Earlier this summer we shared a full recap of how we transformed our beach house backyard from an overgrown mess into a compact, relaxing oasis. It’s a small space, so we focused on squeezing in as much function as possible — you can read more about that in the original post — and after that update many of you asked to see the inside of our pink shed and learn what we store there. Today I’m finally sharing the shed tour and the simple organization fixes that made a big difference.
When we first posted the backyard before-and-after, I admitted the shed’s interior had turned into a “disaster pile.” A week later we tackled it in under five hours with just a few pieces of lumber and some hooks. It’s not a showroom shed, but two straightforward strategies dramatically increased our usable storage and made frequently used items easy to access. This project reminded us that effective organization can be quick, inexpensive, and functional.
Also, apparently I’m a natural at posing for shed photos. Is that a smize I detect?
The shed’s exterior is an important visual anchor in the backyard and it creates privacy, but the interior solves a practical problem: we have no garage, no basement, and very limited outdoor storage. For over a year we had been shoving lawn tools, beach gear, power tools, and renovation leftovers into the foyer and mudroom, tracking sand and grass into the house. Once the shed was built, we moved everything that belonged out there in one big transfer — and that’s how the disaster pile began.
It sat like that for a while, until we finally had a weekend to sort it out. The plan was simple: maximize vertical space so the floor could be cleared. The challenge was limited wall area — three walls have either windows or doors — so we used the one uninterrupted wall for heavy-duty shelving.
I built the shelves in a few hours using basic 2x4s and plywood and a trick that makes alignment fast and accurate: construct the outer supports against the wall temporarily attached to the inner supports, then separate them so the front and back line up perfectly. The method is quick and requires minimal measuring, which is great for projects like this.
Shelf spacing is customizable; we opted for larger shelves at the bottom for bulky tools and equipment and smaller shelves near the top for lighter, versatile storage. That mix gives flexibility as storage needs change over time.
One definite use for the new shelving was storing leftover tile from multiple renovation projects. We keep at least one extra box of tile from each project in case of future repairs, and the tile from kitchens, bathrooms, and mudrooms adds up. Fortunately the tiles fit on about one and a half shelves, leaving room for roughly 70% of the items that had formed the disaster pile: our pressure washer, inflatable paddle board, kids’ boogie boards, potting soil and mulch, a miter saw, and a shop vac. I’ll explain where the rest went in a moment.
My favorite tweak was treating the front of the shelving unit like a secondary wall. Instead of wasting that facing surface, we added hooks and hung frequently used beach gear right at the front, next to the shed door. This “layered” approach keeps everyday items handy while less-used boxes of tile stay out of sight behind them — a small change with a big convenience payoff.
Strategically placed hooks let us hang chairs, life vests, and other beach items within easy reach. Having these things stored right by the door has been incredibly useful during the busy months at the beach.
Turning to the other side of the shed, most walls are dominated by windows. Windows make the shed look great from the outside but limit storage options inside. I used narrow wall sections and corners for the beach kite and a small electric grill, while the area under a large window holds a couple of leaning bikes — hand-me-downs we’re saving for the kids as they grow.
Under the other window we repurposed a sturdy Ikea cabinet that was too large for its original intent. It turned out to be handy for corralling smaller items like buckets, toys, hoses, and gloves. Sliding doors are especially helpful in a packed shed because they don’t require extra clearance to open.
To the cabinet’s right we installed a simple assortment of screws, nails, and hooks to hold hand tools such as clippers, rakes, and shovels. I’ve tried dedicated outdoor tool racks before, but this straightforward hook system works well and is easy to adapt. When buying outdoor tools, look for ones with a hole or loop so they’re easy to hang.
For items without a built-in hanging point I used heavy-duty bike hooks to store the leaf blower, weed trimmer, and even the ladder. That brings us to another way we created usable “wall” space: we hung the ladder in front of one of the shed’s double doors. The door stays latched most of the time, so the ladder effectively becomes a permanent wall-mounted item until we need full door access.
That wraps up the guided tour of the beach house shed. Hopefully this gives you a clear picture of how we turned a chaotic pile into a functional, easily accessible storage space using simple shelves, smart hooks, and thoughtful placement.
If you enjoy organization projects and shed makeovers, you might also like posts we’ve done about organizing other small spaces and storage solutions.
- Four Ways We Organized Our Richmond Shed
- Maximizing Our Mini-Mudroom
- How We Organized Our Kitchen Cabinets (full video tour!)
- Turning A Coat Closet Into Extra Toy Storage
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