My IKEA Toy Storage Hack Might Just be the Perfect Garden Shed Organization Solution
I don't know how I didn't think of this sooner! Simple, sturdy and effective storage is about to transform your messy shed.
I only have a small garden shed, so storage and organization is critical to prevent it from becoming a black hole of gardening supplies. Unfortunately, it has gotten out of control in the last year. I have stacks of nursery pots – that I swear I will use again! – in corners, plant labels and tools scattered across every flat surface available, shovels and rakes piled along the walls, and extension cords and irrigation lines hanging from hooks I can’t reliably reach.
I was doing a little perusing of IKEA’s website the other day, trying to get inspiration for a bedroom redesign, when I stumbled upon furniture in the Kids department that is marketed as “toy storage.” Immediately, I thought how useful it would be to spruce up my shed! I think IKEA’s TROFAST storage system is an ingenious solution for gardeners and packrats alike.
I fell in love with the solid pine TROFAST frame because it will fit in my shed perfectly and hold just about everything but my spade, rake and lawnmower and I can customize the drawers to my needs.
IKEA’s TROFAST System for Shed Storage
Technically, the TROFAST system is made for kids to easily clean up and store their toys, but the recycled plastic bin drawers and the wire mesh draws are perfect for storing gardening tools and accessories.
The system features a sturdy wooden frame that has tracks into which tubs or drawers slide. The drawers can be fully removed and carried to wherever they are needed which makes taking your twine, plant labels, soil knife, and pruners out to the garden simple easy peasy and then you just slide the drawer right back into the frame when you are done with it.
There are so many different configurations for the TROFAST system including a tall, room divider version, a wall storage version to hang above a work bench to utilize vertical space, and even a tall, skinny version to slip into a corner.
The TROFAST system is so versatile with many different styles of drawers. The standard recycled plastic tubs come in a rainbow of colors, the mesh drawers are perfect for drying and storing bulbs, and there are storage trays that feature compartments for easy organization.
Large drawers fit a small bag of potting soil , perlite, that collection of extra nursery pots you keep holding on to, and fertilizer. They also make a great bin to mix your own soil in and then carry right over to your pots.
Medium drawers are the perfect place for storing your twine, extension cords, rags, and coiled irrigation hoses.
And the small drawers neatly keep plant labels, pruners, trowels, a soil knife, and your favorite pair of garden gloves.
I love the stair-step design of the solid pine TROFAST frame which allows for storage on top of the different levels. I can see my watering can, a bag of compost, and my extra terracotta pots sitting comfortably on top!
I don’t know about you, but I am adding this neat storage unit to my IKEA shopping cart now. I am (almost) excited about organizing my shed this weekend!
