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27 Of The Best Shed Ideas: Can You Use A Backyard Shed As A storage Building?

Is your next outdoor project to give your own shed a new look? Let’s face it: a garden shed in the backyard doesn’t really scream “aesthetic”. Alas, I think that an overhaul of your old rustic shed is a great project to improve your outdoor space.

If you’re looking to give your garden shed a makeover, this one is for you! In this article, I’ve put together these fabulous garden shed ideas to give you inspiration for your own backyard!

Wooden Wonderland

A wooden wonderland gardening set-up in a typical back yard

To start off my bumper collection of the best garden shed ideas, let’s see how this rustic shed blends into its surroundings in a similar shade of brown to the planting beds and fencing. It creates a sense of consistency and puts the focus on your gorgeous garden!

Not a fan of wood and would like to check out other shed materials? Have a look at this article for reviews of the best resin sheds, and this one for some metal garden shed ideas!

Plastic Fantastic Garden Tool Shed

Fantastic garden tool shed accessible in a suburban public park

Keeping your veggie gardens fresh and maintained requires the tools of the trade, and convenience is always a bonus. This simple garden shed is lightweight, so you can take it to wherever your garden needs it and have your gardening tools at hand in a flash!

If you think your shed could do with a move to another spot in your yard, check out this article for some ideas on the best placement for your garden shed!

A Tiny House With Big Style

A tiny house with stylish design and has all of the comforts of home

In case you missed it, garden shed ideas can go way beyond just being storage space. This shed idea adds a touch of home to it by including a couple of steps to the miniature porch, some garden furniture, window boxes, and curtains to the peeping windows.

Morning Coffee With A View

Perfect morning coffee with a view on a small wooden holiday home in summer

Are you the type of person who loves having your morning coffee in the fresh air and sunshine? Well, that makes two of us. This is one of the garden shed ideas that may be exactly what you’re looking for! You can pop some chairs and a small table on the porch of your cabin-style garden shed to create the perfect restful start to your day

The Cornerstone Of Your Garden

Corner stone garden shed design with bird house

If you have a garden with corners, you’ll know how satisfying it is to have a rustic garden shed that fits perfectly into them. This garden shed design works beautifully for the corner spot because its porch and door are easily accessible.

Whether you use the shed for gardening tools or storage space for your kid’s toys, this cornerstone will help you reach all of your supplies in a heartbeat!

A Garden Getaway

Wooden garden shed house with seedlings and flowers beds In sunny spring summer day.

Do you cherish spots in your home that give you peace and quiet? This gorgeous garden shed gives you your own personal retreat! The bamboo walls and green roof will have you thinking less about how to organize your gardening tools and more about the serene surroundings.

Farm Style Flexibility

Farm style wooden garden shed with barn like storage space

This garden shed idea looks like a barn and comes with the same storage space! You can use it for storing your garden tools, potting soil, lawnmower, and the list goes on.

The metal roof also makes it durable and you won’t have to stress about leaks when the clouds open up. I believe that if you’re aiming for something simple or minimalistic, a rustic garden shed like this is just what you need. Maybe consider adding a garage door to add some color to it.

Playground Paradise

Wooden playhouse with a hill and stairs and a swing for resting children

Maybe the garden shed isn’t for the adults in your home, but rather for the kids. This small shed idea takes up minimal space, but it gives your children the best spot to have their own clubhouse that they can just slide right out of! This is a great alternative if your kids are desperate for a treehouse but you don’t have the right tree.

As all parents know, it’s often a good idea to supervise their shenanigans. The swing bench to the side is the perfect addition for you to comfortably watch as they have the time of their lives!

P.S. If you’re buying a new shed, remember that you could get into trouble with local authorities if it’s too large and you don’t have a permit. Check out this article for more information on what size shed you can have without needing a permit!

Decoration Station 

Garden storage shed space with beautiful decorations

This is one of the garden shed ideas that maximize storage space without skimping on decorations! The slanted roof is pleasing to the eye, with more decorations on the longer side than the shorter. 

