Anyone with a backyard has one thing in common…NOT ENOUGH STORAGE. We usually have more stuff than space to put it in and if you have a backyard in the city chances are it’s small with less space for storage. Regardless of size, you still need a safe and dry place to store the bikes, garbage bins, tools, and toys.
Continuing our series on backyard storage ideas we’ve found some ideal solutions for the things we can store outside. From DIY plans to rugged easy to assemble sheds. These won’t take up much yard or patio space and you’ll clear up the clutter.
Easy to assemble all-purpose storage sheds
There are many storage products on the market that help contain our backyard stuff. We’ve found our 5 favorite sheds for small spaces. While these aren’t specialized for things like bikes or garbage bins they do solve a problem and save space in a small backyard.
Rubbermaid Plastic Slide Lid Outdoor Storage Shed
We chose this shed from Rubbermaid because of its versatility. Big enough to house lawn mowers and bikes yet its low profile lets you tuck it away so it doesn’t become the focal point of the yard.
Another feature we really like is that the roof of the shed is on rollers and slides backward for vertical access so you don’t need to be superman to remove its lid.
At 96 cubic feet, it is big enough to house your larger backyard items. Its dimensions are 72.1 x 14 x 45.1 inches. Made of plastic it won’t rot or weather like wood but on the downside it looks like plastic and isn’t all that aesthetically pleasing.
Conclusion
If you need an all-purpose shed but don’t want it to take over your outdoor space this unit fits the bill as long as you can tuck it away so it doesn’t become the plastic focal point of your yard.
Lifetime 6405 Outdoor Storage Shed with Window
For those looking for a larger yet manageable more permanent shed, we chose this model from Lifetime based on its smart design, customer reviews, and Lifetime’s quality customer support.
As part of the smart design, this shed was built so that it gets a lot of natural light. The four skylights and 1 shatterproof window let you find what you’re looking for in a crowded shed. It also has 2 screened vents for those warm summer days.
Note that this shed is going to be a permanent and you’ll need to level its foundation with a concrete pad, wood deck, gravel, or patio style surface. Thankfully the manufacturers manual outlines several floor pad options designed specifically for the unit. Dimensions are 8 x 10 with 71.3 square feet of space.
Conclusion
If you are in the market for a relatively large premade shed with a high pitched roof and a lot of shelving options this will work well. The 10 year limited warranty and excellent customer reviews for durability and customer service helped it make our list.
Keep in mind you’ll need a permanent pad to place this on and you’ll want to make sure it is level and high enough above grade so that you don’t get leaks.
KETER Factor Resin Shed
Our next all-purpose pre-made shed comes from Keter. We chose this model because its footprint is compact enough for a small backyard and its wood-look resin walls will hold up in the nastiest climates and it looks closer to wood than plastic.
At 8×6 it compares to the other sheds we’ve highlighted and its double doors make it easy to get bulky backyard items in and out. With a skylight and air vents, the shed doesn’t make you feel too claustrophobic and dark.
Dimensions are 101 x 71.5 x 95.5 inches and it is heavier than the sheds mentioned above at 235 pounds. In doing our research, we noticed that most reviews had very good things to say about assembling this shed noting that most were able to get this put together in about 3 hours.
Conclusion
Keter might not be as well known as companies like Rubbermaid however they do have a very good reputation. The shed’s resin body material is super easy to maintain and cleans up quickly. I would have liked to see designed with another skylight or window giving it more natural light.
Suncast Sierra Series 6-Feet by 3-Feet Shed
We’ve selected the Suncast 6×3 shed for those who need a smaller footprint and could use more vertical space. Its 6-foot entry makes it easier to store taller items like ladders.
This shed has double reinforced resin walls that do a decent job at resembling wood. We really liked the transom windows / vents as they look good and add light and ventilation. Plus we had a hard time finding similarly sized sheds with any windows at all.
The dimensions are 33.8 x 80 x 88 inches making it ideal if you want to place this against a fence or the house as it doesn’t protrude past 3 feet.
