Whether you use your backyard for entertaining, gardening, playing with the kids, relaxing, or a little bit of all of those, it’s a much more enjoyable space when it’s organized. Toys laying all over the place make it hard to mow the lawn, gardening tools without a place to live tend to get ruined in the rain or lost forever. Save your money and your sanity with these genius ideas for making your backyard into a place you can truly sit back and enjoy!
Related: The 9 Things You Should Never Leave Out in the Yard
1. Covered Kiddie Parking Garage by MomEndeavors.com
I just love this idea! As cute as these kid-sized “vehicles” are, they can quickly become an eyesore when left strewn about the back (or front) yards.
2. Poolside Storage by HowToDecorate.com
Think outside the planter box! These versatile containers can be used for much more than just plants. Here they make great poolside towel storage.
3. Outdoor Feet-Washing Station by HGTV
This is a great idea even if you don’t live by the beach. As someone who tends to spend a lot of time barefoot in the backyard, I’m often wishing I had a way to clean my feet off before going back inside. This is such a simple, and attractive option.
4. Backyard Hand-Washing Station
Another simple but smart idea! Create a backyard “sink” by hanging a galvanized bucket from an outdoor faucet to turn it into a hand-washing station. Much better than bringing the dirt inside to wash off. Add a soap dish and a hand towel and you’re ready to go!
5. Outdoor Four-Panel Screen
This is something I’m definitely going to be looking into either making or buying! Right now our big, ugly trash container is on the side of our house for everyone to see. I can’t believe I never thought of this!
6. DIY Garden Shed by A Cultivated Nest
This is one of the cutest DIY garden sheds I have ever seen! Made entirely from discarded doors and windows, it’s just the right size for a small to medium sized garden. Not to mention adorable! :-)
7. Metal Bucket Outdoor Coffee Table by A Place to Nest via Remodelaholic
Love this smart and attractive storage solution. A simple galvanized bucket becomes functional and beautiful backyard furniture.
8. Broken Rake Tool Holder by DIY How To
A seemingly worthless broken rake becomes handy backyard gardening tool storage. Just big enough for the essentials. To build this simple tool hanger, all you need is an old garden rake, a little time, and a big nail or screw to hang it on the wall. I love a great recycling project! :-)
9. DIY Cinder Block Bench by Goods Home Design
Using cinderblocks to make a backyard bench?! Pure genius! I love a project that I can figure out how to do without ever having to read one line of instructions!
10. DIY Cinder Block Potting Bench by Home.work
Another brilliant cinder block proj ect! Potting flowers can be back-breaking work if you don’t have a potting bench, and this one couldn’t be easier to make! All you need are boards and cinderblocks! Perfect for an herb garden.
11. DIY Grill Cart by The Virtual Weber Gas Grill
You can usually find old gas grills for cheap at garage sales. All you need is some some paint and some scrap wood to make your own movable cart to organize all your summer grilling stuff.
12. Outdoor Toy Organization by Domestic Charm
Once again it’s galvanized buckets for the win! “A place for everything and everything in its place” is the concept behind this brilliantly simple organization system for backyard toys. I just love the oversized chalkboard stickers too. No excuse for kids (that can read) not to put their toys away. :-)
More Ideas You'll Love
13. Perfect Hose Holder by Red Farmhouse
If you’re looking for a hose (and sprinkler) holder, a smaller galvanized bucket turned on its side and attached to a wall, or a larger one simply sitting on the ground near the spigot are both nice ways to deal with this backyard necessity! I really hate having a garden hose just laying out on the ground, so I love this idea.
14. Outdoor Storage Bench
There’s no better way to add storage and seating for guests at the same time than a storage bench. There are lots of DIY projects you can find on doing a simple Pinterest search (if you’re handy like that!) but I really love this bench I found on Amazon.
How do you stay organized in the backyard?
Our backyard is pretty plain currently but I see myself using some of these tips for sure. Who knew hose storage could be cute and functional?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a beverage cart outside the backdoor that (when not used for parties) stores the balls/outdoor toys.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We use a laundry basked to corral the boy’s sand toys. DH drilled some holes in the bottom though so it doesn’t hold water and become a mosquito breeding ground.
