Now that the summer holidays are here I’m putting VIP to good use by giving him odd jobs around the house; I mean, what else is he going to do with six weeks off work?!
One of those jobs is to clear out the shed, which for the last year or so has been used as a dumping ground. Every time I go in there to get something I have to clamber over stuff risking life and limb.
There’s no way I could send the kids in there to look for a football or Frisbee; I’d be worried about the state they'd come out – or if they even came out at all!
But what I’ve really longed for is a warm, dry place to do a bit of upcycing and crafting; somewhere where I can let the kids go mad with the paint and not worry if my Laura Ashley rug is going to get ruined.
Creating space
So the brief to VIP was: Have a really good clear out of the shed; be ruthless when it comes to deciding what to keep – and leave enough space in a corner of the shed where me or the kids can sit comfortably and do some painting/crafting.
It turns out that I'm not alone in wanting to be a bit more creative when it comes to my shed space; it’s becoming increasingly popular for people to transform their sheds into hobby rooms or working offices rather than just a place to store gardening tools.
So I thought it would be a good idea to hook up with garden specialists, Oeco Garden Rooms, to share their handy tips on how to turn your garden shed into an effective space for the future.
Get it fixed
First up is to totally empty the shed of everything (pick a good weather day of course!). Once emptied, take a good old look at the shed; if it looks like it’s in need of repair, then this is what needs tending to first.
Jobs might include looking for nails sticking out and fixing leaky roofs, wood rot, broken windows and uneven floorboards. Don’t forget to check that the base is sound (and level) as well.
If you start off with a solid structure, all the other things you need to consider will run much more smoothly.
Stay warm
As we all know, most of the time the weather in the UK is rainy, windy or cold – or a combination of all three. But you can forget about being weather-dependent if you opt to install thermal insulation.
Doing so will ensure that you get to use your shed year-round, as insulation will keep it cool in the summer and warm in winter. It also makes it much more energy efficient, saving you money on heating the shed in the winter months. Boom!
Colour me good
After the shed has been repaired and is water tight and nicely insulated, you can consider painting it to give it a new lease of life.
You can either opt to paint the exterior a bright colour to make it stand out and create a focal point in the garden. Or, if you’d rather the shed blends in with its surroundings, opt for a darker colour.
Frenchic has recently launched a new alfresco range and they currently have some lovely colours.
When you’re considering which indoor colour to choose, start thinking about what the shed will be used for. Bear in mind that neutral or muted colours are ideal for creating a relaxed environment, while bright and bold colours can help with alertness and concentration levels.
Other options
There are plenty of other options to help you repurpose your shed space. For example, fitting PVC-U windows and doors will again help to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Alternatively, if it’s big enough – how about installing patio doors? They’ll allow for easy access as well as enabling natural light to flood the space – great if you’re using it as a work area.
PVC-U windows and doors are also manufactured to the highest level of security, giving you peace of mind that your possessions are protected if you keep expensive gear in the garden.
Another option is to add electricity to your shed as it means that you’ll expand your options on how the space can be used. Examples include using it to store a freezer, work on projects with power tools or create a cinema room – the possibilities are endless!
However, bear in mind that running electricity from your house to the shed is a job for the professionals (a fully trained electrician), so don’t attempt to give it a go yourself.
The finishing touches
You’ll want to consider some storage options in your shed – and there’s plenty of choice – from corner units and peg boards to hooks, shelves, drawers and hanging storage.
If you’re going for a homely feel to your shed, then think about adding family photographs (or canvases) to walls, along with plant pots/flowers and rugs.
And if you’re looking for a more neutral scheme, then art prints or wall decorations to brighten the space will add to the feel, along with the use of different textures to add interest.
Whatever you decide to use your shed for, make sure it feels like an actual room and an extension of your home; this will ensure that you are more likely to use it regularly.
With a bit of time and little money, you too can repurpose your garden shed to meet yours and your family’s needs. Best of all, the majority of the tasks can be done on a budget – and usually over a weekend.
If you could choose to repurpose your shed, what would you turn yours into?
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65 comments
I never thought of a shed as another room but I will now! I’m planning to give mine a good kick (so it will callapse!) and replace it with something decent this summer.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a good summer (weather-wise), which will make the job a bit easier!
Amazing post. Thanks for sharing these post.
The pleasure is all mine!
Love this post. We carried out a similar mission on our garage. However. ..an Englishman’s shed is his castle it seems! Well done all!
Thanks Saffi – and congrats we accomplishing arranging your own space – great news!
This is such a good post! I have no idea you could do all of these to make room in your shed! I don’t have a shed but if I did these tips would be so helpful!
