The Storage Shed and Other Outdoor Storage Solutions

The outdoor storage shed and other storage solutions target a common problem in modern households. With everyone, me included, leading such busy lifestyles, organization often seems to be lacking. But we all want it. Work is easier when we can find the tools we need. Relaxation is more enjoyable when we’re not looking at a mess.

Outdoor storage can be a problem if you have no garage or limited space in the garage. This is why the storage shed has become a popular fixture on many lawns. But if you’re looking for other options, don’t worry. There are several alternatives to a large storage shed.

The garden storage bench contains a hollow inner compartment for storage. It also functions as seating. Pretty handy.

The tool shed isn’t that different from the large storage shed. It’s just smaller. It won’t house all your outdoor things, such as lawnmower, soil, mulch, lawn chairs, and so forth. But it’s big enough to store tools, as the name implies. It’s tall enough for rakes and shovels, too.

An outdoor storage box, such as one made from wicker or teak, can hold about the same amount of things as a bench, but it’s not meant for seating. You could however, use it for a coffee table among a group of lounge chairs.

Whether you choose a large storage shed or another alternative will depend on how many things you need to store, how big these items are, and how much space you can devote to outdoor storage.

Why an Insulated Dog House?

An insulated dog house is designed to keep your dog comfortable in the extreme temperatures of both the winter and summer. Some owners, of course, just prefer to keep their pets indoors. Others want to keep fleas and muddy paws outside.

Why an insulated dog house instead of a regular house? The insulation, just like that inside our walls, works to slow the rate of heat transfer between the air inside and outside the structure. Reflective insulation reflects the heat coming from the outside.

The walls of an insulated dog house also trap air pockets that separate the heat outside from materials that conduct the heat more easily than air, which is not a good conductor of heat. This same principle helps slow heat transfer even more when the insulated dog house contains a raised floor, which traps an air pocket between the ground and the house.

An insulated dog house is a necessary accompaniment to a heating and air conditioning unit. If you want to keep your energy bill lower, the insulated dog house makes the air conditioning most efficient. You probably wouldn’t run an air conditioner in your house if its walls contained no insulation. I know I wouldn’t want to. The same principles apply to a dog house. So to give your furry friend the ultimate in summer comfort, an insulated dog house is the way to go.

Completing Your Wooden Glider with Wooden Décor

Bringing home a wooden glider is only one step of a patio decoration plan. Sometimes, with careful coordination of colors, shapes, and patterns, you can mix materials effectively in a décor scheme. But sometimes these efforts only land you with a mismatched group of items that don’t look like they belong together. Perhaps your best option is to use all wooden pieces in various natural wood shades to complement your wooden glider.

Here are the some of the wooden décor items I have either seen in other locations or used in my own home:

• Mats/rugs
• Side tables
• Wall hangings
• Vases
• Cups and bowls
• Planters
• Potting tables
• Storage boxes
• Coffee tables
• Lounge chairs
• Serving trays
• Bird cages
• Candleholders
• Carved figurines or animals
• Lamps

I certainly wouldn’t stuff all these items onto my patio. But a few well-placed wooden accents can increase the warm glow that emanates from a wooden glider. I find that I feel more at rest when my surroundings seem to contain order and a sense of harmony. And I believe that I am not alone, that many people feel the same way. One way to create order and harmony with your wooden glider is to choose surrounding items with care.

Wooden Storage Box Organizing Tips

A wooden storage box is a helpful organization tool. When I recently downsized to a smaller apartment, I found one closet at my disposal. As a result, I searched for free-standing organizers that would allow me to give everything a place.

A wooden storage box, however, usually contains no dividers, shelves, drawers, or compartments. If you toss multiple small items into a wooden storage box, you may not aid your organization; instead you may only move the mess from one location to another. If you want to get the most out of your wooden storage box, try some of the following organizing tips:

• Stow only large items in the wooden storage box, things such as blankets or chair cushions.


• If you want to use the wooden storage box for small items, divide them into several categories. Box these up in smaller bins or containers and then stack these inside the wooden storage box.


• When you have finished using an item, return it to its designated place.


• Don’t overstuff the wooden storage box. If everything you want to store doesn’t fit, get rid of items or buy another storage box.


