Deck Storage Ideas
Finding storage space is always a challenge on a deck. After all, these "outdoor rooms" don't usually come with closets. Just piling stuff in a corner isn't much of an option, as it leaves your belongings exposed to the elements and to the disapproving stares of neighbors, who don't like clutter any more than you do. But there are ways to add unobtrusive deck storage to keep barbecue utensils, pool toys, garden implements and other backyard needs out of sight but close at hand.
Storage Bench
Many decks have banquette-style bench seating around the perimeter. Borrow that idea, but put the space under the bench to work by installing storage benches. These are essentially built-in wooden boxes with hinged lids. The lids serve as seating when closed. Top them with weatherproof cushions, and their storage function is all but invisible. If you can't install built-ins, or just don't want to, many manufacturers make movable storage benches for deck use.
Floor Hatch
If your deck sits over a crawl space, a trap door or hatch installed in the floor of the deck provides easy access to the space, allowing you to use it for storage. You can purchase ready-made hatches--just cut a hole in the floor and put them in--or you can create your own. Building a hatch out of the same materials as the deck helps conceal the door. A floor hatch can also come in handy during patio parties. Open it up, put a barrel of ice down there and use it to keep beverages cold.
Integrated Rail Storage
Replacing a section of the deck rail with a shallow cabinet gives you a handy place to store garden tools or other items. You can set the front of the cabinet flush with the railing itself to preserve floor space, or let it stick out a bit. Make the cabinet as tall as the railing for a seamless look, or build it higher and give the top a peaked roof or other architectural flourish. This solution works best if your rail is fairly deep--about 6 to 8 inches. See the link in the Resources for an example that one inventor has patented.
Folding Shelf/Table
Your storage needs aren't always permanent. Sometimes you just want a place to keep stuff for a few hours, such as a burger buffet during a cookout. A hinged table or shelf attached to the deck rail may be the perfect solution. When not in use, the table can swing down so it lies flat against the rail. When you need it, just pull it up. You can use locking-arm hardware to hold it in place, or use a removable leg to prop it up.
Tags: deck rail, Deck Storage Ideas, just want, storage benches, Storage Ideas