Sheds and outdoor storage can help you clear the clutter from your yard, basement or garage. Consumer Guide understands the ongoing battle between your storage spaces versus your outdoor tools and toys, and we're ready to help you find the shed or the storage space to get things stored away.

Even though it's hard to find space for larger tools and machines, it's the little things that can be the greatest eyesores. Smaller storage containers can hide your everyday tools and still leave them easily accessible.

The Suncast Patio Bench is just the organizer for gardeners and people with kids. Merely lift the bench seat and toss in your gardening tools or summertime toys. There's no fuss over hanging things up or fitting items onto clustered shelves. And when you want to play or groom your plants the next day, you just open the bench lid again and reach in.

Sheds and outdoor storage units organize a yard, like Suncast's Patio Bench.

Sheds and outdoor storage units organize a yard, like Suncast's Patio Bench.
A similar item is the Suncast Outdoor Storage Seat. This takes up about half the space as the storage bench, but it serves the same purpose. Both are ideal for patios or gardens because in addition to providing storage, they also supply seating or a place to set potted plants.

Perhaps you're looking for a little more storage, but you are not willing to give up the space to install a large storage unit. We suggest the Step2 Lifescapes Vertical Storage Shed. This actually looks like a small outdoor closet. It stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and can sit flush against a wall or fence. The shelves are surprisingly spacious and the floor is raised to provide an extra space for safe storage. In being a Step2 product, this storage shed is also meant to be child safe -- no rough edges, rounded corners, durable weather-resistant material and friendly design.

Another out-of-the-way outdoor storage option would be a lean-to shed. These storage units also sit flush against most walls or fences. They often have a tilted roof to supply varying height inside, and as a bonus rain and snow run right off the top. The Arrow Sheds Yardsaver is one example of the many lean-to storage sheds that is on the market. The Yardsaver is made of galvanized steel so you can be certain that it can take a beating by weather and baseballs alike. Doors are conveniently placed on either side of the Yardsaver. You can keep both available for entry or push the shed to one side against a fence corner. Either way, you'll be able to get inside.

A majority of the largest sheds come in build-it-yourself kits. Naturally, this only makes sense considering it would be pretty hard to transport a shed of such proportions in one piece. Shed kits can be beneficial in the fact that you are buying according to what size you want. You also know the quality of the shed since you are putting it together. However, there can also be drawbacks. Despite the fact that directions are included, not everyone is a carpenter. Many of these kits come with the hardware but not the wood or panels for the walls and roof. You must buy these items separately and cut them yourself -- unless you can get someone to cut them for you.

Finley Products Inc manufactures the 2x4 Basics Peak Roof Shed Kit. The kit is available in four different shed measurements: 7x8, 8x4 or 10x22. Hardware, cut instructions and assembly instructions are all included with the kit. All you need to do is buy the wood and possibly some kind of foundation set-up to build on top of, and then put it all together.

Finley Products Inc 2x4 Basics Shed Kit
Finley Products Inc 2x4 Basics Shed Kit

Another kit available is the Handy Home Products Somerset 10x16ft Storage Building Kit. Unlike some other kits, this one comes with precut and preassembled pieces, including the wood. The wood is even treated by the manufacturer to stand up against fungus that can decay it and insects that want to eat it. The floor kit is sold separately, so don't forget to pick that out when ordering the storage building.

Many sheds and storage building kits do not come with floors. Often you must buy a separate floor kit or lay down a concrete foundation. This is recommended to ensure that the storage unit is stabilized and anchored down. A floor can also keep out moisture, dirt and pesky insects and animals. Depending on your storage unit's size, you may also want to look into city building codes to see if you will need a building permit.

Sheds and other outdoor storage solutions can be the perfect alternatives to garage and basement storage. Setting up a storage bench, lean-to shed or small storage building can definitely be worth the money. Get organized and reduce clutter (or make room for more) with an outdoor storage unit that can last through the weather and years.