by Heather Shoning
ditch the dated, drab backyard storage for a little outdoor eye candy
BACKYARD SHEDS have undergone a renaissance in recent years with the advent of she sheds and a new breed of auxiliary dwelling unit uses, including home offices, backyard bars, home gyms and more. But the good ol’ shed sometimes needs just to be a shed for housing things such as gardening tools, outdoor equipment, seasonal items, bicycles and other things you don’t want cluttering your garage.
We usually think of it as a place for lawn care items such as the lawn mower, weed eater, and potting and gardening supplies. However, with the right design— including ventilation and light—it can also act as a greenhouse for cultivating your plants early to be replanted outdoors and a place to keep plants out of extreme temperatures.
Sheds are also a perfect spot to stash potentially hazardous materials, chemicals or tools to keep them away from young children and pets. Install a lock or other safety latch that small people and crafty pets can’t open.
With this shed resurgence, we’ve also seen the design of this utilitarian outbuilding go from basic blah to trendy and tranquil. Even if you start with your standard Big Box kit, you can make it feel like a purposeful design element in your yard. Depending on your personal aesthetic or the style of your home, you might opt for a modern-looking shed or something more rustic. Choose stained and finished wood siding or a color palette that blends in or stands out—whichever suits your style.
Add decorative elements such as window boxes with flowers (if your shed doesn’t have windows, add faux ones), shutters and a decorative front door for a cottage-like feel. Vintage hardware like handles and hinges can give your shed a designer look. Add a porch with seating to make it even more backyard friendly.
A pitched-roof entry on your shed provides places to hang birdfeeders, plants, windchimes, ristras and more. To ensure the shed doesn’t feel like a discarded corner of the yard, landscape around it and create a gravel or steppingstone path leading to it.
Express your personal style and combine various design elements to create a cohesive and charming look to turn a storage space into your own supreme shed.
