The Smart, Space-Saving IKEA Hack To Store A Garden Hose

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Just like us humans need to stay hydrated, it is vital that our grass and greenery get their healthy share of water, too. But once you've wrapped up your garden care routine, it might be unwise to leave your garden hose lying on the ground. "Hoses can be damaged and worn down faster when direct sun is beating down on them, so it's always best to have them in a shaded area when they're not in use," lawn care expert Ryan Farley shared with Homes & Gardens. For a sleek and affordable wall-mounted hose cabinet, pick up an IKEA GÅRDSBUTIK storage bin. These plastic bins are normally designed for sorting recyclable materials, but with a hole cut in the back, it can become a genius hack to store the hose in your yard. 

For this DIY, you will need a jigsaw or a power drill with a hole saw attachment to easily cut the GÅRDSBUTIK. Not only will this storage bin keep your garden hose safe and shaded, it will also conceal your outdoor faucet fixtures — helpful if you want to hide common eyesores around your house. As long as you have the tools and materials needed to make a few slight modifications, this DIY project will only cost you around $40 for the bin itself.

Once you have your GÅRDSBUTIK bin ready, the first step is to remove the front compartment and set it aside. You will start by working on the outer shell, which you should position with the flat side facing down. About an inch or two from the top, cut or drill an opening that can comfortably fit around your outdoor faucet. It might be best to measure the fixture's height and width beforehand. Afterwards, since the bin is made of hard plastic, you might want to smooth any rough edges using sandpaper, duct tape, or a blowtorch to prevent sharp ends from scratching you or the garden hose.

After finishing the opening in the back of the bin, drill holes on either side of the opening where screws will attach it to the wall. Mount the GÅRDSBUTIK around the faucet and secure with screws, making sure they hold firmly in the wall studs. Finally, put the front compartment back and re-attach your garden hose to the faucet, coiling it neatly inside your custom-made cabinet. 

With that, your project is done, but there's still an opportunity for extra storage. You will notice that the GÅRDSBUTIK has a flat top where you can place a few small gardening essentials. Alternatively, you can see this as an opportunity to decorate and place smaller potted plants or DIY garden ornaments on top. This project will work best with shorter, more pliable hoses like the Flexi Hose Lightweight Expandable Garden Hose. Heavy and stiff hoses might be difficult to wind up inside the compartment. As an added benefit, this wall-mounted design should keep your faucet safer during hard freezes, especially if you pack it with insulating material in winter.