From home maintenance to gardening and DIY, your shed can house it all. That’s why it is so important to declutter a shed regularly to keep everything neat and the space functional.
Staying on top of clutter can also help to make your shed safer, giving you more space to move and work while limiting the risk of items falling and breaking or landing on you.
Here, professional home organizers explain how to declutter a shed properly and dispose of those awkward items, to make your shed organization ideas shine.
How to declutter a shed
Streamlining your shed ideas is not unlike tackling any other area of your home.
Setting aside a good chunk of time, keeping focus, and using the best decluttering methods can help you quickly pare back the impractical for more functional storage space in your shed.
1. Empty everything out
Being able to see everything clearly in your shed will make organizing easier.
If you're not sure where to start when decluttering your shed, simply take everything out. It might seem like a lot of work, but laying out all of your items, categorizing them by use or season, can help you see the bigger picture and make getting rid of items simpler.
This is known as the chaos method, as it looks pretty chaotic for a short while, but trust us, it has so many benefits and really works.
This step can also help you weed out any items that you can toss right away. Having some extra heavy-duty trash bags, available from The Home Depot, can help with this.
To protect your hands, consider wearing thick work gloves, also from the Home Depot, to avoid splinters and prevent cutting yourself on any unexpected screws, glass, or metal.
2. When did you last use it?
Be honest with yourself about which tools you use regularly and which have been left to rust.
With your storage ideas for sheds empty, work out what to keep by picking out what you use most.
Angelia York, VP of Saint Louis Closet Co., suggests, ‘ask yourself when the last time you used the item was. If you haven’t used it within the last year, and it's not seasonal or sentimental, it’s time to let it go. Broken tools, items that are repeats, and outdated supplies are your top items to get rid of. Keep only what you actually use and have space for.’
The same goes for duplicate items, adds Carrol Cartwright, professional home organizer and founder of Neatly & Co.. ‘Edit down your selection. Do you really need eight of the same size shovel? If it’s something you use and love, keep it. Just store it in a way that makes sense to optimize storage to avoid duplicates and avoid making another last-minute run to the hardware store.’
3. Prioritize function
Keep essential items easily accessible so you are more likely to use them, and reduce the risk of future duplicates.
When working in a practical space such as a shed, it pays to be ruthless when decluttering. Keep only the items that work well, getting rid of anything that has seen better days, and store them in a way that will not only make them easier to find but will keep them in top shape, too.
Carrol continues, ‘If you’re digging around to find your favorite trowel every time you garden, something needs to change. Make sure there’s proper storage for both small tools and bigger items like rakes and shovels.'
A freestanding rack for organizing yard tools from Amazon will come in handy.
'If you're unable to dedicate drawers, get creative. Use baskets [such as these black wire grid baskets, from The Container Store] to store different tools, but ensure everything has its place! When everything has a home, it’s easier to keep things in check.’
4. Check expiration dates
Not all outdoor use items are safe for landfill or recycling sites.
You might not be decluttering a pantry, but several common shed items have similar expiration dates. Items such as paint, pool chemicals, and fertilizer can all ‘go off’.
Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO at Cabana, says, ‘Go through all of your items that have an expiration date and check those dates. This could be anything from pool chemicals to cleaning products, to fertilizer. Discard whatever has expired and make a note of what you need to repurchase.’
For products that you need to decant, or where the packaging is likely to be damaged, make expiration dates clearer by using a label maker, from Walmart, to keep tabs on use-by dates.
It's worth adding your shed to your expiration sweep, which experts recommend doing through the house and yard at least once a year.
5. Check local guidance for tricky items
Disposing of items correctly helps to protect the planet, while also helping you to avoid accidental fines.
Unlike decluttering a closet or bathroom, not everything you choose to get rid of from your shed can be tossed in the trash or donated.
Angelia says, ‘For tricky items like paint, pesticides, and large tools, check your local waste management or recycling center’s guidelines. Never toss these in the regular trash.’
6. Donate extras
Only keep the items you need, and give the rest to those who will use them more.
Not sure what to do with the items you are decluttering? Carol suggests, ‘If your tools are still in good shape but you no longer need them, consider donating to a local charity, school garden, or community plot. Many will gladly take gently used tools and supplies.’
Assess the quality of the item and its usefulness to help you decide if you should donate or sell decluttered items. Larger tools and appliances could find good homes through local online marketplaces, for example, giving you a few extra funds towards a new shed or home organizing essentials.
What to shop
These heavy-duty pegboards are made from sturdy stainless steel, making them ideal for organizing heavy tools.
Stop tools from falling over and causing chaos when you open your shed door with this standing tool organizer, perfect for awkward-sized hand tools.
Protect items in your shed storage from weather and pest damage by housing them in airtight bins. These clear bins make it easy to find what you need, and are perfect for organizing shelves neatly.
Meet the experts
Angelia has dedicated over 30 years to transforming and organizing homes. She specializes in helping clients maximize their storage through stylish, tailor-made solutions. In addition to working directly with homeowners, Angelia partners closely with builders to design custom storage systems that enhance the functionality of new homes and add long-term value.
Neatly & Co., founded by Carroll Cartwright in 2020, specializes in organizational design and crafting custom storage solutions for homes, offices, and beyond.
Jeremy is the CEO of Cabana, an expert pool service company. Cabana provides a wide range of pool services, including maintenance, repair, and cleaning. With a long history in the outdoor service industry, Jeremy brings a wealth of experience to multiple areas concerning backyard lawns, patios and pools.
While you are decluttering a shed, check for some of the items never to store in a shed and remove them, too. Not only will it make your shed more organized, but it can also help items such as electronic tools, seeds, and paint last longer, too.
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