Shed Plans

If you are planning on building a small shed the best place to start is a good set of plans.

Having plans is a huge time saver. I know it sounds cliché, but with some up front planning you will save a lot of time and headache.

What do you need in a small shed

This largely depends on what you want to use your small shed for. If you are just holding some yard equipment in your shed you will need to plan accordingly. When storing Christmas decorations you will have different needs.

So the first thing to look at is what and how much you are planning on storing in your shed. Once you have these two questions answered you can start to move forward.

The best general advice I can give is plan for enough space to do or fit what you need to. Next, include organizational systems for everything.

If you build a simple 4’X6’ shed with nothing but an empty floor you will only be able to store what fits on the floor. Make use of the entire space, floor to ceiling, not just the floor.

Specifics

For garden tools include hooks and for hanging larger tools install clips. Pegboard will be flexible and functional for storing all of your smaller hand tools. Shelving is a must for pots, fertilizers, and other odds and ends.

A small storage shed will most likely be used for boxes and general storage. Depending on the size of items to be stored there are two things that can be done to maximize space. For larger boxes use stackable plastic containers. Smaller items and boxes will fit on raised shelves.

Open rafters often work well for storing long slender items such as rolls of wrapping paper. These can be laid across several rafters and stored quite out of the way.

If you plan to store a lawn mower, consider a mower with a folding handle. Due to the awkward shape of a mower it is hard to maximize the use of your space. Plan to push the mower body under a shelf so that the space above is not wasted. Also, the mower body could be centered with the handle against the wall. This would allow for something to be stored under the handle while leaving room for shelving above.

Create good access within your small shed

The biggest problem with a small shed is that if it is small enough it will be hard, if not impossible, to get inside of. The best way to solve this problem is to think of it as an outdoor closet.

Let’s look at a 4’X6’ shed again. Install double doors on the six foot side of your shed. If you have two, two-foot doors you will have access to almost the entire shed without even stepping inside. While you should be able to enter your shed for ease of access, this will allow you to use all of the space without having to worry about leaving a lot of space for you to get in.

Conclusion

In the right application a small shed can be a perfect fit to serve your storage needs while not taking up too much space or costing an arm and a leg. Plan ahead and organize and you will get the most out of your small shed.