Is your garden shed starting to look a little gloomy and neglected? Its image is surprisingly easy to update and maintain for years to come.
Just as gardens need to be taken care of, so do structures such as garden sheds. When left unattended for long periods of time, it can affect the functionality and attractiveness of your hut. Even simple fixes like giving it a fresh coat of paint and cleaning up the mess can breathe new life into your cottage.
A few basic modifications can go a long way in protecting your shed’s structure, maintaining its functionality and raising your garden’s aesthetic value.
1. Organize and give it a fresh coat of paint
If over the years your shed has turned into a disorganized storage area, this is where you need to start. Clean up, declutter, and create an organizational system for all of your leftovers.
Set up shelves and create corners depending on the items you want to store. Before redoing everything, give the shed a good coat of paint, inside and out. This essential hack can give you a whole new look. If you want to blend in with the surroundings, try shades like olive green. For a quirky modification, consider painting the door a contrasting color or adding contrasting trim. Darker colors such as navy blue or black will give the building the illusion of a more compact structure so that your garden appears larger. Routinely painting the shed also protects the integrity of the structure from the elements.
2. Add charm with plants and nesting boxes
Instead of leaving the ceiling bare, consider allowing climbers and creepers to grow on top of it. Besides aesthetic value, it provides insulation and may even attract wildlife such as small birds and pollinators to nests in the vegetation. If you wish to plant on the same surface, we recommend first placing a shallow wooden frame and lining it with plastic before filling the planting soil position.
You can either buy nesting boxes and “hotels” for bees, or make your own. Place them on the walls of your coop to invite birds and pollinators to your garden. Just remember to choose places that are well protected from strong sun, harsh winds and rain.
3. Make your shed environmentally friendly
The water tank/reservoir is an easy way to save rain water. This stored water can then be recycled to keep your plants watered. It is especially useful in the hot summer months. All you need to do is attach the rain gutters along the edge of the roof with a downpipe connecting it to the water storage. This catches rainwater and directs it to the water butt where it can be stored.
4. Your shed is your child’s castle
When adults see a garden shed, kids can easily see a fort, castle, or the headquarters of their secret club!. If you don’t have a lot of gardening equipment, it might make sense to convert the space into something else entirely. A great way to get kids to spend more time outdoors is to let them take the lead in “decorating” the shed. It’s an excellent way to lure them away from screens.
5. Do you need space for your hobby?
If your garden shed is large enough, you can even use it as a hobby area for yourself. Add skylights and windows for light and ventilation. Spread a rug, bring in some comfy chairs and better lighting for comfort. Shelves, racks, and tables help keep your hobby gear organized. Since it is private and separate from the main house, it gives you a space where you can spend a few hours alone and escape from your routine (and the kids and husband).
If your shed is a highlight in your garden and doesn’t seem like it really belongs, try adding a feature that anchors it to the landscape. Create a path that leads to the door, add flower pots around the border or build a patio at its entrance.
With Duratuf, get the penthouse you’ve always wanted
With a range of different structural styles on offer, you can find the garden cottage you’re looking for in Duratuf. Whether you need to store your landscaping equipment or park your quad bike, there is a design for you. If you are not interested in prefabricated design, use our 3D design software to create an accurate plan for the shed you have in mind.