The Chic Storage Hack To Keep Your Garden Hose And Cords Organized

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You've been working outside all day, and now your yard and garden look perfect. You even took the time to water every single plant. There's just one problem: Your garden hose is now a tangled mess, and you don't have a good place to put it. So how do you store a garden hose when not in use? Instead of leaving it lying across your yard or in a messy, half-coiled pile in the garage, consider creating a DIY garden hose holder. Doing so can help you keep your garden hose free of tangles — it will also prevent it from becoming a tripping hazard in your yard or garage. Keeping your garden hose coiled up and out of the grass can also help extend its life by helping it avoid damage. The same is true for any extension cords you use around the home as well.

While there are some store-bought reels that you can use to store a garden hose, as well as retractable garden hoses, a simple and chic storage hack is all you need to store a standard garden hose. Grab a bucket or a wash basin and attach it to an exterior wall or fence post. These are round and large enough for you to coil a hose or cord around and doing so allows you to have easy access when you need it. Installing one of these DIY garden hose holders is a simple process that will only take a few minutes but will save you a lot of hassle when gardening and doing yard work. You have several options for customizing this DIY to enhance its functionality and improve aesthetics, too.

If you want to DIY this unique storage solution, you'll first need to choose an object to use as the reel. A bucket or a metal tub is ideal, but there are other options that will work if they're cylindrical in shape. For example, some people will even use an old tire rim as a DIY garden hose or cord holder if they have one available. Anything round and large enough to hold a hose or cord can work well, so consider what materials you have available and the aesthetic you're going for. 

Once you have the reel, figure out where you'd like to install it. Ideally, you'd situate it close to your spigot, where you can access it easily. One option is to screw it to an exterior wall right next to the spigot. However, if you're not comfortable with making penetrations in the exterior wall, mount the holder on a 4-by-4-inch post and install the latter next to the house. 

With installation out of the way, all you'll need to do is wrap a hose or cord around the holder. Be sure to place it on the rack whenever it's not in use and then enjoy the convenience your new hose reel provides. In the end, this genius hack will extend the life of your hose while doubling as a functional, eco-friendly garden ornament.

The bucket — or whatever you reel of choice is — makes it easy to coil the hose when you're not using it, but there are ways to make this DIY even more functional and aesthetically pleasing. It almost seems a waste to utilize only the outside of the reel while letting its interior sit empty. Turn the inside of the holder into a place to display garden decor — or a storage space for your gloves and hose fittings. All it takes is adding a shelf. 

If the reel is perfectly cylindrical, simply measure its length and diameter, then cut a wooden plank to this size and fit it inside. If it's tapered, as some buckets are, measure the length and the mouth and bottom diameters and sketch the measurements on a plank — you'll end up with a trapezoid shape. Cut the shape out, and it should fit snugly inside. 

If you've mounted the reel to a post instead of attaching it directly to the house wall, why not cap the post with a solar light, like this SIEDiNLAR LED Deck Fence Cap? It will light up the hose holder and turn it into a cozy garden decor piece. Likewise, consider painting the reel (and the post, if you're using one) a color you like. You don't have to use a single color, of course — feel free to draw any patterns or designs on the reel that may complement your garden decor. Just steer clear of these common mistakes when choosing the exterior paint.