Since the garden shed is quite long, I think that you’ll be able to place a bench, table, window boxes, and loads of flowers along the side. You can even add a garage door to have access inside. Another great element is the garden lattice that you can use for creepers and vines!

Double-Door Potting Shed

Small wooden double door potting shed exterior design

If your plants often need to be grown in pots before they’re transplanted into the garden, a potting shed could be just up your alley. This garden shed has large windows and a wide doorway, resembling a garage door, to make moving in and out super easy! 

You can also organize some garden furniture just outside the potting shed so that you can take a seat and rest after the hard work. 

The Sunshine Shed

Sunshine garden shed with a cat on a sofa set

Yellow can represent so many things, from warmth to happiness and everything in between, according to the SAE Alumni Association, a network of students and graduates from the SAE, an institute providing creative media studies. Painting your garden shed yellow gives you your own source of sunshine whether the clouds cooperate or not!

With such a beautiful backyard garden shed, you may want to spend as much time looking at it as possible. You can pop some comfortable garden couches outside for you to relax and bask in the warmth!

Surf’s Up!

Surf's Up ambience garden shed displaying coastal decors, and tropical illustrations

Calling all beach lovers! This small storage shed is the opportunity to display all of your coastal decor.

Miniature surfboards, tropical illustrations and a blow-up pool fit this theme like a glove – turning your shed space into your own backyard beach. I think that the only thing that’s missing is a garage door to get those college vibes. Bring all of your blue and green items to the party!

Rustic Retreat

Rustic retreat garden cabin design used as a holiday lodge

Do you love the outdoors and the aesthetic that wood brings? This is another one of the garden shed ideas that will pique your interest! As someone who loves living in the woods, this one is hands down one of my favorite garden shed ideas.

With a curved exterior, this rustic shed is fully paneled in wood – roof, walls, doors and all! It looks like it belongs in a forest where you can disconnect from digital life and discover the tranquility of nature. It has tons of shed space that you can fill with sofas or a bed and has just the one window, giving you all the privacy in the world.

Not sure whether a wooden shed is the right type for your backyard? Check out this article for a detailed comparison of wood, metal and resin sheds!

Short And Sweet Garden Shed

Short and sweet garden shed built for kids in the backyard as a toy house

If you need a potting shed but don’t have a lot of space, you can easily use this small garden shed design that incorporates windows for natural light and a low roof! Think of it as your plants’ kennel. I believe that you can even turn this into a greenhouse shed by replacing the roof with a glass one.

Inside the potting shed, you can place a single row of shelves to arrange your little buds in preparation for transplanting. Since the door is in the middle, you can wrap this shelf around all of the interior sides and use the shed space to the fullest

Workshop Of Wonders

A garden shed workshop with plants trained up the outside, with a man working inside

The artists and carpenters of the world need dedicated space to create their masterpieces. This garden shed is exactly that!

There’s plenty of shed space and room for you to easily walk from your workbench to your supplies. You can also have the door open for some fresh air as you think of your next steps, or close it for you to escape into your creativity mode. It’s your ultimate artistic destination!

Since we’re in the business of beautiful gardens, you can add creepers and trees along the outside walls of your garden shed too. Artists who are surrounded by beauty can create beauty, according to a news piece from HuffPost, a leading news website and publication! 

Whimsical Garden Shed

Whimsical garden shed with a cobblestone sidewalk, purple door, window flower boxes, and wood board and batten siding

Fairies and storybook characters aren’t the only ones who can hang out in whimsical places! This backyard garden shed can be decorated with a hint of the eccentric and represent the colorful side of life.

A small shed can still pack a lot of power. I believe that all of the natural sunlight that flows in from the windows can turn this into a pleasant potting shed or a peaceful reading corner. The paving to the door makes it feel like a tiny house for your imagination to run wild! 

