Home Improvement Ideas Decks Deck Building 26 Deck Storage Ideas to Organize Your Outdoor Space Make the most of your outdoor space with these deck storage ideas that organize entertaining essentials, pool toys, gardening supplies, and more. By Mary Cornetta Mary Cornetta Mary Cornetta has been in the professional organizing industry for over 5 years. She knew she had a passion for decluttering and organization upon graduating Marist College in 2007, however, pursued it as a hobby instead of a career. All of that changed when Mary founded Sort and Sweet Inc on Long Island in 2017. Since then, she has worked hands-on and virtually with hundreds of clients to clear their clutter and create functional systems in their homes and offices. Mary runs the Sort and Sweet social media accounts, creating content and writing captions with organizing tips and inspiration for more than 12,000 followers. Recently relocated to Savannah, she continues to own and operate the business with the help of a talented team. Mary has been a weekly contributing writer for House Digest and has been interviewed as an expert by Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and Health magazines. She is the owner of the blog, Organized Overall, in which she details how she creates organization in her home. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 21, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Adam Albright Your deck is a much-used extension of your home, especially during the summer months, used for quiet nights under the stars and weekend backyard blowouts. And while you might keep outdoor essentials like grilling utensils, garden tools, or pool toys in the kitchen, shed, or garage, it's helpful to have some items close by. Extra plates for party goers or blankets for cool nights can be easily accessed using these deck storage ideas. Whether you want to hide clutter or arrange outdoor essentials neatly in plain sight, take inspiration from these deck storage ideas that keep your outdoor space both functional and stylish. The 11 Best Deck Boxes of 2024 01 of 26 Add a Slim Shelving Unit Jason Donnelly To keep outdoor items accessible and organized, consider a small shelving unit with matching baskets to contain clutter. This slim outdoor shelf easily slides up against a wall to corral garden supplies, dinnerware, and summer essentials like sunscreen and bug spray. Get the whole family in the habit of returning things when they’re done using them to ensure the deck storage station stays tidy. 02 of 26 Sort Serveware John Granen Have everything you need in a pinch while hosting an outdoor soirée. A large tray with handles holds extra glasses and napkins while a shallow tray with compartments separates utensils, toothpicks, and barware. Store them covered with a lid or in a bin so they stay clean for when it’s time to set the table. 03 of 26 Place Blankets in a Basket Adam Albright Consider adding a basket to your deck to hold blankets and small pillows for a relaxing evening. There’s nothing quite as cozy as sitting around a fire, enjoying a glass of your favorite libation with friends, and curling up with a warm throw blanket while enjoying the moonlight. 04 of 26 Customize a Potting Station Kimberly Gavin If you have an awkward, unused corner of your deck that you’re not quite sure what to do with, try turning it into a space to store garden supplies. An old work table painted a fresh color holds planters and containers for hand tools. Use the deck storage unit to prep your garden and use a nearby hose to clean up when you’re done. 05 of 26 Store Sports Equipment Gordon Beall Toys and sports equipment keep kids entertained outside during warm months. Keep these items tidy yet easy to grab by creating a sports center on the side of the deck. A hinged bench lifts to reveal bats, balls, and mitts so kids can pick them up on their way to the yard. Include a basket within the bench to contain smaller items like baseballs or tennis balls. 06 of 26 Hide Items in an Outdoor Ottoman Laurie Black For evenings spent unwinding outside with a book or a glass of wine, consider a multi-purpose ottoman for blanket storage. This way you have a comfortable spot to kick up your feet and grab a cozy throw when temperatures drop. If you’re handy, you can easily create your own ottoman out of a milk crate, plywood, casters, foam, and fabric. 19 Must-See DIY Porch Ideas for Your Home 07 of 26 Upgrade an Outdoor Bar JIM FRANCO Add a bit of luxury to your deck storage with a style-forward cocktail bar cart. This gold bamboo cart with a white rattan tray topper fits the bill and looks divine with antique vases, hanging stemware, and bouquets of flowers. Guests can help themselves to a drink and join you for a night outside. 08 of 26 Store More on an Outdoor Bar Jason Donnelly An outdoor bar is a fun deck addition made even more of an attraction with a built-in ice bucket. Keep beer, wine, or soda bottles cold while also giving yourself a surface to create custom concoctions. Shelves on the bar hold bartending tools, recipe books, and garnishes such as a bowl of lemons and limes, while hooks on the side lend space for a bar towel or two. 09 of 26 Rethink an Antique Armoire Jason Donnelly On a covered deck, consider adding an antique armoire for both storage and a design statement. This furniture piece refinished in a striking green color is placed close to the dining area and holds pitchers, platters, glasses, vases, serving stands, and virtually anything else needed to set the table. 10 of 26 Set Up a Party Station John Granen Turn a potting bench into a party station perfect for outdoor entertaining. Smart storage solutions, like a rolling baker's rack below and covered containers to keep things clean, outfit this piece with everything needed for a gathering. During cooler months, use this deck storage idea to store gardening materials you plan to reuse in the spring. 