The Benefits Of Small Outdoor Storage Sheds (And Clever Ways To Hide Them)

Outdoor storage sheds are well-loved and valuable additions to any home. Their added space comes in handy for storing furniture, objects, and keepsakes that homeowners don't immediately need, but want to hang onto for the meantime. Typically placed along a property's edge, outdoor storage sheds are used to house a cornucopia of personal and practical objects. Following simple shed organization tips, fitting items ranging from seasonal decorations to sports equipment can bring some much-needed order into your life. Being outdoors, they are ideally located for stowing garden-related paraphernalia like lawn mowers or gardening tools. In bad weather, they can be used to temporarily store outdoor furniture. They can also be utilized as personal studios for creative endeavors or hobbies. 

Beyond their storage purposes, outdoor sheds can indirectly contribute to your home's aesthetic: Moving interior clutter into an outdoor storage shed results in a pared-down living space. And if you do decide to sell your home in the future, it could be an attractive selling point to potential buyers and may even increase your property's resale value. While there's no arguing with their practical purposes, not everyone wants their shed to stand out. Fortunately, simple solutions like greenery, fencing, or painting can help conceal them from view.

Away from the bustle of your home, the outdoor shed can easily be converted into a dedicated space for indulging your hobbies and passions. Transform it into a woodworking shop, a pottery studio, or a painting studio. Avid bikers can use it for bike storage and repair. Budding writers can convert the shed into a writer's studio. And if your shed has a water line and electrical outlets, utilize it as a photography darkroom for developing photos.

Your shed may not be unsightly, but you may not necessarily want it to be the focal point of your property. And if you're utilizing the shed for a hobby that requires creativity and concentration, you probably don't want to be in view of passersby and neighbors. Using greenery to camouflage your shed is by far the most practical way to keep it hidden. Small backyard landscaping ideas like trellises, shrubbery, or hedges can be clever ways to divert outdoor sheds from one's line of sight. Fast-growing plants like bamboo or shrubs like forsythia can be beautiful garden additions while craftily concealing your shed.

Depending on your area's building codes and restrictions, a privacy fence with heights between 3 feet (partial coverage) and 6 feet (full coverage) can cleverly shield your shed from view. Finally, blend it into the background with a coat of paint, which will add more value, beauty, and protection to your outdoor shed.