The Affordable Outdoor Storage Alternative That Adds Tons Of Style For Any Size Garden

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If your home boasts a garden, patio, or even a small balcony, you know how quickly outdoor gear can pile up. From your gardening gloves and planters to the tools you use to keep your outside space in tip-top shape, all your outdoor essentials need a place to live. Unfortunately, even the prettiest outdoor space can start feeling cluttered without proper storage for all the items you need for upkeep. While sheds have long been considered the go-to solution to declutter your garden almost instantly, they're not always the most practical or budget-friendly choice. Luckily, there are ways to maximize garden storage space without a shed. For homeowners who don't feel a shed fits their needs, an outdoor closet or cabinet can be a better alternative.

Also called a garden closet, an outdoor cabinet is an enclosed storage unit designed for outdoor use, housing and protecting your garden tools and equipment. While its appearance closely resembles indoor furniture, this kind of storage solution is made from materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions, making it the perfect ally for keeping your outside space clutter-free. It serves the same purpose as a shed, just without taking a big chunk of your outdoor space. Making great use of vertical space, outdoor closets are usually slim and tall, so they're far easier to accommodate than an entire shed in your backyard. Unlike sheds, they can often be installed without worrying about any permits and typically cost much less.

The main advantage of solving your outdoor storage problems with a garden closet lies in the savings you stand to make. When installing a shed, homeowners often part with significant amounts of money. Shed installations can cost anywhere from $300 to $30,000, with many homeowners spending around $4,000 on average. The exact cost depends on a lot of factors, including size, intended use, and design, but sheds are generally pricier than outdoor closets because of all the boxes you have to check to install one. For one, sheds usually require clearing the land and laying a foundation first, which adds significant costs on top of the base shed price. If you're not comfortable installing the shed yourself, you'll also have to factor in the price of labor. Depending on your area and living situation, you might need a permit to build a shed in your outdoor space, which can add to the overall cost.

Outdoor closets, on the other hand, usually come without any hidden costs that can sneak up on you when DIYing a storage shed. You can buy a pre-made closet for your outdoor space at garden centers, furniture shops, or online marketplaces for a fraction of the price of a typical shed. For example, a waterproof metal option like the AECOJOY outdoor storage cabinet from Walmart will set you back only $109.99 — a far cry from the thousands you'd likely invest in a storage shed. These cabinets are typically easy to assemble yourself, eliminating potential installation costs. Because they're smaller and lighter than sheds, they typically don't require a dedicated foundation, which further reduces costs.

Apart from providing versatile storage for everything you might need to tend to your garden or spruce up your outdoor space, garden closets offer another important benefit: style. While aesthetics might not be your main priority when choosing your outdoor storage solution, it never hurts to push past utility-only and make your outdoor storage solution a garden focal point. Luckily, outdoor closets make it easy to do so, as they come in a variety of colors, materials, and designs to elevate the look of any garden or patio.

For the best results, choose an outdoor closet that fits in with your other outdoor furniture or decor. While you have a wide variety of designs to choose from, depending on your preferences, some specific closet styles especially complement certain garden looks. For example, wooden designs suit rustic or farmhouse-style gardens, while metal or steel cabinets pair well with modern patios and contemporary architecture.