Elegant storage solutions: garden sheds and log stores for a tidy winter garden

As autumn slips into winter and the evenings draw in, gardens across the UK begin to change tempo. The parasol is folded away, outdoor cushions are looking a little tired, and there is suddenly a small mountain of pots, tools, toys and logs with no obvious home. It is exactly at this point that good garden storage solutions stop feeling like a nice-to-have and start feeling essential.

The good news is that storage does not have to be an eyesore at the end of the garden. Thoughtfully designed wooden sheds, log stores and discreet bin screens and bin stores can work quietly in the background, keeping everything tidy while adding to the overall beauty of your space.

In this guide we will explore how to use elegant, design-led garden storage solutions to create a calm, clutter-free winter garden that still feels inviting when you look out of the window on a grey January morning.

Why winter is the perfect time to rethink your garden storage solutions

By late autumn, most gardens are carrying the remnants of summer. Folding furniture, children’s toys, extra planters, bags of compost and log deliveries can quickly overwhelm even a generous patio. Without a plan, they end up dotted around the garden, which makes the whole space feel busier than it needs to.

Taking a step back and planning integrated garden storage solutions for winter offers several benefits:

• Protection for furniture and tools – Keeping pieces under cover helps them last longer and look smarter into the next season.
• A tidier view from indoors – In winter you mostly enjoy your garden from the kitchen or sitting room window, so neat, well designed structures make a real difference to how the space feels.
• Less stress on busy days – Knowing exactly where logs, gardening kit and bins belong keeps daily life running smoothly, even in the dark after-work hours.

Rather than seeing sheds and stores as purely utilitarian, think of them as part of your overall design language, sitting alongside trellis, fencing and gates to create a cohesive scheme.

Wooden sheds – the hardworking heart of winter storage

A well chosen shed is often the backbone of any set of garden storage solutions. It is where furniture cushions overwinter, tools are kept sharp and dry, and all the seasonal “bits and pieces” can be tucked neatly out of sight.

At The Garden Trellis Company, the wooden sheds range includes both classic and contemporary styles, so you can choose something that feels in tune with your house and planting.

RHS-endorsed sheds for design-conscious gardens

If you are looking for a shed that feels more like a small garden building than a simple store, the RHS-endorsed options in the RHS Prestige range are a lovely place to start.

• The Contemporary Shed sits beautifully in modern schemes, particularly when paired with slatted fencing or minimalist planting.
• The RHS Prestige Albertine and Victorian Garden Sheds offer a more traditional silhouette that work well alongside cottage-style borders and traditional paving.

These RHS-endorsed sheds form part of a wider Prestige collection that makes extensive use of thermally treated timber, chosen for its stability and long-term performance in British gardens. Thermally modified timber moves less, holds its shape, and offers a refined appearance that supports a truly high-end finish.

For narrower spaces, consider vertical styles such as the RHS Prestige Contemporary Garden Store or any of the more traditionally styled RHS Garden Stores. These create useful storage columns along a side return or boundary, making the most of otherwise awkward corners while keeping the footprint modest.

What to store in your shed over winter

A winter-ready shed can quietly accommodate all the things that make summer life easier, without leaving them exposed to the elements:

• Stack garden chairs and foldable tables carefully, with furniture covers hung ready for spring.
• Store pots of tender plants that prefer a little extra shelter.
• Hang hand tools, rakes and spades so they are easy to find in early spring.
• Keep outdoor cushions and textiles in lidded storage boxes or crates to stay clean and dry.

The aim is to reduce visual noise in the garden itself, so hard landscaping and planting can breathe and the structure of your space feels purposeful rather than cluttered.

Log stores – dry logs and beautiful structure

For many of us, winter goes hand in hand with log burners and open fires. A delivery of logs is a reassuring sight, but if they end up in a heap under a tarpaulin the effect is rather less charming. A dedicated log store keeps fuel dry, accessible and visually contained, turning a practical necessity into a considered detail.

Garden Trellis Company’s log stores category includes several RHS Prestige designs, from compact options for town gardens to generous stores for country homes.

• The classic RHS Log Store and RHS Open Back Log Store sit comfortably against a wall or fence, providing slatted sides to encourage airflow and keep logs in good condition.
• In smaller spaces, the RHS City Log Store offers a neater footprint that works perfectly on a terrace or courtyard.
• For homes that rely heavily on wood burning, the RHS Large Log Store offers greater capacity while maintaining a refined, architectural look.

Because these log stores sit within the RHS Prestige family, they benefit from the same focus on high quality joinery and carefully specified timber as the sheds and gates. That means clean lines, thoughtful proportions and materials designed to weather gracefully over time.

Placing a log store beautifully

Here are a few ways to treat your log store as more than a purely functional piece:

• Position it close to the back door so winter trips for logs are quick and easy.
• Use a pair of matching stores to frame a view or create a sense of symmetry in a wider garden.
• Softly plant around the base with evergreen groundcover or pots to link the structure back to the planting scheme.

