Eight Sheds With Functional Flair
Check out these backyard structures for inspiration and ideas.
Here are eight examples of hardworking, multifunctional outbuildings. While each incorporates as much functionality and storage as possible in a shed, they have not sacrificed style and elegance. We love sheds for their practical value; there’s no better way to eliminate backyard clutter than to confine it to its own spot. But these small shelters also can provide plenty of aesthetic appeal.
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This custom 10 ft. x 14 ft. home office shed designed to complement a 1923 bungalow in Florida. The interior was finished with bead board ceiling, board and batten walls and wood floor. The shed was wired for cable and Internet.
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This fabricated alternative to the typical plywood backyard shed works for both contemporary and eclectic homes. A basic studio shed is great for keeping your lawn mower and bikes out of the weather, but with a few factory upgrades you could have your own home office, art studio, workshop, or garage.
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This 200-sq.-ft. shed was built to replace a smaller 120-sq.-ft., 20-year-old shed, reusing most of the materials. Total cost was just under $1000. No permits were required (200-sq.-ft. limit). Based on its orientation next to a neighbor, it was intended to look like a cottage. A favorite feature is the sliding door for the owner’s riding lawn mower.
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SPONSORED: Love to garden? Extend the growing season by including large skylights in the roof of your shed. These windows will let in extra light and warmth for a greenhouse-like effect. Use LP® SmartSide® panel siding for the walls. Its cedar-grain texture creates a natural look that will complement your garden.
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This storage shed is a 9 ft. x 12 ft. wood drying shed inspired (loosely) by The Ise Grand Shrine in Japan. It was built with reclaimed materials – free job site salvage, trash, scrap, and reclaimed 6-in. x 16-in. old growth timbers salvaged from a remodel of the original Neustetter’s Department Store in downtown Denver. The heart redwood siding was culled, de-nailed, ripped, and rabbeted from semi-rotten 2 x 6 decking. New materials include some steel plate, most fasteners, and all glazing and corrugated galvanized roofing.
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A backyard shed is a handy repository for all manner of tools and implements for gardening and lawn care. While most of these structures are utilitarian buildings, they don’t have to be. This attractive, stylish garden shed could be a showpiece for any backyard.
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This shed was built to hold the owner’s tools, but his kid’s toys took it over!
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SPONSORED: If you live by the water, an outdoor building can be especially useful for storing beach chairs, water toys, and other items to help you maintain and enjoy your outdoor space. Just make sure it enhances your view instead of tarnishing it. Here, LP® SmartSide® trim and panel siding creates a look worthy of the scenery.
