A garden hose is essential for wetting down garden plots, clearing debris out of the nooks and crannies of your home's exterior, and just having fun on a hot day. If you don't have a storage option for this hose, though, it can quickly become a tangled mess.

Some hoses will be easier to store than others. Patricia H. Reed, writing for SFGate, says the best hoses will have high-quality materials as well as brass fittings. You can also test how likely it is to kink by bending a section of hose and seeing if it springs back.

It is easier to coil a hose if it is empty. Make sure the water is off, remove the nozzle or sprinkler head, and allow water to drain out. The hose may also be easier to coil if you stretch it out to soften in the sun for awhile.

Coil the hose in loops two to three feet across. You can do so by looping the hose between your hand and elbow until you have finished the entire hose, or you can wrap it around a round trash can or similar object. Don't leave the hose on the ground, as it is more likely to be mildewed this way.

There are plenty of options for hanging the hose on the side of a building, on a rack, or on a special device allowing you to crank the hose in. You can also keep the hose coiled in a container.

Wall mounts for hoses often have decorative patterns, adding a visually pleasing element to your home's exterior. Laura James, writing for HGTV, says there are also metal stands that can be installed in your garden. This option raises the hose off the ground and keeps it where it is needed the most.

Reed says a hose should not be hung from a single support, as this can cause damage to the siding of your home. Instead, use two hooks or a broader support to distribute the weight of the hose.

These racks require you to coil the hose yourself, but some models aim to make this process easier for you. Jennifer Noonan, writing for the home improvement professional Bob Vila, says these devices have a crank that will reel in the hose when you are done using it.

This option offers plenty of convenience and is often portable, allowing you to carry or cart the hose wherever it is needed. However, it usually has a more functional appearance with little in the way of decorative embellishment.

Hoses can also be coiled and stored within garden pots, keeping them out of sight within one of your yard's features. You'll want to make sure the pot allows water to drain from the bottom. Otherwise, dripping water from the hose may turn the garden pot into an attractive site for breeding insects.

James says that in addition to ceramic pots, you can use a copper pot or wicker container. If a container is specially designed to hold a hose, it will include an opening allowing you to run the hose in from the spigot.

Some hose containers offer multifunctional use, since they mimic patio furniture. By placing it near this furniture, you can use the top of the container as a table.