Yearning for an outdoor storage closet? From the simple to the sublime, garden sheds serve up space, solitude, and a work or play room with a view.
Yearning for an outdoor storage closet? From the simple to the sublime, garden sheds serve up space, solitude, and a work or play room with a view.
Seattle-based SHED (members of our Architect/Designer Directory) designed an unassuming backyard wood-clad shed with barn doors that roll open, allowing it to double as a well-appointed gardener’s retreat and bike storage.
Seattle-based SHED (members of our Architect/Designer Directory) designed an unassuming backyard wood-clad shed with barn doors that roll open, allowing it to double as a well-appointed gardener’s retreat and bike storage.
But how you answer it will help determine shed size, location, and design.
But how you answer it will help determine shed size, location, and design.
Do I need a garden shed?
Do I need a garden shed?
Shed as writer’s studio, with a wood burning stove, in a London backyard.
Shed as writer’s studio, with a wood burning stove, in a London backyard.
Photograph by Wai Ming Ng.
Photograph by Wai Ming Ng.
What is the best location for a garden shed?
What is the best location for a garden shed?
Within the parameters of your local zoning laws, you will want to situate a shed near where you need it most.
Within the parameters of your local zoning laws, you will want to situate a shed near where you need it most.
A slim shed with an unobtrusive profile sits against a cypress fence at Shed in Healdsburg. For more, see Steal This Look: A Garden Courtyard at Shed in Healdsburg.
A slim shed with an unobtrusive profile sits against a cypress fence at Shed in Healdsburg. For more, see Steal This Look: A Garden Courtyard at Shed in Healdsburg.
“The Shelter” by Maggie Anthony Design in Nashville was the winner of this year’s Gardenista Considered Designs Best Shed or Outbuilding Award. Installing trellises against its facade, planting beds next to the shed, and or installing a green roof can make a shed look like part of the garden.
“The Shelter” by Maggie Anthony Design in Nashville was the winner of this year’s Gardenista Considered Designs Best Shed or Outbuilding Award. Installing trellises against its facade, planting beds next to the shed, and or installing a green roof can make a shed look like part of the garden.
What size shed do I need?
What size shed do I need?
This takes us back to the big question. First, what are you planning to put inside the shed?
This takes us back to the big question. First, what are you planning to put inside the shed?
Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.
Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.
Remodelista Editor Julie Carlson’s compact garden shed is the perfect size for her gardening tools and supplies. Yes, it is also beautifully organized (see Steal This Look: Julie’s Garden Shed for organization tips).
Remodelista Editor Julie Carlson’s compact garden shed is the perfect size for her gardening tools and supplies. Yes, it is also beautifully organized (see Steal This Look: Julie’s Garden Shed for organization tips).
After you’ve come up with the ideal size and location of your shed , it’s time to turn your attention to the design. Ideally you will select a design that fits into your existing architecture and landscape. Adapting the facade is the easy part.
After you’ve come up with the ideal size and location of your shed , it’s time to turn your attention to the design. Ideally you will select a design that fits into your existing architecture and landscape. Adapting the facade is the easy part.
What garden shed design is best?
What garden shed design is best?
A tiny freestanding shed can be customized with add-on modules. The interior design of your garden shed is equally, if not more important than its exterior design. As storage and compact work are often the two primary purposes of the shed, the efficiency of the interior space is key.
A tiny freestanding shed can be customized with add-on modules. The interior design of your garden shed is equally, if not more important than its exterior design. As storage and compact work are often the two primary purposes of the shed, the efficiency of the interior space is key.
For an all-in-one shed storage kit, a Gabrielle Garden Shed Set is $469 from Pottery Barn.
For an all-in-one shed storage kit, a Gabrielle Garden Shed Set is $469 from Pottery Barn.
DIY, prefab or custom garden shed?
DIY, prefab or custom garden shed?
There is a garden shed for nearly every location and every budget. Custom-built sheds are at the higher end of the cost spectrum, but offer seamless integration into your architecture and landscape design.
There is a garden shed for nearly every location and every budget. Custom-built sheds are at the higher end of the cost spectrum, but offer seamless integration into your architecture and landscape design.
A kit for Cedarshed’s Bayside Lean To Garden Shed, with an 8-by-4-foot footprint, is $1,229. For ideas on designing the interior of a garden shed, see Steal This Look: My Mini Potting Shed in a Garage.
A kit for Cedarshed’s Bayside Lean To Garden Shed, with an 8-by-4-foot footprint, is $1,229. For ideas on designing the interior of a garden shed, see Steal This Look: My Mini Potting Shed in a Garage.