Thanks Cecilia – some of the tips can apply to other outbuildings (and cubby holes) of course…
We have far too much stuff to turnout shed into another room but maybe when the kids leave home
Ha ha! The countdown is on!
We don’t have a shed, but have a garage to put so much in. We use it to store all our DIY stuff in there, and even having old kitchen units as we were going to use them in the garage as storage!
Sounds like you already have a great space which is fab. I think the more storage we have the more we use it up! ?
Our shed is just a home to the lawnmower and loads of spiders, I would love to turn it into a little room!
You should add it to yourcsummer to-do list Hayley!
We are thinking of buying a shed but mainly as a place to play/chill out not storage, thanks for the tips!
I love hanging lights and bunting around sheds, I think it looks so sweet! xxx
It looks great for a bit of al fresco dining doesn’t it?
such a great post with some awesome ideas.
Thanks Angela!
Such a great post with some amazing ideas! Ill be sure to pass this along!
Thanks so much Candice!
We dont have a wooden shet per say but its kind of well built and I would love to turn it into a small blogging space but just too scared to venture out in the night lol!
Yes, you’d have to use it on the day! 🙂
Great post and tips for the shed. Wish I had a comfortable shed that was cozy and nice to view. The garden and pics look amazing.
Thanks Afshan – not sure mine could be classed as ‘cosy’… more like a ‘work in progress’ but I’m planning on making it my own tiny corner ?
This is a really great post! We’re actually planning to re-do our garage/shed at the end of the garden this summer, so this is really handy!
Best of luck Leigh – would love to know how the project goes.
I love the idea of having a little office or craft room in the shed! Insulation is a great tip, definitely necessary here in the UK…
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Have to agree with you Jess. I’m a sucker for wanting to keep warm!
PVC-U windows are great as they allow natural light to get and control temperature. I would love to get hubby to do that to ours.
I think you’d have to have a pretty large structure to warrant the pvc-u windows
I like the idea of making shed cozy for winter by installing thermal insulation that is a great idea x
Thanks Ana! Good for when it starts getting chilly again!
There are so many lovely ideas here. I wish I had a shed big enough to do some of these.
You could improvise Dannii and use others spaces – putting them to good use (under the stairs, on the landing, a kitchen corner…) 🙂
I really love these ideas, creating a little outdoor space for activities and relaxing is great 🙂
Thanks Jemma – chuffed you like 🙂 x
We have a TINY little lean to shed in our garden, I’d love a bigger one so I can use some of these tips to make it special!
You could always ‘extend’ it by putting an awning on the side so you have the shelter! 🙂
I love the idea of having a shed that can a chill out place in the back!
I just wish mine was a bit bigger – I might be making arrangements for that to happen soon though! 😉
We desperately need to fix our shed we have a roof panel missing we are undecided if we will fix it or just invest in a new one. Either way we will make sure it is weather proof as like you say UK weather is more wet and windy x
Best of luck – you could probably fix it and get another few years’ wear from it if you wanted to save money – or make the most of the sales on at the moment!
Great advice. We’re planning on getting a shed when we buy our house, so we will definitely keep these in mind.
There are some good deals on sheds if you shop around – good luck!
I’m trying to put my husband to good use too. He has been decorating our computer room for months!
The jobs never seem to end though do they?
I’d love a little shed in the garden for me to work in x
Hope you manage to get your own space soon!
I wish I had a shed! My own little bit of space would be great. Would also definitely paint it a jazzy colour!
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Thanks Samantha – we went for jazzy blue!
Very inspiring! I have a summerhouse at the bottom of my garden that I painted pink a few years ago, but it’s pretty old and I’m a bit concerned about how stable it is – I’d love to actually use it!
It sounds idyllic Rebecca – I’m sure a few hours of TLC give have it looking great (and useable) in no time.
Sheds are great for storage of garden tools and furniture which can’t be used in the winter, great tips x
Thanks Rhian 🙂
I was looking for a finished picture! We were thinking about building one to move all the extra things in it. Now I change my mind! Going to have a small place for my creativity. Great idea!
Ah, sorry to disappoint – still some last minute things to finish – but (he’s) getting there! Glad you liked the idea of creating ‘me space!’
We have a shed that is full of so much junk now, but it would be lovely to turn it into a summer workspace.
Our shed has been full of rubbish for years – it’s so nice to have a good old clear out!
We only got a shed towards the end of last year so I’m not thinking of repurposing it quite yet though it has been multifunctional already with being temporary storage for the kitchen.
The shed does come in handy for a range of uses – even temporary storage!
I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished. I’d love a corner of our shed to do crafting in!
Still got a few finishing touches to do, but I’m getting there! 🙂
Wow what great idea. I haven’t even bought my shed yet. That would be number 1 on my list haha
When you do plan beforehand so you don’t have to do what I did!