Want to add a new addition to your property? Building a shed is one investment every homeowner will fall in love with, thanks to their customisability, convenience, cost-efficiency and versatility. In short – they’re amazing!
One of the best features of modern sheds is the wide variety of shed styles available. This is brilliant, but for some, having such a vast choice can make narrowing down your design slightly challenging. Deciding on your shed style before initiating the building process is important. For those finding this difficult, take a look at our guide to choosing the perfect shed design.
What can sheds be used for?
There are so many possible things you can do with a shed. It all comes down to the size and design of your shed. Here are some ideas you might want to consider:
- Storage for gardening tools and equipment
- Storage for bicycles and outdoor sports equipment
- Home office or studio
- Playhouse for children
- Storage for seasonal decorations
- Pool house for pool equipment and supplies
- Hobby space for activities like woodworking or crafting
- Storage for outdoor furniture and cushions
- Greenhouse for growing plants
- Music practice room
- Exercise or fitness room
- Storage for firewood
- Guest room or small living space
- Reading or relaxation nook
- Home gym equipment storage
How To Choose The Perfect Shed Design
Choosing a shed design doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply look for the design that best suits your need for the shed. If you need a little guidance doing that, check out these tips; they’ll help you make your decision:
What is your home’s aesthetic?
When designing a shed, you want to pick a design that is going to fit seamlessly to your home. For instance, if your home has a traditional design, then a barn-style shed might work well with it. Or, if your home has a more modern, sophisticated touch to it, a steel shed with a gabled roof might suit it better. Here’s a list of shed styles to consider:
- Gable Shed
- Lean-to Shed
- Gambrel Shed
- Saltbox Shed
- Dutch Door Shed
- A-Frame Shed
- Hip Roof Shed
- Clerestory Shed
- Colonial Shed
- Modern Shed
- Quaker Shed
- Corner Shed
- Greenhouse Shed
- Portable Shed
- Pavilion Shed
Remember that not all shed builders support building all of these sheds, so be sure to check what sheds they build before hiring them.
How much storage do you need?
For those of you who are building a shed predominantly for storage, try to work out how much storage you need and whether you have a specific storage requirement while you’re in the design phase.
Some design options to choose from that are perfect for utilising your storage shed space efficiently are hooks, shelves, a mezzanine, and cabinets. Mezzanines are extremely helpful as they help you make use of the roof space that is most often unused.
Consider your yard space
This is one of the first things we’d suggest you do, check if you have the space in your yard or on your property for a shed. How will a shed fit in with the landscaping of your property and are there any other structures that it might limit when built? These are some important questions to ask because they’ll help you decide on the type of shed and its functionality.
Function with aesthetic
Leading us to our next point. Usually, the saying goes, “function over aesthetic”, which is true to a point. But in this case, we’re saying to go with function and aesthetics. There’s a balance between the two that isn’t too difficult to find, but you want to avoid leaning too far to either side. For instance, you don’t want a shed that’s an eye-sore sitting in your yard, and you also don’t want a super good-looking shed that is a nightmare to get into or use. So, before you build, consider factors like natural lighting, ventilation, accessibility, and insulation. Some other features, like the style and materials used, would also be good to consider.
Choose the Right Material
There are loads of materials to choose from for your shed. Be sure to check your options and compare them to your budget before making a decision. Materials like vinyl, plastic, wood, and steel are common in shed buildings, but they’re not all the best. Try to opt for materials that are more resistant to the elements, like steel, if possible. While they may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the others, there are still tons you can do with them.
Customise your design
As we mentioned before, sheds are super versatile, with several shed design options available. When designing your shed, we suggest customising its interior and exterior to suit your function perfectly. That may mean that you design it with a roller door or sliding doors, windows, a mezzanine, or even a pergola that attaches to it as long as you know that you have the freedom to design your shed exactly how you’d like it to be.
Consider the budget
When it comes to building a shed, your budget will either limit you or enable you to do what you want to. So, it’s important to consider your budget before making official commitments. We’d suggest reaching out to a professional or doing your own research to find out the basic cost of building the type of shed you want to build and then budget accordingly. Remember, in your budget, you need to factor in the materials you need, labour costs if you hire someone and any permit fees that may apply to the shed you want to build.
Get professional advice
Lastly, building a shed isn’t the easiest job, especially if you’re building a big one. Getting some professional advice or even aid is a wise decision. Get in touch with a shed contractor or certified builder to check your plans and help you avoid making costly mistakes.
Final Thoughts
Having a well-made shed on your property can be convenient and helpful. Whether you’re going big and doing a residential shed to live in or you’re just looking for something small to store garden furniture, follow these tips to help you choose the design that suits your preferences best.