If you plan to paint nearby fencing or trellis, consider choosing a colour from the garden joinery paint range that can be used across sheds, log stores and screens for a calm, cohesive look.

Design-led bin storage and screens

Wheelie bins and recycling boxes are some of the most practical elements in the garden, but visually they are rarely the highlight. Left exposed by the front path or on the patio, they can dominate the view. Thoughtful bin storage is one of the simplest garden storage solutions you can introduce if you would like your outside space to feel more refined.

There are two main approaches – fully enclosed bin stores and lighter bin screens. Both can be used either by the front of the property or within the back garden.

RHS Prestige bin stores for a tailored, enclosed look

Where you want bins to disappear completely, the RHS-endorsed bin stores within the Prestige range are ideal. Designs such as the RHS Prestige Solid Bin Store, RHS Prestige Double Solid Bin Stores and RHS Prestige Triple Solid Bin Stores provide fully enclosed storage for multiple wheelie bins, keeping them organised and out of sight.

If you prefer a slightly lighter, more contemporary aesthetic, the RHS Prestige Double Slatted Bin Store, RHS Prestige Triple Slatted Bin Store and RHS Prestige Single Slatted Bin Store use clean horizontal lines that echo modern slatted fencing and panels. These pair beautifully with contemporary planting and minimal front gardens.

All of these pieces sit within the RHS Prestige collection, aligning bin storage with the same materials and detailing as sheds, gates and trellis, so nothing feels like an afterthought.

Bin screens for flexible, space-saving storage

Where space is tighter, or you would like to soften bins without fully enclosing them, purpose-designed screens can work very well. Within the screens and bin screen ranges you will find options such as Vista panel bin screens, WPC trellis bin screens, square trellis bin screens, framed slatted styles and diagonal trellis fronts.

These pieces bring the visual language of trellis and decorative screens into what might otherwise be a purely practical area, which helps the whole garden feel more considered.

Bringing everything together – cohesive storage across the garden

The most successful winter gardens often have one thing in common – the storage feels as if it belongs to the same family as the fencing, gates and trellis. Picking up the principles of cohesion used in wider garden design can be very helpful here.

A few ideas:

• Repeat materials and lines – If you already have slatted fence panels or contemporary trellis, echo those horizontal lines in your log stores and bin screens.
• Carry colour across structures – Use the same carefully chosen paint shade on your shed, bin store doors and perhaps a nearby planter, creating a calm visual thread.
• Match the level of detailing – In a traditional garden, choose storage with softer lines and classic proportions. In a modern scheme, keep profiles crisp and minimal.

Using high quality timber across all these elements gives you a natural, tactile foundation, while thermally treated boards in the RHS Prestige range deliver extra stability and excellent paint retention for a long term, investment feel.

If you can’t find exactly what you are looking for online, our bespoke team can help create your ideal storage solution. We love fitting stores to specific spaces and hiding unsightly items such as air conditioning units and car chargers.

Garden storage solutions for every type of winter garden

For compact courtyards and city gardens

• Choose a slim City Log Store or open-back log store that sits neatly against a boundary.
• Use a single slatted bin store or compact Vista bin screen to hide bins without overwhelming the space.
• Consider the smaller RHS Garden Stores instead of the larger RHS Garden Sheds to tuck along a side return for tools and cushions.

For busy family gardens

• Look to a larger Garden Shed for bikes, sports kit and garden games, with shelving to keep everything organised.
• Use triple solid bin stores to handle multiple waste and recycling bins in one smart run.
• Pair a generous Large Log Store with an outdoor firepit or log burner for easy winter entertaining.

For relaxed country gardens

• Combine a traditionally styled she with open-fronted log stores for a gently rustic yet refined look.
• Soften practical areas with trellis-fronted bin screens and planting, so the boundary between storage and garden feels more blurred.
• Introduce coordinating wooden planters nearby to link storage back to surrounding borders.

Finishing touches for a welcoming winter garden

Once your main garden storage solutions are in place, take a moment to edit the rest of the space. A simple bench, a few evergreen pots and some soft outdoor lighting near your shed or log store can transform the mood on a winter afternoon.

• Add a wall light or low level lantern near the shed or bin store so trips outside on dark evenings feel safe and pleasant.
• Introduce evergreen climbers on trellis or fencing nearby to soften outlines.
• Place a pair of Prestige or classic wooden planters either side of a shed door or bin store to anchor the structure and make it feel intentional.

The result is a winter garden that feels ordered rather than stripped back, with every practical element quietly earning its place in the overall design.

Ready to plan your own elegant winter storage?

If you are ready to bring more calm and organisation to your outdoor space, exploring the wooden sheds, log stores, bin stores and bin screens ranges is a helpful first step. For a truly co-ordinated, investment-led look, consider choosing from the RHS-endorsed Prestige range, which brings the same level of craftsmanship and material quality across your key garden structures.

Whether you are tackling a single corner or rethinking your entire layout, the right storage will support your garden beautifully through winter and set it up perfectly for the seasons ahead.