Call to order

TURN A SHED INTO A HIGH-FUNCTIONING ASSET WITH SAVVY STORAGE INCLUSIONS

Words JANE PARBURY Photography ALEX REINDERS Styling ANNA MUSARRA styled our shed with a vertical garden, assembled in an upcycled pallet painted to match in charcoal

Who doesn’t love a backyard shed? It’s not only the perfect place to store garden equipment and tools, but it can also be an overflow zone for seasonal items, outdoor toys and the like, freeing up space inside your home. When selecting a shed, pick one to suit your available space, and for what you need to store. Ensure it’s constructed and anchored according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then follow these tips to kit it out and maximise your storage options.

Find a top spot

Placement is important, says stylist Tilly Roberts (@tillroberts). “Consider putting the shed towards the back of the garden, ideally in a corner,” she says. “And choose one in a similar colour to your fence or surrounds so it blends in.” Dark shades like grey and black are a great foil for greenery, which can help signal the shed’s purpose and place in the garden. And if you’re short on space for a garden, consider vertical planting systems outside the shed – DIY or otherwise. Some raised planters also come with a shelf for bonus storage.

Absco Sheds ‘Space Saver’ 3m x 1.52m x 2.08m double door shed in Monument, $593, I/N: 0079542. (Inside shed, from left) Pinnacle Hardware 1830mm x 1200mm x 540mm 5 tier adjustable shelving unit in Gloss Black, $145.20, I/N: 2581012; 1350mm x 900mm x 540mm timber top workbench, $358, I/N: 0038058, 900mm x 450mm metal pegboards, $43 each, I/N: 0038055, and 810mm x 520mm x 500mm 4 drawer mobile storage unit, $379, I/N: 0038059, all in Matt Black. Ultimate Flooring 6000mm x 1200mm x 3mm multi purpose rubber mat, $152, I/N: 4490365. Bayliss ‘TQC 3’ 75cm x 45cm plain outdoor mat in Natural, $30.58, I/N: 4494590. Holman ‘GreenWall Pixel Pot’ vertical garden, $65, I/N: 2941494 (plants not included). Bailey 3 step 120kg load twin platform step stool, $119, I/N: 0861104. ABOVE RIGHT Pinnacle Hardware 950mm x 800mm x 350mm raised mobile garden planter in Charcoal, $74.16, I/N 3321764 (plants not included).

Mechanix Wear ‘Rigger’ classic leather landscape gloves, $26.89/medium, I/N: 0270067. Holman 9L galvanised watering can, $23.95, I/N: 3120984. Northcote Pottery ‘Carpi’ 21cm x 18cm terracotta egg pot, $13.98, I/N: 0356439, and ‘Italian Collection’ 17cm saucer in Terracotta, $2.64, I/N: 2863494. Saxon timber handle tools, $4.15 each: hand trowel, I/N: 0242973, and cultivator, I/N: 0242960. Tuscan

10mm-30mm

I/N: 0177519. See following pages for more product details. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Think vertically and make the most of any available wall space. It makes items more visible and easily accessible

ABOVE & RIGHT Absco shed, Pinnacle Hardware workbench, pegboards and storage unit, as before. Pinnacle Hardware single prong pegboard hooks in Gloss Black, $16.90/pack of 20 small, I/N: 0135521. (On rear pegboard, from top left) Craftright 600mm and 300mm stainless steel rulers, $4.48/pack of 2,

I/N: 5660462, 4 piece adjustable wrench set, $28.98, I/N: 6117702, clear safety glasses, $2.30, I/N: 0401338, ear muffs, $10, I/N: 0401332, (on workbench) assorted nylon spring clamps, $19.99/pack of 16,

