Now that summer seems to have arrived early there’s no excuse for not getting on with the gardening. But you may find your shed is full of clutter – some of it untouched from where you left it last year.
Lumberjacks stock small and large wooden sheds at our base in Ipswich; here are our top tips for improving your access to your shed, whatever size it is.
Have a Good Declutter
One way of approaching the task is to move everything outside the shed, and to then make an inventory of everything. Ask yourself if you have used it over the past year. If the answer is ‘no’, then you might be better off putting it in the bin, donating or selling it on. This will create more space for the items you use regularly. While the floor is clear, give it a good clean.
On the Shelf
Shelves are essential when it comes to organising your shed. If you don’t have any, get some before you do anything else. You might even have some old or unused ones from inside your home that could be put to good use. Whether it’s free-standing or fixed to the beams, any kind of shelving will increase your storage space.
Organise them according to what you use the most. Put everyday tools on the middle shelves in eye view and within easy reach. Put heavy, bulky items at floor level to avoid nasty accidents. Anything seasonal or rarely used can be stowed on the top shelves.
Make Good Use of Hooks
One way to store smaller tools and gardening equipment is to make use of hooks around the shed walls. A word of warning - this may only work for smaller items such as trowels and hand forks as the hooks won’t be able to carry the weight of full-size tools. On the plus side, there’s usually no drilling required, and you can try the hooks in different spots around the shed to find out what works best.
On the Rack
You may need to have larger items such as spades, forks and tree-top loppers in a special rack, for safety reasons as well as space. You can either buy a bespoke rack or make one yourself with a piece of lumber or timber. If you are opting for the latter, drill some appropriately sized grooves or slots in the wood, then fix it to a wall of the shed with brackets for added stability.
Use the Ceiling
Just as you are using the walls for racks and hooks, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use the ceiling as well - particularly if it has a flat roof. Ply boards can convert that disused space into out-of-the-way shelving, and some items can also be stored on the ceiling with a hanger or hoist system, saving you valuable floor space.
Ground Level Last
You should leave any larger items such as lawn mowers and wheelbarrows until the end – these will usually have to go at ground level because of their size and weight. You will also need space to install all the hooks, racks and shelves and it will be easier to do this if you have plenty of room.
When it comes to finding a home for your mower or barrow in the shed remember you will need to find an accessible spot (such as against a wall near the door). You don’t want to have to move anything bulky a long way.#
Lock it Up
Having organised everything properly, the last thing you want is for someone to break in and steal all your tools, so make sure you have a good lock or padlock fitted. For added protection, secure some of your tools inside the shed by chaining them up together. Bikes can still be padlocked up while in the shed.
And if your shed has a window, it may be worth covering up some of your more valuable items with a sheet or tarpaulin – out of sight of any prospective thieves.
Garden Sheds and Accessories from Lumberjacks
If you think the only way to sort out your garden shed is to buy a new one, then you can check out our current range here. These include Apex and Pent sheds, adaptable sheds and workshops, storage units and heavy-duty buildings.
If you opt to reorganise your existing shed, then we are the ideal place to come to as well. We stock a range of tools (including Ox tools) as well as brackets and other fixings. And if you are worried about security, then we can also supply Ellumiere outdoor lighting which should discourage any thieves.
Although we are based in Ipswich, we also we offer a wide local delivery radius that includes Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Hadleigh, Stowmarket and Needham Market. For more details check out our deliveries page.
