Alternate uses for the garden shed

It's easy to neglect the garden shed when considering home renovations. The small outbuilding is meant to keep your lawn mower, gardening tools, and other odds and ends safe from the elements. It's such a utilitarian structure that you may not give it too much thought.

But with a little creativity, the garden shed can become a backyard getaway. Homeowners have found another place for the garden equipment and reimagined the shed, turning a simple storage area into an attractive part of the home.

In addition to considering what you would like your shed to be, you should also think about what work will be needed to make the vision a reality. Some uses might require little more than a coat of paint and some landscaping work. Others will necessitate extensive overhauls, including the addition of electricity or plumbing.

It always helps to better integrate the shed with the rest of your property. Margaret Heidenry, writing for the National Association of Realtors, says flower boxes, garden plots, decks, and outdoor seating are some examples of additions that can make a shed more attractive.

Many garden sheds do double duty as potting sheds, or spaces to prepare plants, so it's not too much of a stretch to convert a shed into a workshop. Popular Mechanics says there have been several examples of famous companies and researchers getting their start in a shed, including Harley Davidson, Hewlett-Packard, and Marie and Pierre Curie.

Whether you're starting a business or just tinkering, you'll need to do some modifications. Titan Garages & Sheds, an Australian company, says adding a workbench and some shelving is a good way to get a workshop started.

Improving the organization in the shed can let you use it as both a workshop and storage area. Heidenry says installing a slatwall provides a space for hooks, hanging baskets, and other organizers. Pegboards and even lengths of PVC pipe to hold long-handled tools can also be helpful.

Since it's isolated from your home, a shed can be a perfect place for a quiet work area. The home improvement professional Bob Vila says the shed can serve as an office space, art studio, or music studio.

Sheds can be a functional space in other ways as well. Bringing in benches, a table, and other touches can turn the space into an outdoor dining area.

Plenty of people fall behind on their exercise regimen because they can't motivate themselves to go to the gym. By turning the shed into a home gym, it's easy to stay fit. Titan Garages & Sheds says you should make sure the space is well-ventilated, as it can easily get stuffy and uncomfortable.

Plenty of homeowners have created a "man cave" inside their home, and this trend has recently been countered by the "she shed." Comfortable seating, a bookshelf, and other personal touches can make a comfortable backyard retreat. Some homeowners even convert their sheds into home spas, complete with blowup baths.

Others will be intrigued by the idea of creating a backyard pub with bar seating and working taps. Your shed might not be large enough to fit a pool table, but you can probably squeeze in darts, a space for tabletop games, or some video games.

Those who like astronomy can convert a shed into an observatory. This project is more in-depth; you'll need to alter the roof so it can open up, and you may need to create an anchoring post for the telescope.

Depending on the size of the shed, you may be able to turn it into another living area. Tiny houses have become especially popular, and Vila says a "backyard house" can be perfect for guests and as a quiet getaway for the homeowner. Smaller sheds can be converted into playhouses for children.