Outdoor Storage Design Ideas

Outdoor storage sheds are wonderful all purpose solutions to getting more storage space. They are particularly useful for storing outdoor tools and gardening supplies, because they allow you to keep the tools and supplies out of the weather, yet not get your house dirtied up in the process.

Most outdoor storage sheds are excellent places to store your lawn and garden tools. Things like extra potting soil, fertilizer, the lawn mower and hedge trimmers, even shovels, buckets, rakes and hoes can easily and safely be stored in an outdoor storage shed.

Now there are many different types of outdoor storage sheds, and there are some wonderful designs available these days too. Some of the most popular types of outdoor storage sheds include:

Wooden storage sheds - These are your classic, or old fashioned types of storage sheds and they're easily added on to as needed. Wood storage sheds need to be maintained a bit though, because they're not immune to the weather. The wood will need to be stained or painted every few years, and you might need to waterproof the roof once in awhile to keep the items inside your shed safe.

There are some gorgeous, outdoor wood shed designs these days though. Some of them rival the beauty of a guest house or outdoor office, and they have all sorts of built in shelves, closets and other nooks that make organizing your outdoor tools a pleasure!

Wooden storage sheds usually need to be assembled, but you can often buy ready-made kits which have everything you need conveniently packaged together. Alternatively you can buy outdoor storage shed building plans instead, then buy the materials for your shed at a local hardware or home improvement store.

A growing trend for outdoor storage sheds is to buy sheds made of molded, thick plastic materials. These are excellent low cost storage shed options that need little to no maintenance. Plastic storage sheds are waterproof, and they'll often be specially treated to resist color fading from the sun. Many of these come in easy snap together kits, and some of them have features such as pre-molded notches which allow you to install your own wooden shelves too.

Metal outdoor storage sheds are another common, inexpensive option. These sometimes come fully assembled, but you can also buy do it yourself kits for them if you'd prefer. Metal has a tendency to get dents in it over time, and it rusts with prolonged exposure to various weather conditions. Because of this, a similar style of storage sheds is growing in popularity, but these use vinyl instead of metal.

Vinyl outdoor storage sheds tend to be reasonably priced, and maintenance free. They don't dent, rust or mildew, and many types of vinyl outdoor storage sheds never need to be painted or water proofed either.

While all these outdoor storage sheds are wonderful options, you need to consider the climate of the area you live in before choosing one for your home. Some sheds might hold up in windy climates better than others, and some might hold up well under heavy snowfall accumulation.

And usefulness aside, looks really count for a lot with outdoor storage sheds these days. Your shed should be functional, large enough for your growing needs, able to withstand your local climate, and pretty enough for you to look at day in and day out. Storage sheds are an addition to your home. If you choose one based on functionality or cost alone, you risk making your home look shabby, or making yourself irritated every time you look at it.

Outdoor sheds are a great way to create more storage space for both outdoor and indoor equipment and accessories. For example, if you have indoor things that simply will not fit in the attic or basement, a shed can give you all of the extra space you need. But of course, these sheds are often used to house tools or garden equipment. The only real difference is that they are much more stylish than the classic tool shed.