How to Choose the Right Size Storage Shed for Your Backyard

· Garden

Keeping your outdoor space organized is just as important as keeping the inside of your home clean and in good order. Besides, a well-organized backyard area tells a lot about someone’s character and values in life. It makes a much more pleasant atmosphere to drink your morning coffee or invite friends over in an orderly atmosphere instead of seeing various equipment, from lawnmower, shovel, racks, bicycles, kid’s toys, or other tools and objects scattered everywhere. If the view of your disorganized backyard area bothers you, it’s maybe time to start thinking of investing in a simple shed structure.

Sheds make convenient places for storing various tools and valuable objects that you simply can’t find a proper place to keep inside your home. Also, they give you an opportunity to declutter. For instance, if you are not willing to throw some things away, but want to make sure they are safely stored, you should consider giving them a proper place. Tiny houses and storage sheds are very popular these days. Besides keeping things inside, some people decide to convert them into comfortable, lounge areas, or mediation rooms where they can always escape whenever they need a little time for themselves. 

narrow outdoor shed filled with tools

source: realhomes.com

But how do you choose the right type and size of backyard shed? These are valuable questions as they are among the first you need to consider before deciding on some other factors. If you’ve decided to invest in these simple but useful structures, you should get acquainted with some of their features before you decide to do the shopping. Keeping yourself informed about what’s out there, and knowing what you need them for can help you figure out easier what kind of sheds will make the best use in your outdoor space.

Select an Appropriate Shape and Size that Suits Your Purpose

Sheds vary in shapes and sizes. The three most common sheds sizes are small, medium, and large. Small and narrow outdoor sheds offer a perfect solution for tiny backyards that don’t have too much space available. They can be used for various purposes, but mostly for storing objects such as gardening tools, household items, or sports equipment that need a safe location. For medium-sized or larger designs you need to have a bigger outdoor space available. Moreover, the shape you choose should complement the shape of your house. For instance, narrow outdoor sheds will suit better tiny homes with little garden space available, whereas larger sheds can suit better bigger houses with wider and larger patio spaces. The options are endless when it comes to what you can store inside them. However, before you decide to invest in one, you need to know the purpose of their usage so you can choose the appropriate dimensions and design that accommodate your needs.

Think About How the Shed Will be Used

storage shed in garden filled with tools

source: thepooladvisors.com

Storage sheds can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Ultimately this will affect their sizes, shape, and overall structure. For instance, narrow garden sheds make suitable options for storing all your firewood supplies for the winter months. They can provide a safe place to keep your firewood protected from the elements. Also, small-sized sheds are mostly used for storing gardening tools, such as hoses, hand rakes, shovels, and lawnmowers. 

Some sheds have an open design that makes great use for housing animals, such as horses, cattle, and other farm animals. If you are owning animals, such as a small flock of goats or sheep, you can use these sheds to protect your animals from the elements and provide for them a safe place where they can eat and sleep. Farmers and people who live in rural, countryside areas, make use of these shed structures for storing farm equipment such as tractors, tools, hay, etc.Although these are are all valuable purposes, still, many people are using them for completely different reasons. For instance, so many people are converting their garden sheds to art studios where they can let their creativity flow. These places make perfect places for such needs, as every artist needs a moment of quiet whenever they work on something, whether it’s writing, painting, or working on any kind of project that demands their attention.

Choose the Right Material for Your Shed

small narrow storage shed in garden

source: keter.storageshedi.com

Finally, selecting the right design and material for your shed storage is also equally important. The most often used materials for manufacturing sheds of various shapes and sizes are wood, plastic, metal, etc. Each of these materials can affect the look of your shed in a different way. Still, selecting the ideal one comes down to your personal taste.

Wood

The wooden ones are a classic that never goes out of style. They give such a cozy and warm vibe that blends well with the environment. The natural look of the wood is very easy to match with the other elements of your house. Plus you can paint the wood in any colour you wish to make sure it blends with the look of your house and fits well the other details in your garden.

Metal

Metal sheds feature a simple metal structure covered in layers of factory-painted vinyl for both the walls and roof. These structures are incredibly tough and durable and much more affordable than the wooden ones. However, metal is susceptible to rusting so it can lose its appeal over time if not kept properly maintained and protected.

Plastic

small storage shed in garden

source: thespruce.com

Besides these, plastic sheds have become more and more popular. As technology has improved, plastic has gained its reputation as a viable material for building storage sheds due to the many benefits it offers. Although modern plastic sheds are fairly robust, they don't have the strength of the wooden and metal structures. This is because plastic is the most lightweight material, which also makes plastic sheds easier to assemble and move if necessary. Another great advantage to plastic garden sheds is that they’re low maintenance, which means you don’t need to worry about repainting them to prevent rust. You may only need to wash them a few times of the year to give the plastic shed a new and shiny llok. Both the metal, wooden and plastic ones you can buy as pre-fabricated designs or decide to build them from scratch. If you have the right tools and knowledge this should present no concern for you. However, many people decide on the pre-assembled design as all they need to do is find the perfect spot and assemble all the parts delivered in the kit. The DIY construction manual also comes with a fitting pack that includes all the tools you will need for building your shed, including screws, joiners, and pop rivets.