Organizing Your Outdoor Space

Summer offers a standing invitation to enjoy the great outdoors.  Organize your patio, outdoor toys, and pool accessories with these tips and products.

Don't Get Caught with Your Pants Down

I've locked myself out of the house without my cell phone, wearing only a bikini–more than once.  I'm guessing the neighbors aren't interested in a repeat performance of nearly-naked me knocking on their door, begging to borrow a phone and phone book so I can call the locksmith.  This year I'll be using this Over the Door 2 Basket unit–hung

on the outdoor side, of course!–to stash my keys and phone safely out of reach of my kiddos, who think that anything they find outside is fair game for a pool toy. 

Outside Toys Need Organizing Love Too

Containerize toys outside just as you do in the house.

• Sidewalk chalk never manages to fit back into its original container–who has time to line up every broken piece?  Grab a bin or basket big enough to hold the stash when it's pitched in willy-nilly–with a lid if you're so inclined–at any dollar store.
• Use a big rope-handled plastic tote to hold outside toys.  Find them at discount stores like Target and Walmart in fun summer colors for under $8.  Note:  Keep them under an awning or patio cover if possible–they'll fade quickly in full sun.
• If you've got lots of pool toys, get a second tote and drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
• For grown-up looking toy storage, check out the Suncast Storage Seat, $29.99 at Target.com.

Make It Easy to Get Outside

My kids jump out of bed in the morning and head straight for the back door.  I keep an Outdoor Station by the nearest exit:  a plastic bin with everything we need to start our day of outdoor play:

• Swimsuits
• Sunscreen
• Beach towels
• 2 old bath towels–I place one on each side of the door to minimize grass and mud tracks during drink runs and potty breaks.
• Swim shoes
• Electric air pump (to extend the life of limp inflatables)
• My current read

No More Soggy Towels

The Outdoor Towel Rack from Improvements is a great idea, but carries a hefty $59.99 price tag.  It did inspire me to find a frugal solution to beach towels that tend to get left in a wet clump on patio chairs, or dropped in the dirt by my distracted son who thinks he can outrun a butterfly.

Here are a few ideas for hanging beach towels and bathing suits that should ring in under a buck:

• Loop S-Hooks through knotholes in a wood fence, or on chain link fencing.
• Hammer wide-head nails at an angle(point down, head up) into the fence or a tree–just make sure it's your tree (not a neighbor's overhanging branch), and don't forget to spray for ants!
• Screw decorative hooks (Walmart has a great selection in the Hardware department) into the fence, stucco, or siding.

Let Them Eat Cake!–Outside.

Keep your dining room spic and span all summer by enjoying meals on the patio. 

• Find plastic and melamine trays in the seasonal aisle at any discount store now.  Choose one large enough to accommodate several plates and glasses to minimize trips, and look for high sides that will help contain spills if your waitressing skills aren't up to snuff.
• Keep bugs at bay during swim breaks with this Giant Food Umbrella, $9.98 at Amazon.com.
• Paper napkins blow away in the breeze.  You're doing extra loads of towels anyway; consider using cloth napkins for outside meals.  Summer Stripe water-repellent and stain-resistant napkins, 4 for $12.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond.

How do you keep your outdoor space organized?  Join the discussion in the forum!

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