Repurpose A Common Thrift Store Find To Make Your Garden Hose Less Of An Eyesore

Garden hoses are a highly practical item, but that does not mean they need to be an eyesore in your landscaping. When they are tossed haphazardly on the ground, especially in a front yard where they are typically visible, they can look messy and take away from the overall effect of your home's exterior. If you are tired of your garden hose sitting in a plastic bucket or lying tangled up on your grass, mulch, or rocks, then it may be time to find a more beautiful storage solution. One option that keeps the hose easily accessible while making your yard look more unique and aesthetically pleasing is a thrifted magazine rack.

Magazine racks are a common item at thrift stores, and they can be a great size and shape to fit a garden hose. Household garden hoses often range between about 25 and 100 feet in length. A common hideaway hose reel box for a 100-foot hose is 21 inches wide, 15.5 inches deep, and 16 inches tall. Vintage magazine holders vary in size greatly, but often have a volume about half the size or less of a hose reel box. Without the reel taking up space, magazine racks should be able to fit most smaller garden hoses. Additionally, vintage and antique holders found at thrift stores can have gorgeous, intricate designs that look perfect in a garden. There are quite a few styles of magazine racks, though, and it is important to choose one that can withstand the elements relatively well and support the weight of your garden hose.

Magazine racks made of metal or wire are an effective choice, but you can also sand and treat a wooden one for outdoor use by applying an outdoor-rated finish or sealing the wood with an oil-based sealant and understanding what you need to know about waterproofing wood. Regardless of the material, it is important to regularly maintain the magazine rack to keep it from being damaged by water over time. Of course, if you find one you love that does not turn out to be durable enough, there are many other creative ways to repurpose magazine holders around the house to try.

Another thing to keep in mind with this storage method is the life of your hose. It may be tempting to bunch up your hose and place it in the holder, but this can lead to mold in your magazine holder and kinks and knots in the hose that can damage the hose and shorten its lifespan. Tangles also make the hose more difficult to take out the next time you need to use it, so it is important to learn the best way to coil your garden hose to keep it free of tangles and ensure that the hose dries out before you coil it. Exposure to the sun and elements can also harm your hose over time, and magazine racks do not provide much coverage. If possible, place your magazine rack in a shaded and protected area to keep your hose in prime condition for longer.