7 ways to improve backyard storage space

When the COVID pandemic began, many people stayed at home as much as they could to avoid contact with others. With all that time in lockdown, it's no wonder that many people have turned to cleaning up their homes—including their backyards. The backyard became a pleasant reprieve for those fortunate enough to have their own yards and outdoor patios, allowing people to get fresh air and take a break from the monotony of the distant work day right at home.

According to a Fixr research from May, the majority of home design specialists% believe homeowners are still inspired by the pandemic, with many continuing to invest in their outdoor living spaces. In fact, integrating interior-style home furnishings and decorations into an outdoor setting is one of the most popular contemporary housing trends.

But, unlike enclosed areas, it's difficult to identify outside spots where shelving, nooks, and drawers may be simply added to keep objects out of the way. However, there are simple solutions to improve functional storage space without spending money on a makeover. Whether you have a little balcony, a medium-sized front porch, or a large grassy area, backyard aficionados merely need to get creative when it comes to storing tools, furniture, and other items.

Storage with Extra Room I've chosen seven simple ways to enhance storage in your backyard that are all DIY or include DIY features and can be used in any outdoor location, big or small.

Sipping coffee in the garden while reading emails is a nice way to start the day, but picture having storage space under the coffee table or hidden side tables. There's also the benefit of increasing storage space without taking up any extra floor space, which is especially useful if you have a limited outdoor location where every inch matters.

Hidden storage can also contain everything you need for your morning coffee breaks, such as napkins or spoons, or it can simply serve as a location to keep things out of sight, such as a cozy blanket or laptop charger. Being productive while utilizing another multifunctional area can be rewarding, especially if it was put together by you.

Every summer, you can always find aspiring grill masters stationed in front of the backyard grill. Whether you're grilling burgers or slow cooking a rack of ribs, having oven mitts, tongs, meat thermometers, and the rest of a cook's cooking equipment arsenal on hand will save you numerous trips back and forth between the backyard and the house.

A master grill station could be excellent for keeping everything organized and accessible. Storage shelves, built-in counter surfaces, and hooks for hanging spatulas and basting brushes are all included in master grill stations. They usually feature wheels to help them move around. Aside from cooking equipment, don't forget about plates and serving dishes. Having a spot to put platters and serving trays can make it easy to serve food that's hot from the grill, whether it's an outdoor event or just a Tuesday night.

A backyard essential is an outdoor hose. But what happens when you're not watering the flowers, filling the kids' pool, or washing the car? Create a modern planter that can hide a garden hose and keep it neatly stowed to save space and minutes of untangling hose kinks later. Keeping it out of the sun can help it last longer and keep it out of the way so no one trips over it or accidentally punctures it.

A planter, as opposed to a normal hose stand, is more unexpected, and guests may not realize it serves dual purposes. If you're handy, you'll need a miter saw, drill, heat torch, thick bristle brush, and decking screws to build your own planter box. If you decide to do it yourself, be prepared to have some fun and get creative.

Outdoor storage benches are wonderful for protecting outdoor items like cushions, toys, or beach towels from the elements while also providing a seating area that complements other patio furniture. Long benches can provide unexpectedly large storage areas without increasing the footprint of your outdoor furniture.

You may hide outside pillows so they're ready to go when you want to construct a cozy outdoor reading nook, organize bottles and turn it into a drink station, or if your Wi-Fi works outside, you can drop your laptop on top and use it as an outdoor workspace. If you need more height, add some sturdy boxes on top.

There's a reason cinder blocks appear to be one of the most versatile, multipurpose building materials. These standard-size rectangular or square concrete blocks are used for a variety of applications, including the construction of retaining walls, the construction of firepits, and the creation of DIY projects to brighten up your landscape. They're perfect if you don't have enough surface area to spread out your plants and other gardening materials and need to grow vertically. Cinder blocks, landscaping block adhesive or heavy-duty construction glue, and a caulking gun are all you need.

Storage buckets can be useful while also adding a stylish touch to your lawn. They are inexpensive and widely available, and they come in a variety of sizes, materials, and shapes. When they have a cover, they can be very useful for storing objects while protecting them from the elements, insects, and the sun. Grab a few to line up along a wall, arrange different-sized buckets in an awkwardly shaped nook, or simply screw some hooks into your fence and hang them loaded with flowers. Using different coloured buckets can also help children organize their outside toys.

Planters, which can be made of terracotta, ceramic, or plastic, can also be repurposed in the same way that all-purpose buckets can. Planters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular window box or a shallow container made to hang.

Have a lot of open space but don't want a boring, boxy tool shed? A recycled window shed or greenhouse could be the way to go if you're looking for a DIY project with more of a design wow factor. While some preparation is required—and if you choose to make one out of old windows, you'll need to start collecting them—the good news is that greenhouse construction can be completed in two or three full days. These buildings can be useful not only for storing garden equipment, rakes, and heavier goods but also for growing additional plants that would otherwise not survive the winter in your area.

For individuals who are concerned about its durability, these buildings can be strong enough to withstand extreme weather. If no retailers near you have eco-friendly lumber or other sustainable products in stock, there are plenty of places that ship them online.

This article was first published on Extra Space Storage and was produced and disseminated in collaboration with Stacker Studio.