With the average shed size being only 10 feet by 12 feet it is hard to imagine what else you can use it for other than storage.
However, with a little innovation and imagination, you can use your shed to transform your backyard living space.
If you want to add interest to your yard or if your current shed is being wasted then try these 7 smart backyard shed ideas.
1. Garden Greenhouse
You may already use your shed for storing garden supplies and lawn care equipment. If you use lawn mowing services you can ditch the mower and replace it with an abundance of beautiful and useful plants.
Add shelves and hooks to keep your shovels, pots, and extra seeds while clearing the floor for raised garden beds. Then install a sprinkler or drip irrigation system to make watering easy.
You can construct your greenhouse using wood just like a normal shed. Then place large windows on the roof to let the sun do its job.
2. Guest House
Some backyard sheds designs are completely unconventional but can add square footage and functionality to your home.
In this case, use the cozy wooden shed as a guest house by adding a wood-burning stove and heating element, some warm area rugs, and simplistic furniture. A twin bed fits in the corner while the opposite side acts as a reading nook or kitchenette.
Make sure your guests feel welcome with a stone pathway and ample lighting to guide them to the main house.
3. Painting Studio
There are shed ideas that can serve as inspiration for your talent and hobbies. For example, open up your shed to nature and place a canvass at its center. Use the environment to paint a still life or the distant city skyline.
The shed can also store your paint supplies and act as a small gallery for your finished projects.
Be sure to decorate the exterior of your studio to fit the artistic ambiance of the inside. Paint the panels a bright color and add some of your artwork to its walls.
Create a patio style entrance with French doors that allow you to move your painting outdoors on a sunny day. A cozy red brick or an eclectic stone flooring creates a mosaic walkway and patio for your friends and family to visit.
4. Carpenter’s Shop
A craftsman style shed is perfect for building even more things for your home, maybe even a second shed.
You will need a power source so if you don’t want to use an extension cord then get a generator. Having consistent power will keep your projects from stopping in the middle of cutting a piece of wood.
You may need to invest in some tools like a power drill and a table saw but your hobby will pay off as you create personalized pieces.
One of the first projects in your new carpenter shed can be a bench or swing for your shed’s porch for a break from the shop.
5. Outdoor Office
Not all homes allow for home office space. What many people don’t consider is taking their office outside the house. So, one of the best shed ideas could be a luxurious or rustic outdoor office.
Choose to keep the interior walls unfinished for a woodsy writer’s retreat. Add some natural oil lanterns and a desk made from a carved tree stump. A small stove for coffee and tea is convenient for break time.
Leave enough wall space for natural light through small windows or include a skylight for those late work nights, including a little star gazing.
Go more modern with a finished shed equipped with drywall, recessed lighting, and a small area for your Keurig. A thin metal desk and small desk chair can be surrounded by original artwork.
Make sure that your WiFi reaches your backyard work station by buying an extender. You can also use a generator for power so you don’t lose any of your hard work.
6. Kids’ Clubhouse
Don’t forget about outdoor shed ideas for your children. Instead of buying an overpriced clubhouse you can transform your shed into a customized one.
Let the kids paint the exterior with their favorite colors. Then have them go shopping for comfortable furniture. This will give them the feeling of responsibility, and they will have their own place to retreat to.
Stock the shelves inside the shed with board games, coloring utensils, and dress-up clothes. Keep their sleeping bags, pillows, and extra pajamas for a fun sleepover party.
7. Backyard Lounge
Design your shed simply for relaxing. It can be an addition to your patio or pool area for you and your family to take naps or read a book.
You can even add a refrigerator inside for a quick snack during an outdoor movie night. Or make the whole shed a tiny entertainment center with a flat-screen TV and surround sound. Then add a few lounging chairs or a sofa.
Include a bar inside for a quenching escape from a hot day or a warm haven during the winter.
Place a hammock inside or on the porch for a lazy afternoon and extend your lounge with a wooden deck for picnics and BBQs.
Backyard Shed Ideas You Can Do Yourself
What is so great about these backyard shed ideas is that you can do them all by yourself. All you need is to buy a prefabricated shed or transform your old one with a few design tricks.
Check out more of our DIY Design Projects for your entire home.