8 Alternative Ways To Use An IKEA Utility Cart Around The Garden

Looking for a way to elevate your garden, yard, or outdoor living space instantly? IKEA utility carts, which are often easy to assemble and come in all shapes and configurations, are a favorite of homeowners and designers alike. While they are excellent for using in your home for storage, organization, and display, you may not know that they are also great for outdoor use, including in your yard or garden, where they can make things like outdoor entertaining, gardening, and recreation easier with style.

With budget friendly pricing and a host of durable materials, like stainless steel, enamel, and solid wood, they are an excellent alternative to furnishings sold specifically for similar uses from home and garden stores. They also come in a variety of sizes, which means they can work no matter the size of your garden or outdoors space, with many small carts that can easily fit on your balcony or porch to hold gardening essentials and plants. Be advised, however, that many IKEA carts are not meant for outdoor use, though some are. If you plan to use one meant for indoors-only, you will want to keep it stored out of the elements when not in use. You may also want to consider the terrain of your outdoor space, as some carts will roll better on concrete or pavers than grass or gravel.

IKEA utility carts are perfect for creating outdoor vertical gardens. You will also be able to bring your plants inside to care for them if you lack a hose, like on a rooftop or apartment balcony. Or, create a portable indoor garden that you can move outside when the weather is right. The HORNAVAN cart is especially useful for this since the bottom of each level is a metal mesh, meaning you can place planters and planter boxes inside and allow water to drain through and out the bottom easily. For a wood option that is outdoor-friendly, try the RÅGRUND.

If you often entertain in your garden, yard, or outdoor space, you may be looking for an easy way to transport things like plates, flatware, games, and more to the garden and then back inside easily to put away after use. IKEA utility carts like the RÅSKOG and the NISSAFORS are perfect for this with recessed levels that keep things from slipping off the cart while in transit. Since these carts are meant for indoor use, store them inside after the party with all of your supplies tucked away for next time.

Keeping garden supplies like hand rakes, gloves, pots, clippers, and other essentials on a mobile cart allow you to be able to move them easily to where you need them in the yard. Since many carts are made of metal, you can also install some handy magnetic hooks to hang items on the side for easy access. Some, like the NISSAFORS or BROR, are large enough to accommodate bags of soil, fertilizer, or mulch on the bottom shelf, making them a perfect choice for your garden caddy on the go. Store these carts inside when not gardening.

If you love to spend time in your garden relaxing, an IKEA cart makes a great way to tote everything you need for a relaxing afternoon there, including essentials like beverages, speakers, and books. The RÅGRUND the makes a perfect temporary side table next to your favorite lounge chair. Larger carts with a flat top, like the TROTTEN, can also be turned into a mobile desk if you like to work in the garden. Fill one with your favorite reading material to create a mobile library that you can roll back inside when finished.

Keeping seedlings safe during the off season can be a challenge. An IKEA cart is perfect for keeping them in one space. You can even add some grow lights and keep other planting supplies on the cart. Store them in a garage or basement during the winter and wheel them out to where you want to plant them in the spring. Great carts for this use include the RÅSKOG if you plan to store it indoors, or the HORNAVAN which have curved shelves to keep seedlings contained and safe from falling over or off.

IKEA utility carts make the perfect portable outdoor bar in your backyard; an absolute must if you love to entertain and enjoy your outdoor spaces. Use the bottom for holding bottles, the middle for glassware, and leave the top for mixing drinks. Choose a cart with drawers, like the FÖRHÖJA, to have room for smaller bar accessories if you plan to store it inside if not in use. The RÅGRUND can be left outdoors in fair weather.

You can create a pretty potting bench perfect for caring for and planting your garden with a FÖRHÖJA cart, or, if your outdoor space is smaller like a porch or balcony, use the similar BEKVÄM, which takes up less space. Employ the top surface for planting and the bottom of the cart for storing tools, pots, watering cans, and bags of potting soil. These wooden carts are sturdy and stationary enough to add a hose hook on the side as well. To protect it in outdoor weather, be sure to add a sealant over the wood, especially if you paint it. 

If you have an outdoor firepit in or near your garden, you may need an easy way of storing or moving cut wood around. While trolleys sold specifically for this use can be large, expensive and clunky, you can use a HORNAVAN cart with only the bottom shelf installed to create a firewood trolley. Since it accommodates a smaller load of wood. it's easier to move around your yard. You can even use it to bring wood from outside to an indoor fireplace or stove.