This is the step where you really get to have fun with your new building, and plan where all your stuff is going to go.

If you are getting the shed strictly to park the mower and no other reason, you can order your ramp and then skip this step. If you are hoping to fit in any other stuff, you need to keep reading.

Shelves and Lofts

Shelves and lofts can be lifesavers if they are properly planned. Most of these storage options fall between $3 and $6 per square foot, making them the least expensive “floor space” in your whole building. However, if you get your shelves too close together, in the wrong place, or too high, they will just be frustrating. We suggest that shelves be placed at least 18-24” apart, and leave enough space under the bottom shelf to allow for a stack of 5-gallon buckets, a cooler, or some other large item. Another great option is to put a single shelf along one wall at a height of about 5 feet. This lets you use the wall space underneath for garden tools (and a host of other things), while still leaving you enough room between the shelf and the ceiling for some pretty large items. Loft options in storage buildings have really broadened over the past few years. You can still get the traditional “couple of 2X4’s and some plywood” loft to store 3 boxes and the Christmas tree. However, the advent of hinge roof systems has made it possible to have much more storage space between the rafters. Now, lofts have expanded to include a full second-story floor with a stairway or “pull-down” attic steps.

Workbenches and Pegboards

These storage buildings can make great little workshops. Whether you intend to turn the whole thing into a wood-working shop, or you just want a place in the corner to tinker with the mower, a workbench with a pegboard is a great investment.

Ramps

One of the most common “wish-I-would-a-got” items is a ramp. Because of the framing required in the floor system, the floor level of your new building will be a minimum of 8” from ground level, even if the ground is perfectly level. If you plan on driving anything into your building, you need a ramp.