The humble shed is a staple of many garden spaces, thanks to its sturdy construction and useful storage space. However, as with any structure, time takes its toll on sheds. Daily exposure to the elements and other stressors can leave a shed looking worn, dull and tired.
When you think about it, sheds go through a lot. If yours is starting to look worse for wear, why not treat it to a makeover? You don’t need to break the bank to give your aging shed a new lease of life.
Struggling for inspiration? Not to fear – we’ve collated a list of 10 ingenious hacks to help you turn back the clock and leave your trusty shed looking like new! Let’s get started, shall we?
Pressure-treat Your Shed
Timber sheds are particularly susceptible to water damage. Continuous exposure to rain causes timber to absorb water, which in turn makes it shrink, dry, out and warp. This can hurt your shed’s structural integrity.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate water damage. Invest in a good quality wood treatment and apply it to your shed.
We would also suggest pressure-treating your timber. When timber is pressure treated, preservatives are forced deeper into the wood. Taking these steps should provide lasting protection against the elements, whilst helping you save on repair costs to boot.
Treat Your Shed to a New Coat of Paint
One of the quickest and easiest ways to spruce up your shed is to apply a new coat of paint – inside and out. Since most sheds are fairly small, you should be able to get both jobs done over a weekend.
If your shed is situated close to your house, you may want to replicate its colour scheme to prevent them clashing. However, if the shed is a good distance from your property, this affords you a little more creative freedom. You may wish to try a bright or pastel shade. Invest in some good quality barn paint for an attractive, long-lasting finish.
Even if your shed is decades old, we think you’ll agree that a fresh coat of paint can be transformative!
Add Soft, Comfortable Flooring
The bare, wooden flooring found in a typical shed isn’t the most comfortable surface – and is also susceptible to wear and tear. Installing a carpet or vinyl floor surface can lend a more homely feel to your shed, whilst also improving its durability in the longer term. Add a rug as a centrepiece to complete your little ‘home from home’.
Install Shelves for Easy Storage
Sheds can easily become cluttered – and the fact that they don’t usually have much floor space to begin with doesn’t help matters! Installing a few well-placed shelves can help you make optimal use of the available space.
Replace the Windows
Replacing your shed windows costs less than you may think. You can purchase good quality polycarbonate window panes to order. Plastic shed windows are considerably safer than their glass counterparts, as they are less likely to shatter.
Polycarbonate window panes are affordable, lightweight, durable, easy to install and can easily shave years off the perceived age of your shed. Simply measure the dimensions of your existing window pane, place your order and get to work!
Let There be Light
Many garden sheds feature a single light bulb (if they have one at all). This may suffice if your shed’s purpose is purely utilitarian. However, a properly-lit shed can offer so much more.
Install overhead lights and lamps to keep the interior well-lit so you can enjoy your hobbies. You also have the option to install an outdoor light, which can make your shed easier to find in the dark, if it’s relatively far away from your property.
Consider Adding a Skylight
On a related note, you can make your shed even brighter by installing a skylight. This will allow your shed to take full advantage of the natural sunlight and save you money on your lighting bills. Not only that, a skylight can open up to let in fresh air, allowing you to keep your shed well ventilated.
Upcycle Your Furniture
With a little knowhow and imagination, well-worn household furniture such as tables and chests of drawers can easily be ‘upcycled’ into rustic or contemporary workbenches. Just think, you’ll have a convenient place to all store your tools and DIY supplies whilst freeing up valuable floor space in your shed!
Have a Thorough Cleanout!
This project costs next to nothing and yet is one of the most impactful on our list. It’s time to don your rubber gloves, stock up on bin bags and prepare yourself for a good old-fashioned clean out.
Be ruthless and jettison any unnecessary junk and clutter. Next, give the interior and exterior a thorough clean. This may take a few hours, or a full day, depending on the state of your shed. Once you’re done however, we think you’ll agree that it was well worth the effort. With all the dirt, grime and debris taken care of, your shed should be cleaner, neater and more spacious.
Repurpose Your Shed!
Finally, now that your shed is in decent shape, think about how you’d like to utilise the space. It doesn’t have to be limited to the storage of tools and paint pots. So long as your shed is well lit and comfortably heated, the sky’s the limit. Here are just a few of the ways you can make optimal use of your shed space:
Garden Office
If you need a quiet space away from your busy family home to lose yourself in your work, converting your shed into a garden office could be just the ticket.
Garden offices are very sought after by the work-from-home crowd and can seriously boost the value and saleability of your home. Add a desk and comfortable office furniture and you’re all set.
Home Gym
If you have enough floor space to play with, why not deck your shed out with barbells, cross-trainers and bench presses? That way, you’ll have everything you need to achieve your personal bench without the need to trail to the gym and navigate the always-crowded free weights area …
Music Studio
A reasonably-sized shed can easily serve as a creative space for band practice or music production. Just bear in mind that you may also need to soundproof the structure if you have close neighbours who don’t share your musical tastes …
Thanks for Reading – and Good Luck with Your Shed Makeover!
We hope you found our latest article helpful and now have plenty of ideas for how to make the best of your garden shed. No matter what you decide to do, we wish you the best of luck with your shed renovation efforts.