• Put the less frequently used items on the bottom of the wood storage box. Place the items you use often near the top of the box.

Places to Put a Cedar Sports Bench

When I first heard of a cedar sports bench, I didn’t have the faintest idea what it was. I found all sorts of things called sports benches. But I discovered that a cedar sports bench is simply a style of backless bench.

I think backless benches are attractive, but they don’t really lend themselves to deep relaxation. For one thing, the lack of a backrest means that I have to hold myself upright. Oh, what woefully hard work! I don’t exactly want to fall asleep and flip off backwards—that is, if I could fall asleep.

Well, the sports bench doesn’t fit in the living room with the easy chair and couch. But it still looks cool, right? Plus, the really nice thing about a cedar sports bench, or any other backless bench, is that it can serve multiple functions: seating, table, climbing stool, stand, footrest. I love the multiple functions in one piece of furniture.

So I got to thinking. Where could I put a sports bench or other backless bench? These are some of the ideas I envisioned:

• Against the wall in a hallway


• Next to my front door, on the outside


• Around a fire pit


• At the foot of my bed


• On a garden path


• Against a bathroom wall


• Across from my porch swing, as table/stationary seating.

Outdoor Umbrellas for Patio Tables

Outdoor umbrellas can provide the perfect finishing touch to arrangements of chairs and patio tables. A good source of shade provides relief from the heat and glaring sun. When you perform a simple search for outdoor umbrellas on shopping websites, you will find more than one type. Know what each of these types are so you can narrow down your search to the appropriate selection of outdoor umbrellas for you.

Market or patio umbrellas may be slightly different, but the terms are often used interchangeably. These outdoor umbrellas work well for shading chairs and patio tables. Both types are made from materials that hold up well to extended sun and weathering. Canopies come in a range of materials, but mostly they are polyester or acrylic, both synthetic materials that block sunlight and moisture. Poles are usually made of either wood or aluminum.

The difference between market and patio umbrellas is that the market umbrella contains an extra layer of material at the peak of the canopy. It forms a vent that allows wind to pass through. This feature is supposed to prevent wind from causing damage to these outdoor umbrellas.

A nice feature that some of these outdoor umbrellas offer is a tilt option. There are several kinds of tilt mechanisms, but they all have one aim—to allow you more control over the angle of the canopy so you can achieve better coverage from the sun. As you can see, these two types of outdoor umbrellas have been designed to enhance comfort around patio tables.

Gardening with Wood Planters

Wood planters are strong containers you can use to plant all sorts of things, from greenery and flowers to herbs and even vegetables. Here’s a quick overview of the steps you can follow when you plan to garden with wood planters.

Perform any customization of your wood planters first. Painting, staining, waterproofing, decorating—these all fall under the customization category. Once you have finished this process and allowed time for materials to dry or harden, you can move on to the actual preparation for planting.

You may choose to line your wood planters with heavy plastic in order to separate water from the wood. Top the plastic with a layer of gravel, pebbles, or a similar material. This layer aids proper drainage for your plants. Fill the remaining space with soil or potting mix, but don’t fill the wood planters to the brim; leave a few inches of space at the top.

Lay out your flowers, seeds, or cuttings in an approximate planting pattern. Dig the holes, plant, and cover again with soil. That’s it. Enjoy the results of your work!

Choosing Wood Planters

Wood planters can offer both beauty and strength, but you may find your choices are much more varied than you imagined. Here are a couple things to consider as you choose wood planters.

Why wood planters? They do come in other materials, of course. For one thing, wood planters made of quality materials maintain an attractive appearance year after year. They also do better in colder weather because they offer greater insulation than planters made of other substances. Finally, wood is much easier to customize than plastic or ceramic. You can stain wood, paint it, stencil on it, or glue mosaic tiles to it, among other options.

Which woods? The best materials for wood planters are teak, cedar, and cypress. Each of these types of wood lasts long. These woods resist decay and rotting. In fact, these are such durable woods that they have been used for siding and shingles in houses, and they have lasted 100 years with no maintenance. These woods are worth their price.

Check out some of the many options available to you. You’ll find many wood planters online that come in various shades and finishes. If you buy planters of unfinished teak, cedar, or cypress, you can choose either to finish them or to leave them natural.