11 of 26 Use a Deck Box for Cushions Jason Donnelly When inclement weather is on its way, there’s no reason to stuff deck furniture cushions in your garage or shed to keep them dry. Instead, opt for a deck box. If you have a small deck, utilize the box as a coffee table in the middle of a seating area. Add entertaining items like coasters to a tray so you can quickly move them off to the side if you need to lift the top of the deck box. Make sure to get one that fits cushions comfortably and has room for outdoor pillows as well. 12 of 26 Flip an Old Piece of Furniture Jay Wilde Repurpose an armoire as an outdoor storage chest. The combination of closed and open storage is perfect for the variety of supplies used in the garden. Hooks within the cabinet doors hold trowels and small hand tools, while heavy-duty hardware on the side of the unit provides a place to coil a hose. A large open base cabinet provides plenty of storage space for soil and dirty boots. 13 of 26 Hang Pool Supply Storage Cameron Sadeghpour Use an empty area on your home's exterior to store outdoor supplies. Simple hooks hold plastic bins and lawn chairs for easy access. Sticker labels make easy work of sorting and organizing your supplies. Need your supplies to travel with you? Simply take the plastic bin from the hook and go. 14 of 26 Contain a Garden Hose Dean Schoeppner Make hose storage on the deck look a little neater with a round basin. Some plastic containers are sold specifically for hose storage, but glazed terra-cotta pots or plastic baskets can serve the same purpose. Coiling the hose inside the container also discourages the line from getting tangled or kinked. 15 of 26 Rethink a Bar Cart Paul Dyer Utilize a rolling bar cart for double-duty deck storage and a side table surface on the go. The bottom shelf can hold potted plants, candles, or entertaining accessories, while the top level provides a serving surface or a place to set a glass. Because it's on wheels, the cart can be moved to accommodate any outdoor activity. 16 Cheers-Worthy Outdoor Bar Ideas 16 of 26 Create a Craft Station 30sjrwlQqpe9oDTq36tIMm. Marty Baldwin Repurpose an old cabinet to create a deck storage unit that holds outdoor toys, games, and accessories. Keep items that shouldn't get wet inside closed storage areas and leave the open storage for plastic toys and pool supplies. Attach hooks on the wall nearby to create an outdoor entry setup. 17 of 26 Install Firewood Storage James R. Salomon Use a small strip of wall space off the deck for firewood storage. It gives interest to the wall while keeping enough wood handy for one or two fires. Try to hang the hooks on a wall under an overhang to keep the wood dry so it can be used at any time. As you use the wood, replace it with new logs to keep the supply going. 18 of 26 Utilize Two-in-One Deck Furniture Werner Straube. When shopping for deck furniture, look for pieces that offer extra storage in addition to appealing style and material. If you have a pool deck, employ storage pieces that keep swimming gear near the water. This wicker coffee table features an inlaid glass top; the open space underneath is the perfect pool deck storage space for towels. Your Guide to Cleaning Wicker (and Preserving It for Years to Come) 19 of 26 Add a Pop-Up Surface Cameron Sadeghpour. Add extra surface space to your deck with an over-the-rail countertop. Use the surface as a serving station, a place to display potted plants, or a work surface. Scoot deck furniture close to the railing to use the countertop as a dining area. Make sure to find a surface that is weather-resistant and can easily be wiped clean. 18 Creative Deck Railing Ideas to Update Your Outdoor Space 20 of 26 Designate a Flip-Flop Drop Gordon Beall If you have a backyard pool, leave a deck storage box by the door to hold flip-flops. Placing them in the bin keeps everything neat and makes shoes easy to find before a day of outdoor fun. Keeping shoes handy also prevents dirty feet from tracking into the house. 21 of 26 Store Grilling Supplies Dean Schoeppner Attach casters to the bottom of a kitchen cabinet for a movable wooden deck box. The flat top provides an extra work surface, and the inside holds everything you need for grilling while keeping supplies dry. Attach hooks to the side of the unit to hang cooking utensils. 22 of 26 Use Buckets as a Catchall Adam Albright Sort outdoor supplies into large labeled containers for easy cleanup and transport. These deck storage containers create an easy-to-follow organization system. Place the containers on a garden bench or under deck seating to keep them out of the way until needed. 23 of 26 Organize Planters Emily Minton-Redfield Use a ladder bookcase (or build your own) to store flowerpots of all sizes on your deck or patio. Save the narrow top shelves for small stacks of pots, and the lower shelves for large and wide pots. The outdoor storage solution keeps pots organized and handy for potting. This deck storage idea can also work as an under-deck storage solution. 24 of 26 Stock a Cart for Entertaining Marty Baldwin Use a rolling cart with an attached folding tabletop to make outdoor dining easy. Store dishware and utensils below and use the top of the cart for serving. Eating lunch on the deck with a friend? Extend the side panels to create a small bistro table. 25 of 26 Build Hidden Deck Storage Nathan Kirkman If you're remodeling your deck, consider built-in deck benches with storage underneath. This deck storage idea eliminates the need for a waterproof deck box. The space under the bench seat can hold cushions on a rainy day or extra flowerpots or outdoor blankets for cooler summer nights. This type of storage doesn't take up much floor space, saving room for a dining table, grill, or even more seating. 26 of 26 Upgrade Deck Furniture Marty Baldwin Add extra storage to outdoor furniture with over-arm cloth storage pockets. Larger pockets are perfect for holding your bird book and binoculars, while smaller pockets can hold bug spray and sunscreen. If everyone has their own specific seat on the deck, this storage provides the perfect place for favorite outdoor supplies. Read More in the Outdoor Entertaining Issue Featuring Mindy Kaling Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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