Shed Spruce Up: Inspiring Ideas for Garden Sheds
That eyesore at the bottom of the garden has more potential than you realise
The garden shed is no longer just a non-descript structure where you dump the lawnmower, wheelbarrow and bags of potting mix. Today when gardens are smaller and every element can often be seen from the house, it’s an important part of the residential landscape, designed to either complement the architecture of the house or merge gracefully into the garden. The shed is also a versatile beast, with many now being converted into playhouses, studios, offices, guest rooms, gyms or pool houses, even designer chicken coops.
If you’re stuck for ideas on what to do with your garden shed, take a look at these cute and clever structures and you’ll soon be inspired.
If you’re stuck for ideas on what to do with your garden shed, take a look at these cute and clever structures and you’ll soon be inspired.
Make visual connections to the house
This contemporary shed in Avalon functions as an artist’s studio. It is clad in similar materials and has the same architectural form as the main house. Set in a heavily wooded area its bushfire zoning was a big influence on the use of materials.
This contemporary shed in Avalon functions as an artist’s studio. It is clad in similar materials and has the same architectural form as the main house. Set in a heavily wooded area its bushfire zoning was a big influence on the use of materials.
Get clever with paint
The smart paint job on this garden structure turns an ordinary shed into a showpiece. The addition of ornate metal fixtures for hanging pots and other external decorative elements enhances the appeal of this very pretty shed.
The smart paint job on this garden structure turns an ordinary shed into a showpiece. The addition of ornate metal fixtures for hanging pots and other external decorative elements enhances the appeal of this very pretty shed.
Turn sheds into sculpture
This beautiful garden pavilion was designed to be a sculptural object as well as a shed. Made of extruded timber in the form of an elliptical shell, it is called a ‘Shoffice’ (shed + office) by its designers Platform 5 Architects, due to its dual role as garden storage space and an office. The interior is lined with oak.
Explore this shoffice
This beautiful garden pavilion was designed to be a sculptural object as well as a shed. Made of extruded timber in the form of an elliptical shell, it is called a ‘Shoffice’ (shed + office) by its designers Platform 5 Architects, due to its dual role as garden storage space and an office. The interior is lined with oak.
Explore this shoffice
Hide the pool equipment
That perennial issue of what to do with pool pumps, covers, filtration units and other bulky equipment has been brilliantly solved in this super stylish Adelaide shed. The sliding horizontal timber doors make access easy, while the contrast of the warm brown wood with the grey painted structure makes this building an asset for any garden.
That perennial issue of what to do with pool pumps, covers, filtration units and other bulky equipment has been brilliantly solved in this super stylish Adelaide shed. The sliding horizontal timber doors make access easy, while the contrast of the warm brown wood with the grey painted structure makes this building an asset for any garden.
Create a home office
An ancient outhouse in this Sydney garden has been cleverly transformed into a stylish home office with plywood sliding doors. Acrylic roofing (also used on the verandah of the main house) brings in plenty of natural light for this exquisite garden workspace. The designer used a cantilevered roof to avoid the need for a corner column, increasing the sense of space in the shed.
An ancient outhouse in this Sydney garden has been cleverly transformed into a stylish home office with plywood sliding doors. Acrylic roofing (also used on the verandah of the main house) brings in plenty of natural light for this exquisite garden workspace. The designer used a cantilevered roof to avoid the need for a corner column, increasing the sense of space in the shed.
Build a kids’ cubby house
Although this Turramurra cubby house was custom-built, it would not be difficult to modify an existing shed to create a similar structure. The materials used for this cubby house are similar to those used for the main house. And the cantilevered steel beam for the tyre swing is a very clever addition.
Although this Turramurra cubby house was custom-built, it would not be difficult to modify an existing shed to create a similar structure. The materials used for this cubby house are similar to those used for the main house. And the cantilevered steel beam for the tyre swing is a very clever addition.
Create a guest room
This freestanding garden structure in Melbourne provides space for visitors to stay and also doubles as a music studio. The building is positioned so that it creates a shady area between it and the house for outdoor living during the summer. Connecting the two buildings is a pergola festooned with a climbing plant, beautifully softening both structures.
This freestanding garden structure in Melbourne provides space for visitors to stay and also doubles as a music studio. The building is positioned so that it creates a shady area between it and the house for outdoor living during the summer. Connecting the two buildings is a pergola festooned with a climbing plant, beautifully softening both structures.
Add a green roof
Make your shed more environmentally friendly by installing a green roof planted with shallow rooting plants such as small succulents and groundcovers. They will help clean and slow stormwater runoff as it hits the roof, while also insulating the space below. You’ll need to insert a rubber roof membrane below the green roof for waterproofing purposes.
Make your shed more environmentally friendly by installing a green roof planted with shallow rooting plants such as small succulents and groundcovers. They will help clean and slow stormwater runoff as it hits the roof, while also insulating the space below. You’ll need to insert a rubber roof membrane below the green roof for waterproofing purposes.
Use recycled materials
To save money when building a shed, cubby house or garden studio, check out demolition and scrap yards or online auctions for potential materials. Fallen logs, leftover doors and other construction materials were used to build the garden shed above. Many people are also now repurposing shipping containers and unwanted industrial buildings as garden sheds and studios.
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To save money when building a shed, cubby house or garden studio, check out demolition and scrap yards or online auctions for potential materials. Fallen logs, leftover doors and other construction materials were used to build the garden shed above. Many people are also now repurposing shipping containers and unwanted industrial buildings as garden sheds and studios.
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Style USA: Is This the Coolest Garden Shed You’ve Ever Seen?
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Dream Spaces: Home Offices You’ll be Delighted to Work in
Training climbing plants like ivy, star jasmine or wisteria up the sides of a shed is the ideal way to make it disappear into the greenery of the garden. Fixing trellis or a network of wires to the side of the building allows you to secure the vines properly so they won’t fall off in the wind. Covering walls with greenery also provides thermal insulation for a building.