Design your own pretty she-shed haven
Author Erika Kotite explains what makes she sheds so fabulous and offers inspiration on how carve out your own petite personal haven.
Sometimes redecorating a room simply isn’t enough to satisfy your need for a space all your own. Move over man caves, because she sheds are the wonderfully feminine and affordable take on space for her! Though small in size, she sheds are big on beauty and functionality.
When it comes to offering space for everything from personal offices to art studios, social hangouts to yoga sanctuaries, compact she sheds are the perfect fit. Erika Kotite, author of She Sheds Style: Make
Your Space Your Own, offers a wide-lens look at different types of she sheds and projects that are full of style and the perfect inspiration for creating your own she shed. As Kotite writes, “Who would have ever predicted that this ordinary little utility shed… would become a celebrated woman’s place of beauty and respite?”
GET THE BASICS
Predesigned kits are an easy place to start, with decisions about upgrades or additions completely up to you. Luckily, the Internet has plenty of DIY directions on installing new windows and doors for prefab sheds. A quick Google search turns up many different storage-based, outdoor shed sites, which are starting to tailor their designs for she-shed use! Electricity and insulation are often offered as additional installations with a kit, so don’t worry if you’re not a construction expert; you can let the professionals play with the live wires. From the exterior paneling to the frame finishes, you can have complete control over how your she shed will look when completed.
TINY DREAM COTTAGES
Not only do she sheds function as detached offices or studios, but they offer a space to have your own dream cottage. Kotite reminds us, “The dimensions of a shed are pretty close to the size of a single room… yet that room needs to feel like a complete home. ”The bitesized dimensions push your creativity, as you’ll be designing your ideal cottage look within spaces that can vary from 96 to 300 square feet. Taking tips from tiny-house designs can also help when it comes to creating your miniature cottage; tiny homes often occupy 1000 square feet or less but still manage to be fully functional living spaces.
One tip from Kotite to keep in mind is that furniture that looks great in large spaces might not always translate well into smaller quarters, but a single statement piece always goes a long way in a
she shed. Another tip is to draw out a floor plan for furniture placement, especially if you’re overwhelmed by your design options.
Being able to design an entire room with a different interior design than that in your home brings many opportunities to experiment. Feeling coastal? Shabby chic? Nordic? With your she shed, you have full creative rein!
PORTABLE POSSIBILITIES
If you’re not in your forever home, don’t fret. She sheds are often portable! Investing the time and effort into designing your perfect tiny cottage frequently pays off, as often you can carry it wherever you may wander, and can even convert it to match your new home’s decor. If you are settled in your home, then you get the bonus of owning your own tiny backyard cottage!
The flexibility and affordability of your own she shed project offer so much potential to express yourself, from the exterior to all the interior design. She sheds offer a sanctuary for those wanting to make a space all their own, and give continued inspiration as more and more people share their sheds online. Erika Kotite’s She Sheds Style: Make Your Space Your
Own is packed not only with inspiration, but also invaluable tips for various DIY projects and ideas to spruce up your shed, inside and out.