Storage units come in all shapes and sizes now. From flat stores to tall stores there are many types of units on the market that will fit the bill. Sometimes your outdoor items need to stay outside. Lawnmowers, garden tools, kids toys, sports equipment need to stay outside.

There are many types of wooden storage box designed specifically to fit in small gardens and house all your outdoor items such as lawnmowers, tools and hosepipes. In this article we explain a few of the different types and explain what sort of items they can store.

First is the wooden wheelie bin store. This is essentially a 'as it says on the tin' item - as it stores your wheelie bin. It has been especially designed with the UK wheelie bin in mind and is a great way to stop your rubbish bins blowing around in the wind or making your garden look unattractive. Usually a wooden wheelie bin store is a three sided wooden box with a fixed roof that has doors on the fourth side, allowing easy access for removing and replacing your bin. As most households in the UK have a bin for refuge and one for recycling, wheelie bin stores come in single or double width depending on the number of wheelie bins you have to store.

The second type of wooden storage for your garden is a traditional wooden chest. These are also referred to as 'deck stores' or 'patio boxes'. These typically take the form of a rectangular box with a hinged lid. In additional, some come with a removable front panel for easy access to everything inside. These garden chests come in a variety of different sizes and are ideal for small gardens as they can be placed on a patio or decked area. They are designed to hide away smaller garden items such as garden tools and the hose pipe, however they are also perfect for storing children's outdoor toys. The hinged lid often comes with supports so your hands are free to add or remove items easily.

Log stores are another great item. Similar to a wooden chest or deck store. Log stores come in various shapes and sizes. Some enclosed with a hinged lid, others with an open front and hinged lid. These are a beautifully rustic solution for your garden space. Personally I think these can be a great feature and with braziers getting more and more popular, people tend to use these to store there brazier logs.

The next type of wooden storage designed for the smaller garden is the wall store. This is typically a small version of a garden shed and can sometimes be referred to as a tool store. Tool stores are shorter than the traditional shed and aren't designed to be walked in, they are instead designed to house larger garden items such as lawnmowers, rakes and spades. They can either have slanted, flat or apex roofs so you can choose one to suit your garden style. Again wall stores come in a range of sizes and one can be found to fit any outside space, even a balcony!

So that's wooden storage solutions in a nut shell. What about metal and plastic varieties? Does Wooden storage score well over there plastic and metal brothers and sisters?

Metal garden storage solutions are available to buy and although they offer lots in the way of security, they don't offer much in maneuverability or style. Generally metal storage boxes are very heavy and cannot be easily moved to other locations in the garden. Although often treated with weather resistant paint, this can peel or chip away to leave the metal store exposed to moisture and ultimately rust which can be unsightly.

Plastic storage solutions are also available to buy and although they come in a range of different colours and styles, they are not very durable. Plastic stores are generally light when empty or only partially full which means that although they can be easily moved to different locations in the garden, they can also be moved by strong winds. Another disadvantage to plastic storage boxes is that they aren't as secure as metal or wooden storage solutions and can be more easily broken into.

Wooden storage solutions are generally treated to be weather resistant and as the treatment soaks into the wood, it can't chip or peel away. Depending on the size of the wooden storage box, it may still be easily maneuverable when empty to allow it to be moved around the garden, but study enough to not be effected by the wind. One of the main advantages of a wooden storage box is a variety of styles available - there is sure to be one to blend in with the style of your house or garden.

Log stores are another great item. Similar to a wooden chest or deck store. Log stores come in various shapes and sizes. Some enclosed with a hinged lid, others with an open front and hinged lid. These are a beautifully rustic solution for your garden space. Personally I think these can be a great feature and with braziers getting more and more popular, people tend to use these to store there brazier logs.