You’ve probably got heaps of stuff cluttering up your house, garage and garden; that needs to be stored-away securely. C’mon, let’s do something about it! You’ve got the perfect spot for a backyard shed - and we’ve got the perfect shed for your backyard.

Here are some tips from Mitre 10 on how to choose a storage shed.

Choosing a Garden Shed

When choosing a garden shed, you need to consider what you will be using the shed for.  Do you need a small shed that simply stores garden tools, or will you need a workshop that is capable of housing vehicles?  Sheds are available in a huge range of sizes and configurations, allowing them to fit perfectly in their space.

How visible will the shed be?  A shed that will be on display should be more decorative than a standard utilitarian shed.  Matching the shed to the style of the house will create a sense of uniformity throughout the house and garden.  If the shed is in a less visible area, or you want to hide it, then the materials you use will not matter as much.  Lattice screening can help to hide the shed from view especially if you plant a climbing plant to grow up it.

Consider the amount of space that you have available.  There is no point in planning a shed that is capable of holding a ride-on mower, all of the gardening tools, and a motorbike if you live on a property that only has a small garden.  Try and keep things in proportion.  Similarly, ensure that you have good access to your shed.  You do not want to be hitting yourself in the head when you are accessing or putting away tools, or find that you have difficulties getting the lawn mower in an out thanks to an awkward corner or a too-close fence line.

Types of Garden Sheds

Garden sheds can be prefabricated or custom-made.  Prefabricated sheds are a convenient option and you can build these yourself.  Most prefabricated sheds will come in some sort of steel for durability and ease of maintenance.

Due to the ability of the steel to be powder coated, prefabricated sheds are available in a huge range of colour styles.  They come with one, two, or even three doors, depending on your needs, and come in a range of roof styles – flat, gable, and skillion, to name a few.

If you are opting for a kit form prefabricated shed, rest assured that the kit will come with a detailed instruction sheet that is easy to follow.  Many sheds come as complete walls and roof panels to make the process even easier.

If the amount of space in your garden is limited, storage units that fit underneath the eaves of the home while still being large enough to store tools and gardening equipment are ideal.  These are usually made from some form of steel.  For the larger items such as trailers, boats, or cars, a utility shed is perfect.  These have extra large door openings, and a personal access door. 

Workshop sheds are great for those that have hobbies requiring a lot of room, such as woodworkers or metalworkers, or if you simply require a lot of room for storage or for tinkering. 

Because different people have different needs, we offer a range of different garden sheds at Mitre 10:

Features of Storite Garden Sheds

• New Zealand made  

• High tensile steel, anti rust sheeting.

• Extra strength deep ribbed profile.

• Lockable hinged door with door bracing

• Easy to assemble. Installation DVD included with all garden shed models.

• Satisfaction Guaranteed - 15 Year Warranty.

See our guide on Storite Garden Sheds for more information on these sheds.

Accessories for Sheds

There are a few optional extras that you can use in your shed to help organise storage. Please ask at your local Mitre 10 store for these. The store can order them in for you and will inform you of their price.

Tool Rack - 6 hooks and 2 wall strips. Keep your tools off the floor. A weight rating applies.

Shelving - 3 ply shelves, 1200mm.   Shelf Brackets - Hangs up to 3 shelves. 300mm deep. These hang from the wall to allow the maximum use of valuable floor space.   Shelving and shelf brackets sold separately.

Don't forget you will need a floor. We supply timber floors suitable for all our Storite shed solutions. Ask your Mitre 10 sales person for details. (If you choose to use a concrete floor you will need floor clamps.)

Storage for Balconies and Small Spaces

The Storbin is an ideal storage unit for smaller gardens, balconies or pool sides. Perfect for smaller gardening equipment, hand tools or chemicals. Ask at your local Mitre 10 store.   Dimensions: 785mm x 785mm and height 750mm sloping to 700mm.