How To Give Your Garden Shed A Makeover
I think it’s fair to say that the majority of us don’t give much thought to the garden shed, even if we’re pretty keen gardeners. However, this little building is full of potential, so if you own one, I reckon it’s high time you consider giving it a makeover.
Pick a Function
When it comes to revamping your shed, the number one decision to make is what it will be used for. Now, you might just want to stick with tradition and have it as a place to keep your tools, but there are plenty of other options out there.
For example, you could turn it into a haven where you can dedicate your time and concentration to your favourite hobbies, or you might like to transform it into a home office. The latter can be a real lifesaver if you regularly work from home, since it will help you separate your domestic and professional life.
Before you make your choice, don’t forget to be realistic. If you have a low-cost metal shed, for instance, it isn’t likely to make for a particularly cosy den or office. If you are determined to have one of these, you might want to buy a new shed altogether.
Once you’ve decided what you want to do with your shed, the makeover can commence!
Have a Clear Out
The next step is to clear the place out. The extent to which you do this is going to largely depend on two things: how different your shed’s new function will be to its old one, and what you’re currently storing in there.
Now, if personal experience is anything to go by, I think it’s pretty safe to say most sheds end up collecting a lot of junk over the years. What you need to do is filter out anything that obviously falls into this category straightaway, which will include things like broken plant pots or tools, old kids’ toys that haven’t been used for decades and seeds long past their best.
Once you’ve cleared out the obvious stuff, you can start cherry-picking what you want to keep in the shed, and what you’d like to hang on to but store elsewhere. If your shed is full of gardening bits and bobs and you plan to use it primarily for garden storage still, this shouldn’t be too tricky a task.
Those who are planning a complete change to their shed’s function, meanwhile, will also have a fairly simple job, since pretty much everything will need to go!
Organisation
Once you have a fresh slate to work off, you can begin moving new things into your shed. I think the key to your makeover, especially if you are planning to keep using the space for garden storage, is organisation. After all, the reason it fell out of use in the first place is likely to be
because it became a jumbled mess, so take the time to lay things out in a logical order, allowing you to reach the things you use most often quickly.
- Add shelf labels so you can remember where everything goes – and spot when things are missing!
- Get an electrician to install electricity, if you don’t have it already. As well as a light fitting, get plug points for your tools (or computer, if you’re creating a home office) and a few creature comforts, like a kettle.
- A desk and comfortable chair can make the place cosier, even if you’re primarily using it for storage. This’ll make it a nice haven when you’re gardening in the winter!
Finishing Touches
It’s often the finishing touches that really transform any kind of room, and that goes for sheds too. A lick of paint can give the space a much homier feel, while if you are planning to practice your hobbies in or do some work in here, it is worth hanging up some pictures or photos to brighten the place up and add a splash of your personality.
