20 Best Garden Shed Ideas to Inspire Your Next Backyard Upgrade
From painting studios to guest houses, they do so much more than store garden tools.
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While sheds are normally used to keep your gardening tools and landscaping items neatly tucked away, there's a whole host of other purposes these outdoor spaces can serve. They can host backyard parties, give you space to relax, or to get creative, or even be a way to get the kids out of the house for a little bit. Here, explore all the best garden shed ideas you can implement alongside your favorite backyard ideas with this list of charming builds.
Of course, there are several sheds that serve their intended purpose. Check out the ideas for how to decorate your potting shed, from one designed to look like a tiny schoolhouse to another that doubles as a kids' playhouse. Or, if you're feeling inspired by your landscaping ideas, you could create a shed that acts as a tiny retreat right in your backyard. Whether it's a she shed you're after or even a covered area to host parties, there are ideas in here that will fit your needs. There are several sheds that double as artist studios, craft houses, or even a guest suite. You could attach some of these builds to your backyard chicken coop for a space you'll never want to leave.
This comprehensive list proves that you can do so much more with your shed than store a lawnmower. Once you're done reading, you're sure to feel inspired by these creative garden shed ideas and will be itching to get to building!
A Super Chic Space for Lawn Games
Believe it or not, Country Living editors turned a vacant space into this gorgeous little spot in just one weekend!
A Garden Guest House
This resourceful couple turned an unused grain silo into a quaint garden guest house, complete with office area and front porch.
A Patriotic Makeover
A metal daybed, a fresh coat of paint, and a few pillows, and you can turn an unused structure into a cozy little getaway space!
An Entire Tiny House
Dallas designer Paige Morse renovated a pair of century-old rundown sheds in her backyard into a cozy 250 foot home away from home, complete with kitchen and bathroom. Check out the story for more photos.
A Cozy Lean-To
If your shed needs to be torn down, consider building a lean-to in its place. It can provide a little shelter from wind and weather, while still letting you enjoy a campfire.
A Nautical Shed
A touch of paint, some shake siding, and the right decorations and your shed will look like it's right off the sound—even if you're miles inland.
A Party Pavilion
Got some space? Add a pavilion to your shed to create a party-ready space. This one even has a bathroom installed so guests don't have to go inside the house.
An Easy-Peasy Shed
If the goal is to have a space to relax, the last thing you want is to stress out creating it. Which is why this low-key shed was designed and decorated solely with items Painted Home blogger Denise Sabia had on-hand.
A Kids' Playhouse
Turn an old shed into a tiny house or build one from scratch. It's the perfect size for a kid-friendly playhouse where they can let their imaginations run wild.
Learn more at Truth & Co.
Joanna Gaines's Garden Retreat
With several vine-covered trellises lining its walkway, this rustic, cozy, and quaint cottage belonging to Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines is a gardener's dream. Inside you'll find a seed library, potting station, and plenty of space for small plants that need some extra warmth and protection during the winter months.
A Cute Schoolhouse
When Barb Kingery decided to build a shed in her backyard, it only made sense to combine two of her biggest passions: Gardening and her 35-year career as a second grade teacher. The result? This extra cute playhouse.
A Glam Garden Shed
Once an old and rundown shed, this renovated, window-covered adobe shed houses gorgeous pieces like glass chandeliers, vintage-floral pillows, a cozy couch, and of course tons of fresh flowers and plenty of plants. This storage structure also doubles as a stunning space to entertain, making it the ultimate retreat.
A Hobby House
Inside the 61-square-foot garden shed of Donna Jenkins, stylist and owner of The Tinkerhouse Trading Company, you'll find a potting bench her husband built her that has running water. "All my projects are messy—I need a spot to clean up!" she says.
A Garden Retreat
Garden designer Susanne Hudson's glass-encased potting shed is made up of 139 salvaged windows, plus five French doors. "I collected them for three years and personally mapped out their placement like a giant jigsaw puzzle," she says.
A Tranquil Getaway
With a desk, an easel, and dozens of terra cotta pots by the potting station, this Harpersville, AL, garden shed is both a traditional garden shed and an artist's retreat.
A Vintage-Inspired Shed
This charming East Texas shed was made almost entirely of reclaimed materials, including its brick foundation, shiplap and tin roof, and siding with white chipped paint. The end result couldn't be any more dreamy, perfect for sitting on the porch with a drink and gazing out at your garden.
See more at Living Vintage.
A Cozy "She" Shed
Blogger Mary used old letters and vintage garden tools to decorate the front of her gorgeous potting shed, which is featured in Erika Kotite's book She Sheds: A Room of Your Own. Inside, she's adorned her cozy abode with more vintage gardening pieces and seasonal decor.
See more at Home Is Where The Boat Is.
RELATED: More Great She Shed Ideas
A Lakeside Greenhouse
This vibrant New Hampshire shed was once a roadside stand where the owner, Donna, sold bouquets of garden flowers, crafts, and produce. Made with vintage windows and salvaged materials, the beautiful shed now sits in her garden. In early spring, when flowers and vegetables get their start, the greenhouse is even heated.
See more at Beatrice Euphemie—Vintage Cottage Style.
A Rustic Garden Shed
The dark exterior covered with vines gives this rustic shed a mysterious vibe. Inside, plants cover every surface, and a small library adds to the shed's quaint and cozy feel.
See more at Montana Happy.
A Garden Shed With Potting Bench
Blogger Donna's backyard shed serves as a storage place for wood, so she added a large potting bench for a work space and hung an old rake for holding tools and plants. The rustic exterior and vintage signs make this shed absolutely darling.
See more at Funky Junk Interiors.
Erin Cavoto is the Editorial Assistant at ThePioneerWoman.com, covering food, holidays, home decor, and more.
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