I/N: 5860093, 385mm powdercoated metal tool box in Red, $14.90, I/N: 5820734, and (hanging up) 11 pocket leather nail and tool belt, $15.50, I/N: 5820550. Monarch heavy duty caulking gun, $9.95, I/N: 1661920. Empire 12 inch aluminium rafter square, $29.98, I/N: 0034494. Ozito ‘PXC’ 18V cordless blower kit, $99, I/N: 3381084, and (on floor) 1800W 2030PSI high pressure washer, $119, I/N: 0254158. Trojan general purpose scissors, $8.98/pack of 2, I/N: 0191107, 3 piece plier set, $29.98, I/N: 0126943, 16oz/450g timber/rubber mallet, $10.98, I/N: 0131367, and (on side pegboard) straight blade hedge shears, $32.10, I/N: 0242142. Ryobi ‘ONE+’ 18V home essentials kit, $179, I/N: 0327892 (also in drawer). Bear 48mm interior decorator masking tape, $9.53/50m, I/N: 0144254, 50mm cloth tape in Black, $11.84/25m, I/N: 1661568, (in drawer) 48mm PVC duct tape in Silver, $8.03/30m, I/N: 1661580, and 36mm double sided tape in White, $9.53/4.5m, I/N: 1661629. Sabco coco fibre banister brush, $10.62, I/N: 4461200. UNi-PRO 3 piece paintbrush set, $4.95, I/N: 1661064. (On workbench) Irwin pencil sharpener, $6.48, I/N: 0303417. Empire medium individual carpenter pencils, $1.99 each, I/N: 0125023, and liquid paint markers in White, $4.98 each, I/N: 0163237. Garden gloves, $3.24/large, I/N: 0256797. Holman 1.8L galvanised watering can, $14.90, I/N: 3110893. (On side pegboard, from left) Cyclone stainless steel hand tools, $11.50 each: fork, I/N: 3360486, bulb trowel, I/N: 3361000, weeder, I/N: 3360999, and garden trowel, I/N: 3360998. Taskmaster 100mm x 30mm x 5mm S hooks, $3.20/pack of 4, in Black, I/N: 0212438, and Silver, I/N: 0127471. (On floor) Ultimate Flooring rubber mat, as before. AdVenture Products 20L heavy duty jerry can with bung in Army Green, $31.47, I/N: 3240536, and 5L fuel can and pourer, $12.99, I/N: 3400258. Bata knee length gumboots, $33.95/size 9, I/N: 3368152. All other products, stylist’s own.

Cyclone 16T landscape rake with timber handle, $43.95, I/N: 0203430, and long handle plumber’s shovel, $51.90, I/N: 3369051. Oates supreme garden broom, $15.98, I/N: 4484424

Zenith countersunk rib head galvanised timber screws, $34.15/pack of 500, I/N: 2420877

Use

Group like with like

Corralling similar items together is the usual practice when organising your storage. But it’s also handy to have an easily accessible area for frequently used items such as a hammer, garden shears or drill, says Tilly Roberts. “Wall-mounted tool boards are great.” Pop in a workbench for projects like potting up seedlings; it also gives you another area to keep small or frequently used items to hand.

Use every bit

Utilising hooks in a garden shed is a good space-saver, keeping the floor free for heavier items such as lawn mowers, says Sean Musu of Pinnacle Hardware. Ideal for storing tall items like brooms or rakes, wall hooks can often be squeezed into under-utilised areas, or fixed to the back of the door.

Pack it in

Drawers typically hold more items than cabinets, plus their contents are easy to see and access. Pick a unit with drawers of varying heights for different-sized items, and consider adding a drawer insert for small things like screws. A lockable cabinet is essential. “Apart from obviously keeping items safe and secure from theft, another important feature is keeping dangerous items out of reach of children, whether that be chemicals, power tools or sharp objects,” says Sean.

Think tall

A sturdy shelf unit stocked with containers is perfect for packing in lots of storage. Always put heavy items on lower shelves, and pick box sizes and types according to what you want to store, like lidded plastic tubs for seasonal items or those that need some protection from dust or damp. Clear plastic boxes and wire baskets let you see their contents at a glance, as do timber crates, which also have an appealing organic look. Think outside the box, too, such as adding a dustbin for storing sports balls.

Keep it all safe

Tools are valuable, so make sure your shed can be secured when not in use; an imposing lock could be enough to deter an opportunistic thief. For extra toughness, select a padlock with a boron-carbide shackle – it’s 50 per cent harder than hardened steel.

ABOVE LEFT Pinnacle Hardware shelving unit, pegboards and hooks, as before, 75L galvanised bin, $65.19, I/N: 4520090, and 270mm x 250mm 9L galvanised bucket, $26.79, I/N: 4460182. (On shelves, from top left) Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ wire insert in White, $17.60, I/N: 0289738. Wood storage crate, $22.59/large, I/N: 0214210.

Montgomery 10L modular storage containers with lids in Clear, $4.54 each, I/N: 0219778, and heavy duty storage containers with clip lids in Grey and Green: 60L, $14.53, I/N: 0127215, and 80L, $18.99 each, I/N: 0201356. All Set 50L modular storage container with lid in Clear, $6.95, I/N: 0219783. Tactix 25L collapsible crate in Black, $12.38, I/N: 2583340. Craftright nail and tool belt, as before. Sports equipment and accessories not included. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Pro Tip

IF THE FRONT OF YOUR FENCE FACES THE YARD, SKIP STEPS 2 AND 3 TO INSTALL THE SCREENING DIRECTLY ONTO THE PALINGS