How to Store Yard Art in Racks: Keeping Your DIY Projects Like New
Over the years here at the workshop in Scottsburg, Indiana, I have often heard the question, “What’s the best way to store my yard signs in the off-season?”
While there are several easy ways to store yard signs, today I want to show you how to use a rack specially designed to store a number of pieces of yard art with a very small footprint—in other words, very little space needed!
Our Specially Designed Yard Art Rack
Bruce and I designed a yard art rack that features staggered oblong openings with a top and bottom board set about 6” apart. We have used several versions of this rack over the years and tweaked it until we came up with the most stable design. These are the exact racks we use to store our own signs right here in the workshop!
A few things to keep in mind for the best results:
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A Level Surface is Key: You must have a level surface for the rack to rest on (usually a level floor). Following standard workshop organization practices ensures everything stays safe and upright. If the floor is unlevel, it can cause the rack to tip.
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Compact Size: When you assemble the rack using the hardware we supply, it measures just 9” tall x 22” wide x 26” long, yet it has enough holes to hold 14 yard signs.
Watch: How to Load Your Yard Art Rack
Bruce and I recorded a quick video to show you exactly how this system works. It’s much easier to see the "face-to-back" method in action!
Mary’s Tips for Loading Your Rack
To keep your paint jobs looking fresh and prevent the face of the sign from getting "scared" by the screws on the back of other signs, follow these steps:
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Align the Stakes: Load the rack by inserting the bottom of the green channel stake into the top and bottom holes. We aligned these specifically to force the sign to stay in an upright position.
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Face-to-Back Protection: Always load signs face-to-back. This prevents the screws on the back of one sign from brushing against and scarring the face of the sign next to it.
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Balance the Load: Yard art signs come in odd shapes—Santas, Trees, Easter Bunnies, and more. If your pieces have only one stake, insert the first one with the "largest side" pointing left, and the next one pointing right. Continue alternating so the rack stays balanced as it fills up.
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Handling Double Stakes: If a piece has two stakes, just insert one into the hole and let the other rest on the floor. For the next double-stake piece, make sure that "outside" stake rests on the opposite side to keep the weight even.
Why This Matters for Your DIY Projects
Unlike mass-market patterns or thinner materials you might find elsewhere, our Ready-to-Paint MDO blanks and Printable Paper Patterns are built to last.
By using professional-grade Medium Density Overlay (MDO) and properly sealing your outdoor projects, you are creating heirlooms. Taking these few extra steps during the off-season ensures that when next year rolls around, your display is ready to go back out into the yard immediately.
Looking for more workshop secrets? We are always adding new guides, video tutorials, and project ideas to help you create the best yard in the neighborhood. Visit our new Yard Art Blog Hub to stay updated and see what local Indiana craftsmanship is all about!