A Bright Pop Of Colour

Garden shed with a bright blue pop up color

If you don’t want to go full steam into painting the entire garden shed, I suggest you opt to paint one part of it in a cheerful color! The rest of the shed could be the natural color of its wood, but you can pick your favorite element that you want to enhance.

Colour Schemes

Garden with gardening tools and colorful shed design with closed door

Deciding on a color scheme for the garden shed itself is awesome – but what if you took it one step further and had matching garden tools? In this example, our avid gardener has a green roof and a small garage door that matches the green ladder to the side, with similar shades of green in the overhanging foliage. 

A Shed With A View 

A garden shed with gardening tools, wooden shed and fruit tree

Your garden sheds don’t need to be hidden out of sight, especially if you put a lot of effort into designing it. I recommend you place your garden shed on a pedestal with a view over the rest of your garden!

This is one of the garden shed ideas that need some other garden elements to work. If you already have steps in your garden, you can pop your garden shed up there immediately. But if you don’t, no need to stress! You can build up the platforms as you work through the landscape design with the help of The Family Handyman, a well-known DIY project resource and leading home improvement magazine.

Minimalist Potting Design

Minimalist potting garden shed design

Minimalism can give any space a smooth and subtle vibe without too many frills. Considering how popular this approach is, it’s no wonder it has reached garden shed ideas too!

This garden shed is simple and sleek, but still stylish. The plain wood works perfectly with its surroundings and the windows will provide enough natural light to make this the perfect potting shed!

Living Storage Shed

Living garden storage shed surrounded by colorful potted plants and shrubs

Your garden shed will likely be the spot where you keep all the supplies that keep your garden alive and thriving. So why not surround the shed with the fruits of your labor?

This is one of our many garden shed ideas that highlight why we love our gardens. There are so many rich colors and beautiful shapes in your plants that make them the most stunning form of decoration! When I think of gardenshed ideas, I think of this exact garden!

Dusky And Delightful

Dusky and delightful landscaped backyard garden design with small wooden shed, fence and pathway

Soft browns are a soothing palette for landscape design, and garden shed ideas. Plus, you can include them in almost every garden element! Your garden sheds can be in a similar shade to your fencing, pathways, and even plants.

Barns And Babes

An outdoor shed and childs playset on a freshly mown lawn.

This is one of the garden shed ideas that has something for every part of the family! The garden shed has ample room for any garden tools and supplies, with a double garage door to let you wander in and out with ease.

Bright And Beautiful

Bright and beautiful new garden shed with flower bed on backyard area

Some gardens have oodles of sunlight. If that’s the case for you, this garden shed might do just the trick!

A high roof and window will catch the light, while I think that the white trimming and double garage door brighten up the space even more. This will give your garden shed a light and bright feel, even at night! Having low plants and loads of open space also contribute to being one of the most inviting garden shed ideas I’ve found today.

Baby Blue Garden Shed

New baby blue garden storage shed in beautiful garden

Just like the idea that we started with, this garden shed uses the subtle power of pastels! I think that baby blue is a gorgeous color for garden shed ideas and the warm roof tiles balance the cooler shades. 

To emphasize the shape of the doors and windows, white trimming is the finishing touch! But the other part of this idea that stands out is the light pebbles around the garden shed that add a lifting effect.

Straight To The Point

Gray color gardening tools storage shed on nature green background

Everyone has their own taste in garden shed ideas and you might be looking for something that fulfills its purpose without too many bells and whistles. Well, I think that this one is for you! 

This garden shed is simple and straight-edged with a neutral color palette. It’ll slot right into any spot and you’ll be able to get your tools or supplies without any fuss! 

Prefab Container Turned Garden Shed

Prefab small rustic container garden shed, and a woman with two small children seated on the step

Prefab containers have been taking the world by storm as people use them to make homes, storage areas and – you guessed it – garden sheds! They’re cost-effective and totally customizable garden shed ideas, giving you the opportunity to personalize your shed without breaking the bank.

