Outdoor Furniture Plus' Blog

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.

A garden bench is one way of beautifying a wooded hill in your backyard. In a previous home, we had such a hill in our backyard. At first, it was a tangled mess. But we didn’t want to get rid of it, either. It was part of the charm of the home.

If you’re faced with a similar situation, there are several things you can do. First, clear out selected brush and tangles. We left the mature trees but removed scrub and scraggly stalks. This one step made a tremendous improvement. It’s perhaps one of the most important things you can do to transform the look of your wooded hill.

Here are some other ways to embellish or beautify the hill further. Cut out a level spot halfway down, at the bottom, or anywhere in between. Install a garden bench in each spot that you clear. A garden bench provides a resting place from which you can catch glimpses of interesting wildlife.

Install stone steps. Use a large rock to create each step and mortar to secure them. Place the garden bench to the side of the stone stairway. If there is no natural ground cover, plant some. Or fill in the gaps. You can further emphasize each garden bench with some potted flowers on either end.

As you prepare for a special party around your picnic table, finger foods are especially attractive. An edible fruit arrangement can serve as a colorful centerpiece for the picnic table and a tasty finger food for your guests. You won’t be able to wait until they see the lovely scene and delicious smells that liven up the picnic table.

I have tasted the expensive fruit arrangements that come from specialty companies. They are good, but there’s nothing about them that’s any better than what you can easily create at home. All you need is a container or vase, some wooden skewers, and some fresh fruits. I think the best choices for an edible fruit arrangement are probably pineapple, strawberries, grapes, and a firm melon such as honeydew or cantaloupe.

Form the big flowers from pineapple rings with a flower-shaped cookie cutter. Use one of the other fruits as a center for each flower. Press the pineapple onto the skewer first, just a little way down. Top with a melon ball, de-capped strawberry, or seedless grape. After you make several flowers, secure them in the container. Place foam or playdough into the container and stick the skewers into it. Fill out the edible fruit arrangement by skewering other fruits and placing at different heights around the arrangement.

To fill in with greenery, wash silk leaves and intersperse these with the fruit, or use fresh parsley. None of these fruits will grow brown in the air, but it’s still best to wait until just before the guests arrive to bring the edible fruit arrangement out to the picnic table. Enjoy!

An ice chest can be used time after time during the summer months. It’s the perfect solution to keep large amounts of drinks cool for a Saturday barbecue or family reunion. You can’t give up your entire fridge, and no one wants a tepid drink on a warm summer afternoon. Of course, if you hold an aversion to the typical plastic ice chest, you can now buy one in stately teak wood.

My favorite model is probably the one that doubles as a storage bench. During warm months, you can snap in the liner to use the ice chest function. When the warm months end, you don’t have to pack the teak ice chest away. Just pull out the liner and use the gutted ice chest to store winter items, such as blankets, scarves, gloves, and hats.

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it again. I love furniture that serves more than one purpose. Using an ice chest throughout the whole year? That is definitely the way to get the most out of your money. And if that’s not enough, it looks handsome with other teak patio furniture.