We also removed our deck railing this summer. Our deck is pretty low to the ground so falling isn’t really a concern. We LOVE the openness of it now. We can see everything so well without it being broken up by the railing…I hadn’t realized how much visual clutter the railing was causing.. And we are LOVING the accessibility from every side of the deck. If you’ve always thought a deck had to have the traditional railing, think again!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.these are some of the best backyard tips EVER ! I love the hose sprinkler with bucket attached on bottom to house…………the old rake end re-purposed as a holder for garden hand tools and my favorite, the cinderblock bench. You’re so right, it doesn’t get any easier than that. Now, on to my tip, I put decorative hooks (like butterflies, bees) on the side of the house to hang towels after using the pool (granted it’s only an above ground pool, but when you’re hot – It’s so cool………Thanks for all the great tips this week and every day. Some of them I use and some I pass on, but it’s always appreciated and informative………………
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have one of those big plastic bins with rope handles for all of our pool toys. It’s amazing how much better the backyard looks when all of the toys are in said basket and not strewn all over the place!! We drilled holes in the bottom so water doesn’t pool and give mosquitos a place to breed too. Works like a charm.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I LOVE these ideas! I’m going to use some of them at my house!!!! Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for putting together this organization series – LOTS of great ideas!! I love the hand and feet washing stations! We don’t have any little ones but we do have two dog-babies and we keep their outside play toys in a big clay pot on the patio.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t have a backyard right now because we are in an apartment, but once we have a house I want to try most of these! I really love the kiddie parking garage. I saw somewhere a cool outdoor patio table that has a removable middle section with a bin you can fill with ice and keep drinks cold while dining or hanging out in the backyard :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.WOW! I will be using several of these great ideas in my backyard!! I will say, though, that you do not have to drain the gas from your outdoor yard equipment if you use a fuel stabilizer. Just be sure and use good grade fuel (no discount gas for a one-cycle engine) and use the proper amount of stabilizer. Happy Fall Ya’ll!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Our back yard has been hideous for years, we’re just now doing a “remodel” – I’m planning on incorporating some of these ideas! This article was -so- well timed for us! Currently, my favorite back yard tip is that I do love the use of a “faucet extension” – where you have a very short hose and a faucet at the end so you can move the off/on function to a more convenient area. Faucets tend to be behind a bush or under a deck (ours) so having the ability to put the faucet in a user-friendly space for the summer is awesome.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I could definitely use many of these ideas. Just need some supplies( fingers crossed) I use baskets with lids and benches with a lower shelf outside doors to store unsightly shoes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I get sooo hot working outside, me and my clothes are soaked with sweat, pure sweat, in less than an hour. My spray wand on “shower” setting is perfect for rinsing off and cooling down. I will add a foot cleaning tray today! I keep tea tree oil close at hand for treating bites, stings, scrapes, and other mishaps immediately. Also bathe with tea tree infused soap after gardening.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I went to a convenience store & got one of their empty Ice Cream containers..I use it to store the bird feed. Fits one large bag perfectly & no animals can get inside it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas! I need to get more organized…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love the outdoor ideas need snow protection options! Will be stealing the large bucket storage table!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you! Needed this. Any suggestions for our collection of basketballs??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.An old hammock, hammock chair, or net for securing stuff on a car works very well. I hung one on the garage wall, and toss in bike helmets also.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I make sure the kids put their toys away before coming in. We typically have a clean yard, it’s a good thing you didn’t ask how to keep the back patio clean. That’s where I need to find some solutions
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What nails were use to make that bench? I can’t bring up the picture or the link. Really cute stuff on here , I’m going to develop making stuff on my own to spruce up my yard! Thanks Jillee, going to Walmart today to buy some stuff to work on my yard and house.! U have showed me that a woman can be handy outdoors too. I’m married to a man who thinks women only do housework lol!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A mesh laundry hamper is a great tool to store the kids’ sandbox toys in. It can stay near the sandbox and the sand shakes right out!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Storage: Use a large ice cooler as a storage trunk. I use for hose and other gardening gear. The cooler helps pace and prevent drastic temperature fluctuations so it can help prevent cracking and lengthen life of the item.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.And if you don’t like the way it might look, store it in a pretty wooden crate like the ones shown in this post :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I grew up in FL, and we don’t have to put our garden things away. This was a pretty interesting and informative post. Now that I live in TN, seems like I’ll have to do a few of these!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for all the organizational tips this week. I will be using a lot of them this weekend.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The back yard is where we let ourselves be lazy. We have all weather furniture on the deck, so we don’t have to worry about leaving it out all winter, the kids’ bikes/toys fit perfectly under the deck or behind the shed, the hose is tucked under the deck stairs, and we have one of these:
http://plasticstoragecabinets.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Rubbermaid-Outdoor-Storage-Shed.jpg
Which we keep the trash in. It’s handy for larger items that need to wait for a monthly pick-up (old mattress, broken chair, etc.), as well as some of hubby’s larger garage items.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This are all great ideas–I especially love the kiddie garage–so cute!
Sorry, but I don’t have a tip to share today.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love the kiddie car garage!
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