Think you could do with a couple more garden shed ideas for inspiration? I suggest you check out this article for more!

Expert Tips: What Should I Consider When Designing My Shed’s Interior Layout?

To help you design your shed’s interior, I sought advice from those who know best – designers and shed owners who have already gone through the trial and error process (including me). So here are the two most important questions to answer:

What Will You Use Your Shed For?

A man working in a woodwork shop made in the shed

According to the architects and interior designers at Studio DK, the answer to this question will set the course for the design of your shed. If you’re building a garden shed, like me, you need a bit of space to store your garden tools and equipment or place a potting bench. A woodworking shed would have to be bigger and meet different requirements. That is why it is best to have your shed custom-built in the first place. 

What Do You Plan To Store In Your Shed?

A woman standing near a shed holding a gardening tool in the hand

I have found that SDCI defines a shed as “a single-story building used to store tools or other items.” Hence, If you are to use your shed for storage too, consider what you plan to store before you design its interior. A shed meant to store tools will look different than one intended for a boat!  

I have a great video to help you maximize your shed’s storage space:

YouTube player

FAQs

What type of shed lasts the longest?

Resin sheds last the longest, as confirmed by Keter, a company that designs and builds an extensive range of indoor and outdoor storage solutions. Resin is durable, water-resistant, and will never rust, rot, or warp. It is also fireproof and insect-resistant.

What is the most popular shed style?

The most popular shed style is a custom-built one. According to Sunrise Structures, a shed company from Lancaster, PA, with over 20 years of experience, custom-built sheds can give you what you’re looking for since you can mix and match different elements.

Ready To Revamp Your Garden Shed?

There you have it: unique and wonderful garden shed ideas! Having an aesthetic storage shed is a great way to brighten up your backyard. I mean, no one wants a boring yard, right? With these ideas, you can take your garden sheds from drab to fab in no time!

If you found these garden shed ideas helpful, please don’t forget to leave us a comment below or share this article with a friend! Also, be sure to let me know of your very own inspiring garden shed ideas!

About The Author

  • Nadya Jones

    Nadya's the creative mind behind this blog, sharing her passion for landscaping, gardening and making spaces that nourish the soul. An entrepreneur and writer based in Raleigh, NC, Nadya turns imaginative ideas into inspiration, fueling home and garden dreams. Though Nadya crafts gorgeous posts and photos showcasing lush yards or blooming gardens, the real magic happens behind the scenes where Nadya's partner Brett provides endless support, implementing each vision with care and dedication. Brett's the one ensuring her creative concepts come to life. At heart, Nadya remains an imaginative soul, forever dreaming of whimsical details, vibrant hues and lush landscapes. Each manicured edge or blossoming bloom fuels inspiration, expanding her vision of what's possible in design and life. She shares her love for landscaping, gardening, and outdoor design in her blog, the one you are visiting right now. If you are interested in the same things, be sure to check it out! Also, follow Nadya on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Flickr!

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About The Author

Nadya Jones

Nadya's the creative mind behind this blog, sharing her passion for landscaping, gardening and making spaces that nourish the soul. An entrepreneur and writer based in Raleigh, NC, Nadya turns imaginative ideas into inspiration, fueling home and garden dreams. Though Nadya crafts gorgeous posts and photos showcasing lush yards or blooming gardens, the real magic happens behind the scenes where Nadya's partner Brett provides endless support, implementing each vision with care and dedication. Brett's the one ensuring her creative concepts come to life. At heart, Nadya remains an imaginative soul, forever dreaming of whimsical details, vibrant hues and lush landscapes. Each manicured edge or blossoming bloom fuels inspiration, expanding her vision of what's possible in design and life. She shares her love for landscaping, gardening, and outdoor design in her blog, the one you are visiting right now. If you are interested in the same things, be sure to check it out! Also, follow Nadya on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Flickr!

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