Say Goodbye To The Eyesore Of Outdoor Clutter With A Stylish DIY Solution

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Rakes, buckets, bags of spare mulch and soil, shovels ... Maintaining a yard requires a lot of different tools and materials. And, unfortunately, we're not all lucky enough to have a garden shed or greenhouse to use for storage. The result? We shove tools and supplies into whatever corner of the backyard seems most out of the way. A lot of homeowners choose the gap between their house and fence for this purpose. If you fall in this camp, there's a fairly easy DIY solution for hiding the heap of clutter. You build a wooden garden gate right across the gap.

To pull off this DIY, start by measuring the space between your house and fence. If you can find a gate door that fits there well, like this Miracle Woodworks Natural Bamboo Fence Panel Gate for about $700, you're in luck. All you'll need to do is install the pre-built door. You instantly have a disguise for those unsightly odds and ends. However, if that gap is non-standard, you may need to consider some unique ideas to create a fence gate that makes a big statement about your style — and serves a practical function. For this project, you'll need two supporting fence posts, fence panels, and some timber planks to fit your measurements. You'll also need screws, quick-dry concrete, gate hinges, and a two-way gate latch. Buy some wood stain or paint in your preferred color, too. You can match it to or contrast it with your fence, house trim, or front door.

Recheck the dimensions of your gate by measuring the height of the nearby fence — this is how tall your gate will be — and the width of the gap. If there's no fence, the height is your choice. Factor in the width of the two supporting posts as well as the fence panels for the gate. Dig two holes either side of the gap for the posts. Fill them with quick-dry concrete and set your posts in place. Use a level to ensure they're straight. If you don't want to use concrete and you have enough wood, you can build a frame to sit the gate within instead.

While the concrete dries, it's time to construct the gate. Lay the fence panels side by side on a flat surface. Cut three supporting planks about the same width as the gate door using a hand saw or circular saw. Screw (or nail) them in place at the bottom, middle, and top of your fence panels. Cut two more pieces at an angle to fit diagonally in the gaps between your three support planks.

Attach the hinges to the support posts and then mount your newly constructed gate door to them. Install the two-way gate latch — the best option for operating the gate from either side — and paint or stain your creation. Now all that's left is to optimize the space by exploring simple shed organization tips. You could, for example, install fence shelving or hooks on the inside of the gate for vertical (and more organized) storage. Once you have the clutter corralled, you can finally implement all those gorgeous backyard design ideas from your favorite HGTV stars.