The new Factor 4 x 6 plastic shed is designed to maximise use of space

SHEDS FOR NARROW SPACES

Many residential properties, especially in inner-city areas, have quite limited outside space available for storage units. The new Keter Factor 4 x 6 plastic shed is designed specifically to provide secure and weather proof storage for situations where space is at a premium. Often there is a narrow space between a fence and the house, or a small courtyard corner which could be used for an outdoor storage cabinet or shed, and the Factor 4 x 6 fills this niche.

ANCILLIARY DOOR DESIGN FEATURE

Access to storage sheds in confined areas is often a problem too. Keter has designed an innovative solution to this difficulty with the ancilliary door arrangement on the Factor 4 x 6 plastic shed. The main door is quite wide enough for most requirements, but if you have a larger item to move in or out, the small ancilliary door to the left of the main door (as shown in the picture below) can be opened also, giving a total door opening of over 870mm, wider than a standard residential doorway.  Of course, features such as window and ventilation are standard, and the woodgrain texture of the poly resin wall and door panels gives an attractive appearance.

KETER FACTOR 4 x 6

The trend today is towards greater utilisation of outdoor space for storage. With the shift to inner city living and the reducing size of dwellings, particularly in unit complexes, storage areas inside the home are becoming more restricted. It makes sense to shift as many items as possible into outdoor storage and free up that valuable space inside the home. With their easy assembly, attractive appearance, low maintenance and integral structural floors, smaller plastic sheds such as the Factor 4 x 6 are rapidly becoming the outside storage solution of choice.

Greenhouses are being used for outdoor living areas as well as growing plants

The traditional use for greenhouses is, of course, propagating and growing flowers and vegetables. Today, there is an increasing interest in using greenhouses, particularly the larger sizes. They are used as covered outdoor areas for relaxation – for hot tubs, cafe table sets and other activities.

AMERICANA GREENHOUSE 12 x 12

The AMERICANA 12 x 12 greenhouse from PALRAM is an ideal unit for this purpose. Large enough to allow room for a well set up outdoor area, it also provides shelter from wind and rain, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the garden and relaxing. The clear polycarbonate glazing is virtually unbreakable and is an essential element in the success of the AMERICANA as an economical conservatory. When used as an outdoor covered area, the greenhouse can be installed on a timber base as shown, or on pavers or a concrete slab.

Of course, you always have the option of reverting to the primary greenhouse use for part of the unit; some people actually set their greenhouses up so that they can sit and enjoy their plants’ progress while they have a quiet cup of tea. It’s really about how you would like to have it – with the space available in the AMERICANA the possibilities are almost endless!

New wicker style outdoor storage box range from USA

SUNCAST RESIN WICKER DECK BOX DBW9200

One of the top manufacturers of outdoor storage box and cabinet units in the US has released a new wicker style range.  These deck boxes, designed for weather-proof outside storage, are made from high quality poly resin plastic which is robust and weather resistant as well as being finished in an attractive wicker appearance.

The range includes SUNCAST RESIN WICKER DECK BOX DBW 7300, the SUNCAST RESIN WICKER DECK BOX DBW9200 and the top of the range SUNCAST EXTRA LARGE DECK BOX.  All these outdoor storage box units are easy to put together – no tools are required, and the estimated average assembly time is 5 minutes!  It certainly would be time well spent to get all those patio cushions, garden accessories, toys and other bits and pieces tidy and safe in a weatherproof and lockable place.

Many other outdoor storage options are available, of course, and not everyone has space for these larger storage units, but if you can fit them in they are an excellent investment to protect items which can be safely stored outside.  Many people are waking up to the fact that there are now viable options to cluttering up precious space inside the house, and that it not really very costly to use outdoor storage solutions.

Everyone has room for a mini greenhouse, and there is a great range to choose from!

SILVER LINE PLANT INN

Mini greenhouse units are a great solution – most people have the urge at some time to get involved in growing plants; kids are fascinated with the process and love to have their own little garden patch – many of us can remember pulling up the carrots every day to see how much they had grown!  But it isn’t only youngsters that are interested.  People of all ages and from every walk of life are increasingly finding gardening in some form a healthy interest and a great way to relax and de-stress.  With some the interest becomes an absorbing passion; ( they say that growing orchids is addictive!)  For others, simply being able to spend a few minutes each day growing some attractive blooms or their own vegetables satisfies the inner primary producer.  Mini greenhouses are available in a range of sizes and configurations – they take up very little room and can produce a surprising amount.

The smallest mini greenhouses are units like the SILVER LINE SINGLE COLD FRAME and the SILVER LINE DOUBLE COLD FRAME – these are designed to be used straight on the ground, and will protect seedlings from extremes of weather as well as from pests and small animals.  However, many people today live in apartments and unit developments where space is at a premium and they may not have access to an actual garden area.  Fortunately this doesn’t stop their being involved in gardening activities, as a wide range of mini greenhouse products has been specifically designed to meet this need.

One of the most popular of these is the SILVER LINE PLANT INN – this mini greenhouse is a great design which provides an outdoor storage cabinet underneath the elevated growing deck area.  Growing some fresh vegetables or flowers couldn’t be easier or tidier!  Other units include the SILVER LINE LEAN-TO, the SILVER LINE GROW DECK and the SILVER LINE GROW STATION – all designed to suit specific areas on patios and balconies.

Some of these mini greenhouse units are shown below – 

SILVER LINE GROW STATION

SILVER LINE LEAN-TO

And the great thing is that these mini greenhouses are very attractively priced – it doesn’t cost a fortune to get into greenhouse gardening!

Weather-proof outdoor storage box, cabinet and bench units are widely used to maximise storage space

Outdoor storage is becoming a viable option in many situations with the development of a wide range of weather-proof boxes, cabinets and benches. Space is often at a premium in today’s homes, and using a corner of the patio or yard allows many items such as sporting equipment, toys and tools to be safely stored without taking up valuable room inside. For larger storage requirements, of course, a garden shed is often the best solution.

There are several manufacturers specializing in good quality products in the outdoor storage field including Keter and Suncast. The most commonly used material for these items is moulded polypropylene resin plastic, which gives a good balance between strength, weathering (including UV resistance) and cost.

Typically these units are regarded as weather-proof rather than water-proof. This means that they are designed to keep the contents dry in outdoor storage situations, whatever the weather, but would of course let water in if they were covered in a flood.

One of the most popular units in the Landera range of outdoor storage units is the Keter COMPACT WITH PEGBOARD. It has a particularly useful internal configuration, with shelving on one side and a tall storage space suitable for brooms and mops on the other.

The unit shown below is the WOODLAND 30 Cabinet – also a very popular unit.