Hi!

Have you ever come across a situation you just know that a brilliant solution is right in front of you but you can’t see it? Whew! I know I have. Despite the blog name, sometimes that creative solution is elusive, even for me! Enter the odd storage space under the deck that we lovingly built last summer. ( haha, we really just paid someone to do it.)

You may remember it (or not):

So then we were faced with the problem of what to do with the space underneath. It was too short and too sloped to make a secondary patio space. We knew we wanted to enclose it to at least make it more appealing but that seems like such a waste! Unfortunately, as we were deciding how to utilize the space underneath the deck, it became THE BIGGEST MUDHOLE ever. Oh, and we have two large dogs who (because why not!) loved to slog through it at every chance.

Even though enclosing the underneath of the deck wasn’t a priority this year, something had to be done about it. Hubby got the brilliant idea to turn it into a garden shed but we needed to make the underside of the not only waterproof but also direct the waterfall to the drain pipes. First, to the bottom boards he screwed boards that increased 1/2 every 3 feet. This was to create enough slope to direct the water down to the edge and into a gutter (not shown). The pvc panels are screwed in with rubber washers to make them leak proof.

Getting around the braces was a unique challenge but we made sure the holes were snug around them. Some outdoor caulk finished the job to make sure that the underside of the deck would keep our storage dry and protected.

We made a border of pressure treated lumber and filled it with drainage rock. Even though it isn’t completely finished, it is so much better than the eyesore it was before. Adding the roofing underneath seems like it was the obvious solution all along!

Now, if only the top of the deck were finished. I have definitely got some ideas for the direction I want to go but I haven’t completely narrowed it down yet. I love all 3 tables so it’s a hard choice. I would love to hear your opinion, my darling friends. I added in some different patterns that have orange and blue, but also used natural textures to keep the casual feeling. These items make me want to sit on the deck and chill all summer long!

I hope you are at least as ready for the summer as I am!

More DIY Projects:

Repairing Baseboards

Choosing the Right Flooring for your home