IKEA's Outdoor Storage Solution Is A Versatile Alternative To Your Old Shed

If the thought of entering your old garden shed sends shivers down your spine, it might be time for an update. They are useful and roomy, sure, but they're always full of spiders, cold, and oh so messy. But they're not the only solution when it comes to outdoor storage. In fact, there's a solution from IKEA that's versatile and stylish, and that can replace that old shed (or at least, give you some extra space).

This is IKEA's SUNDSÖ outdoor cabinet, which retails for $199.99. It's a sleek rectangular cabinet that is meant to go on the ground, against a wall. It measures a bit over 33 inches tall and 23 inches wide, with close to 14 inches in depth. Inside, you'll find three shelves that can each carry up to 55 pounds of weight, and you can also store things on top. If you'd like to store taller items, like long gardening tools, you can skip adding the shelves and use the full length of the cabinet, too.

The true benefit of using something like this instead of an old shed is its aesthetic appeal. It's made of powder-coated steel, which is essentially regular steel covered with a layer of plastic (polyester, epoxy, or polyurethane). Powder-coated steel has the benefit of being fairly durable, even when exposed to weather and UV rays. The powder coating also adds a bit of color to the cabinet, and IKEA offers this particular piece in black, blue, and white. So, while this looks good enough to be used indoors, it is undoubtedly an outdoor piece that won't rust or fade, even if it's exposed to rainstorms or sunny summer afternoons. 

The benefit of these cabinets is that they can fit in tight spaces, where even small outdoor storage sheds wouldn't fit. All they really need is a wall to go up against (to prevent it from tipping over) and a small amount of floor space. For example, place your IKEA outdoor cabinet on a balcony, patio, front deck, inside a greenhouse, or against a fence in the garden. 

If you have space for it, buy more than one and place them side by side to give the illusion of an outdoor credenza. For a sleek look, buy two or three of them in the same color and place them next to each other. Or, to put a maximalist spin on your outdoor space, alternate two colors to create a pattern reminiscent of stripes or checkerboards. Remember that you can also put weight on top of the cabinet, as long as it's under 55 pounds. Therefore, you can add some potted plants to the top of the cabinet to tie it into your outdoor space. Better yet, add a painted plank of wood on top of the cabinets to create the illusion of a countertop. Then, you can use this as a small table during gatherings, using your new outdoor furniture to hold snacks and drinks. 

As for the inside, use it for items that you can safely store in your backyard storage shed, like birdseed, soil bags, fertilizer, tools for gardening, or outdoor blankets. Avoid things that are sensitive to heat, like sunscreen, food, some cleaning products, and paint.