7 Inexpensive Ways To Declutter Your Outdoor Shed & Maximize Space

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Whether you want to be the kind of person who uses it as a hobby room or you just need a convenient and secure spot for all your gardening tools and supplies, an outdoor shed typically entails keeping your equipment extremely organized in a small area. Mid-sized sheds only offer about 80 to 120 square feet of space, so even when you are just using yours solely for storage, things can get cluttered quickly. If you're looking to maximize your space, there are quite a few ways to bring better organization to your outside shed, including DIYing some storage solutions for yourself and adding in some smartly placed low-cost products.

If you are looking to make the most of your shed, there are a number of simple and affordable ways to do it that will help get things off the floor and out of the way right now. From installing inexpensive dollar store finds to using simple hardware like hooks and pegboards and even repurposing crates to take your shed storage to the next level, you can eliminate excessive clutter with minimal investment. And once you have less clutter inside of your shed, your gardening and outdoor maintenance tasks will be much more efficient and enjoyable.

If you're looking to get some of your longer tools off of the ground and out of the way, a garden tool hanger is a great option. The Dollar Tree sells a Garden Collection Garden Tool Hanger that has two rubber clasp spots that grip onto the long handles of a variety of tools, including brooms, rakes, and even shovels, as well as a hook in the center for hanging looped items. Similar hangers are also available to hold even more tools, such as the Amazon Basics Rectangular Heavy Duty Wall Mount Storage Organizer.

Going up in your shed is one of the best ways to maximize your storage space even in a small place. Putting hooks into the ceiling of your shed will give you some interesting options for storage flexibility. Not only can you use them to run longer tools along the ceiling if you run a few in a row, but these hooks could also be used to hang smaller items.

Pegboards can be a great way to organize smaller tools and supplies, and they are extremely versatile, since the pegs and hooks may be moved around as needed to efficiently fit your changing tool collection. Pick up small, inexpensive pegboard panels like Amazon Basics Metal Pegboard Kit, a rust-resistant option ideal for outdoor sheds that comes with pegs and bins to get your storage started. Using a pegboard can get things off of the floor and other surfaces, saving counter space and making your tools and materials more visible.

Whether you buy a premade tool rack for a corner of your shed or build one from scrap wood, this is an inexpensive way to keep your long-handled tools together in one place and out of the way for safety purposes. It keeps everything organized and in view; you just need to make sure your shed has enough clearance for you to lift your tools up and out. If you don't want to DIY a corner rack, you can find products like the YueTong Corner Garden Tool Organizer from Amazon for under $40.

Wall hooks are an extremely versatile form of storage that you can use anywhere, which is why it's great for small spaces like a shed. Use hooks to hang a wide range of items in your shed, including a bike, tools, bags, ladders, hoses, and more. Something as simple as long screws drilled into a board will work for many tools, ropes, and cords, or you could opt for more versatile products like the Aking Ace Wall Mount Storage Rack. You can also organize what you have by hanging duplicate items together.

Building small shelves on the walls can add much-needed organization to your outdoor shed. There are so many things to store on shelves, especially if you utilize the walls of the shed strategically. An adjustable rack like the Delta Heavy Duty Storage Rack is inexpensive and lets you adapt your shelving for different items on the racks and in the space underneath. Think about shelves over the door and up high on walls to save maneuverable space. Shelves can store seasonal items, small jars of screws and nails, and smaller hand tools.

Stacking wooden crates is an easy and affordable way to create shelving in smaller spaces. They are great for storing any number of supplies together, including gardening tools. And since they're also be easy to move, you can reconfigure items as needed. You'll often find wooden crates at thrift stores, or you could snag convenient options like Edergoo Wooden Crates online. Use the crates to organize garden materials you'll need to move around, or stack them into a DIY shelving unit.