage space can take work, but once it’s in place, you’ll have less clutter in your home, garage, yard, etc. This can save you so much time in the long run since you can find things quickly.

The key is knowing how to get started and how to keep moving. So, we’ve outlined a few easy steps to help you with your shed storage in general and to teach you how to organize your shed. So, let’s get started.

Do an Assessment and Make a Plan

First things first–you need a plan. This part might sound boring, but planning is a huge part of organizing your shed well. Going in without a plan is like going somewhere without a map–it doesn’t work. So, take some time and observe a few key things about your shed:

• Does it have a lot of vertical space?
• How much square footage are you working with?
• What are you hoping to store in your shed?
• Does your shed have big enough doors to fit stored items inside?
• Does your shed have built-in ventilation?
• Will you need to purchase anything like shelving, bins or a label maker?
• Where do you want to store items?

Once you’ve made a plan, you’ll be able to move forward more confidently with hopefully fewer interruptions and trips to the store for supplies.

Take Everything Out (for Existing Sheds)

If you’re organizing an existing shed, the next step after making a plan is taking everything out of your shed. This might seem extreme, but not when you’re organizing. Organization done well makes things easier to access and helps you to put systems in place that help you preserve all of your organizational work. If you’re simply moving things around your shed, that won’t be good enough. Take everything out of your shed all at the same time and follow these steps:

1. Sort through items to declutter. Donate or recycle anything you don’t use often.
2. Sort the items you’re keeping into groups.
3. Do a deep clean inside the shed.
4. Look at the plan you’ve made and make sure the flow and function of your shed will work well with what you’ve thought about.
5. Check for any damage or signs of pests.
6. Make repairs to your shed.

If your shed has extensive damage that will be costly to repair, you might want to consider getting a new shed. We realize this can be a big undertaking, but it won’t do you any good if you do a huge organizational project on a shed that isn’t in good working order.

What to Look for in a New Shed (When It Comes to Better Storage)

If you need to replace your shed or you don’t have one yet, we’d recommend looking for a sturdy, weather-resistant shed like ours from Keter. You’ll also need to consider whether you need a small, medium or large shed. Think about sheds with features like double doors. Most of our storage sheds have wide double doors that allow you to move items in and out easily, like the large Cortina 11x7 shed. All of our sheds also have built-in shed ventilation, and some even have shelving included, like the small Cortina Alto shed. 

Quick and simple assembly is also important when it comes to a shed. That’s why Keter sheds come in shed kits and the sheds are steel-reinforced and double-walled. So, you get the ease of setup with an extremely durable way to store your items.

Shed Storage Ideas

So, what are some of the best shed storage ideas?

1. Outdoor Storage Shelves: If you have a large or medium-sized shed, get shelving. Vertical space often doesn't get used, but if it’s not, it’s being wasted. If you want shelving that attaches directly to your shed, consider our shelving kit.
2. Overhead Storage and Using the Ceiling: Remember that vertical storage we mentioned? For sheds with enough height, overhead storage is a fantastic way to store seasonal or less frequently used items. Install heavy-duty racks or hooks to hold things like holiday decorations, camping gear or even spare lumber. Just make sure everything is securely fastened and easy to retrieve when needed.
3. Tool Racks: Use tool racks like our corner rack to store long-handled gardening equipment since no one wants to trip over them or have them constantly fall over.
4. Storage Bins: Invest in durable, stackable storage bins that can handle the elements if your shed isn’t climate-controlled. Clear bins mean that you can see inside!
5. Label Maker: This might seem out of place, but labeling boxes is important. Label each bin by category—sports equipment, garden tools, power tool accessories, etc.—so you can quickly find what you need without opening them. You can also just use a Sharpie and stickers, but the label maker gives it all a neater look.
6. Workbench with Built-In Storage: If your shed doubles as a workspace, consider a workbench with built-in drawers or shelves. This will help you to keep your tools and materials handy while giving you a sturdy surface to work on. 

All of these shed storage ideas mixed and matched can make a huge difference when it comes to organizing everything. Just make sure you group like items together, then sort them into the appropriate parts of your shed.

Maintaining Your Shed Storage Organization 

Once you’ve done all of the work of organizing your shed, you don’t want it to get messy again. That’s why maintaining your shed organization plan is key. So, start by doing things like sweeping your shed out once a month, cleaning the windows (if your shed has them), etc. If you see items out of place or any clutter, make sure they get put away in the proper place. Allowing clutter to build up will make it harder. Also, make sure you’re putting items away right after you finish using them. It can be tempting to just throw items back in your shed and close the door. However, you’ll be much better off if you put items away right away.

Feeling better about organizing your shed? Hopefully, these tips have given you the inspiration you need to get started and go. Happy organizing!