Conclusion
This shed made our list for its handsome transom windows and tall double doors. It’s also stylish enough to add character to an outdoor space compared to some of the similarly priced plastic models.
If you need space for a larger mower or trash bin this shed probably isn’t for you as those larger items are about all you’ll be able to fit, however, if you need the vertical space this shed has it.
Arrow WL65 Woodlake 6-Feet by 5-Feet Steel Storage Shed
The last shed that made our list comes from Arrow. We selected this shed based on its wood grain look, storage capacity, and price.
The entrance, storage capacity, and footprint allow you to store bulkier items like patio furniture. Dimensions are 54.2 x 71.2 x 68.6 inches which provide 147 cubic space of storage space. You can also purchase the shed’s floor frame kit which is an easy to assemble foundation for the shed.
Conclusion
Priced well below most similarly sized sheds you get a lot of space for the money and the wood-look steel walls blend nicely in any outdoor space. While the walls are pre-drilled we did note in our research that assembly took about a day which was longer than the other sheds on our list.
DIY Sheds
Looking for a new project? We’ve found some great resources around building your own shed. Keep in mind every city and town’s permitting process varies so check to see what if any permits you need before you start.
We’ve found some great DIY articles from the folks at Instructables in other articles so check out their take on building a shed in 12 steps. DIY.com has a nice free shed building plan here as well.
Fast Framer Universal Storage Shed Framing Kit
If you’re not sure you have the chops to build a shed from scratch check out the Fast Framer Shed Framing Kit. It takes a lot of the carpentry out of the building process including measure and cutting angles.
So if you don’t have acres and acres to work with there are still some very good options for backyard storage without overtaking your space.
Do you have the perfect shed for a small outdoor space? Let us know….leave a comment below.
These all look like pretty handy sheds, but that leaves me wondering which of them would be appropriate for me. They all seem pretty similar.
Can you give some examples of why a person might want one of these sheds over the others? This would make deciding on one a lot easier.
Hi Zachary
I would decide how much head room or height you need in your shed and whether or not you’d like a window for light keeping in mind these are pretty dark without one.
After you widdle that down then I would say if you don’t need a lot of height or windows than the Rubbermaid Shed is the best value for you.
If you do need height and a window the Suncast Sierra Series is your best bet.
Thanks for stopping by the site!
You’ve got me thinking.
With what I’ve spent on storage fees I could have gotten 4 or 5 of these units.
Living in a rented house can be difficult because you have to check with the landlord every time you do something. If these sheds can be disassembled as easily as they are assembled then it should be a problem when moving.
I’m going to have to check them out. Thanks.
Gary
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Hi Gary
I think you are on to something here. Glad the article got your wheels turning.
Best – Ryan
Thank you for creating this page. I am in need of a good storage shed but the prices I have seen on others were simply out of my reach. These look like they would do a good job without breaking the bank. I also appreciate the information on creating your own.
I really like the Lifetime 6405 Outdoor Storage Shed with Window as it would probably fit my needs better. Thank you for pointing out the fact that these sheds can get really dark without windows like this one has. I will have to wait a bit before investing in this but I do have your page bookmarked.
Hi Glenda
Thanks for stopping by. I am glad we could help with your shed search. Good luck!
Well we’ve been looking into replacing an old brick based shed in our back garden that is attached to our garage. It’s a decent enough design but the age related upkeep is starting to get on our nerves a bit. I quite like the idea of resin sheds – are they expensive and are they low maintenence?
Hi Chris – the resin sheds are very low maintenance. Soap and water from a hose is all you need to clean them up. I would say they are inexpensive compared to the cost of true wooden sheds.
Thank you for all of the awesome ideas for the backyard! Our backyard needs a lot of work, and all your ideas were creative and refreshing. We were planning to work on our yard in the spring, but we don’t know where to start! All the work seems so daunting and time consuming. We have two sheds, a birdfeeder, and a quoits game, but that’s it! Needless to say, we don’t have very many people in our backyard. Again, thank you for all the ideas and cost options! It really helped me out!
Glad we could help. Good luck this Spring.