DIY Garden Tool storage: You’ll love this easy Hanging Rail idea

I designed this DIY garden tool storage to be as simple as possible, requiring as few tools and materials and can even be made from repurposed wood. It was a much-needed addition and done as part of my budget garden makeover, where I’ve been revamping our outside space on a budget with everything from DIY garden planters to DIY resin paths and even a vertical herb pallet planter. If your storage shed or tool shed is cluttered with a pile of tools, use this ridiculously simple DIY idea to organize your yard and garden tools. This DIY garden tool storage is wall-mounted which saves floor space and provides easy access to all your tools without cluttering the floor. (mine were all piled up against the wall before and inevitably fell over as soon as I tried to grab one!). You can use this DIY garden tool storage to store long-handled tools and smaller items like hand trowels and spray bottles. 

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to create an efficient storage system using scrap wood and some brilliant hanging hooks I found on Amazon. All on a budget as usual of course! 

Materials Needed for this DIY wall-mounted tool rail

• Scrap wood (standard studwork timber or repurposed pallets)
• Masonry rawl plugs
• Long masonry screws
• Wood screws
• Handy hooks (big hooks, straight hooks, coat hooks, etc.)

Tools Needed:

• Drill
• Masonry and screwdriver drill bits
• Hammer 
• Stud finder
• Saw (if trimming wood is necessary)
• Level
• Measuring tape
• Sandpaper (optional)

Here’s how I did it…

1. Plan the DIY garden tool storage layout

• Start by assessing your available space in the garden shed, wall, or storage shed. Use a stud finder to check for pipes or electrical cables as you’ll need to choose a different location if you find any.  I was drilling into brick but you’ll need to mount your tool rail onto the studs to ensure it holds the weight of heavy yard tools like a leaf blower or string trimmer if you are drilling into anything less sturdy (eg slat wall of shed).
• I laid the piece of wood on the floor and positioned all the tools I was hoping to hang on it as that allowed me to move them around until I got the best use of space and ensured the weight was evenly distributed. 
• Take note of what you’ll be hanging. Smaller items like garden gloves and hand pruners can go in wire baskets, while long-handled tools like rakes and shovels will need larger hooks. If you have power tools like a drill or lawn mower accessories, consider using magnetic strips or dedicated hooks.

2. Cut and Prepare Your Wood

• Using scrap wood or standard studwork timber, cut your pieces to the desired length. The size will depend on the number of tools and the available wall space in your shed. Make sure the rail is long enough to accommodate a wide variety of yard tools as per your layout decided in step one.
• Sand the edges of your wood pieces to prevent splinters if the wood is very rough.
• Top Tip: I used an old bed slat which was already the perfect size and finish so required no work!
  

3. Attach Hooks and Hangers

• Now that your base is ready, it’s time to attach handy hooks. These can be coat hooks, straight hooks, or even big hooks depending on the tools you’re storing. I found the great value ones from Amazon. 
• I drilled a tiny pilot hole where I wanted each screw to go then placed the wood screw into the hole in the hanging hook and positioned over the hanging rail. I used the correct screwdriver drill bit for the screw size and tightened the screw securing the hook tightly to the rail. 
• If you need extra storage, hang a wire shelf or wire baskets below the rail for organizing smaller tools, garden gloves, or garden twine. For more compact small gardening tools like hand pruners and hand trowels, a pegboard wall could be a great addition to the rail system, but for my project I was just dealing with larger tools this time round.

4. Mount the Rail

• Hold your wood rail up to the wall, using a level to make sure it’s straight. Drill pilot holes through the hanging rail into the wall. I used a wood drill bit to go through the wood then swapped to a masonry bit when I hit the wall underneath. I had someone else to help at this point so they could hold the rail in place while I drilled. 
• Once the holes were drilled, I inserted the appropriate rawl plug and hammered it in gently.
• Then, I held the hanging rail up to the wall in position and inserted long screws through the pilot holes into the rawl plugs. I used a screwdriver drill bit to screw them fully into position. I used three long screws to hold the rail in place on the wall.
• Once mounted to the wall, I loaded the DIY garden tool storage rail up with tools as per the original layout plan in step 1. I was so happy with the results – so much tidier and organised! 
  

5. Consider extra tool storage ideas 

• For lightweight power tools or garden shears, adding magnetic strips to your rail can be a great way to store tools in good condition and provide easy access. These strips will securely hold metal tools without the need for additional hooks. I plan to add a couple of these to my garden storage for smaller DIY tools, but all my garden tools were large, long and fairly heavy, so hooks were required. 
• If your tool shed has limited space, consider maximizing vertical space by hanging a shoe organizer on the back of a door for storing small tools or garden gloves.

By following these steps, you can build an efficient storage system that keeps your yard tools neatly organized and off the ground. Whether you have limited space or a lot of tools to store, this DIY garden tool hanging rail is an effective way to utilize your shed wall space. This simple, cost-effective project will transform your tool shed, creating effective storage solutions for everything from hand tools to power tools.

Additional DIY Garden Tool Storage Ideas:

• Pegboard walls: Mount a pegboard next to your tool rail for extra hooks and custom tool organization.
• Repurposed pallets: Use pallets to create a shed tool rack for holding larger tools.
• Tool chest: For power tools or small garden tools, a portable tool chest can be added underneath your rail system for extra storage.

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