In your garage, greenhouse or garden shed you will probably keep all manner of expensive tools, gardening implements, electrical lawn mowers and so on. It is a good idea therefore to invest in sturdy metal storage cabinets fitted with a heavy duty padlock for the tools and implements. A Passive Infra Red (PIR) light outside the house will also act as a deterrent for a potential thief. It is probably a better idea to use the shed or garage for items such as strimmers and lawn mowers.

The keys for the out-buildings can be stored in a purpose built steel safe which has the advantage of a digital lock. You will need to use a four digit number that you can easily remember. Please do not use family birth dates or any other numbers that a thief may know if they have accessed your personal details. Although this is an obvious point, it still happens, do not write the number down and leave it lying about the house.

If you are planning to build a garden shed and plan to make it into a garden office or studio with storage or shelving areas and therefore a habitable building, you may or may not need planning permission. It might be possible to build your studio or office space under Permitted Development laws which permit the householder to make small additions to his home that will not need full planning approval, but these laws vary across the country so be sure to check first.

A 6 x 4 foot garden shed can be bought from the internet for around £120, and the householder may prefer the supplier to both deliver and assemble the shed.  The supplier will probably charge extra for the assembly and it would be advisable to establish how much this will cost before making a decision. Most reputable DIY companies have websites and it may be advisable to use them.

No matter what size the shed, it can always be utilised to maximise its potential as a storage area with a few simple adjustments, such as storage racks. The inside of the door, for instance, would be ideal as a hanging area for the storing of garden tools with the use of hooks firmly secured to the door.

Larger sheds may be divided into areas in which to use work benches or work tables. Work benches with integrated drawers and cupboard space are a good idea to store away a tool box, cans of paint, paint brushes and bottles of turpentine. The drawers will be handy to contain spare fuses, candles and other miscellaneous items.

Above the work bench, shelf racks could be fixed to the wall. The racks are versatile as the metal shelves attached to them may be adjusted to suit the needs of the owner.

The areas of the shed not occupied by a work bench will be ideal for storing heavier gardening equipment such as lawn-mowers or wheel-barrows. Fold away garden furniture might be hanged on the far wall of the shed.