Are you looking for creative ways to use your garden building?
Let’s face it. You buy a garden shed and think “Ok cool. Now I have somewhere to store my junk.” But really…
Your garden building is so much more than a spot to keep your trimmer and patio furniture during the winter.
With offices closing and home gym memberships costing an arm and leg these days, more people are finding unique uses for their garden buildings than ever before. In fact, research shows that the worldwide shed and outdoor storage market will generate $7.2 BILLION by 2024.
Outdoor buildings are officially multipurpose these days.
Home offices, gyms, creative studios… you name it. Let’s take a look at a few of our favorite garden building uses that go beyond storage!
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Why Garden Buildings Aren’t Just For Storage Anymore
- The Most Popular Uses For Garden Buildings
- How To Pick The Right Size Garden Building
- Tips For Making The Most Of Your Garden Space
Why Garden Buildings Aren’t Just For Storage Anymore
Times have changed.
Garden buildings used to be this dank place you threw all your muddy gardening boots and busted lawn chairs. Fast forward to the age of work from home and garden buildings have transformed into a booming market, just ask any company catering to this market like this one – 1st Choice Leisure Buildings is a UK-based design & build specialist, specializing in premium garden rooms, studios, and bespoke outdoor structures for style-conscious homeowners. Gone are the days of tiny shabby sheds. Modern builds like our 20ft x 10ft shed give you a spacious 200 sq.ft. to work with.
That’s equivalent to a ROOM in your house!
One of the best things about garden buildings that are 20ft by 10ft is they open up endless possibilities. They’re big enough for whatever you need but small enough to fit in most gardens without getting tangled up in bureaucracy.
Here are some of the reasons homeowners are switching up their garden storage solutions:
- Flexibility. You can change the use of your garden building over its lifetime.
- Cost effectiveness. Building a garden building is far more affordable than adding an extension.
- Time effectiveness. Garden buildings can be installed and ready to go in as little as a few days.
- Increased property value. Professionally made garden buildings increase the value of your property.
Awesome right?
The Most Popular Uses For Garden Buildings
Don’t wanna read? No problem!
Here’s a list of our favorite garden buildings than can do SO much more than simple storage.
Home Office
Working from home is becoming more popular than ever.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In May 2021, 35.5 million workers reported that they teleworked at least one day during the 4-week reference period.” So that means there are millions of people trying to squeeze in a home office setup where they don’t belong.
One at THEIR office.
A garden office is the perfect solution if you’re tired of being distracted by laundry piles, child screaming and partner snack-making. When you step into your garden office you leave the distractions behind.
You need good insulation, electricity and WiFi. Some people even go as far as adding their own heating and cooling systems to get that perfect temperature.
Personal Gym
Monthly gym memberships are draining AND terrible excuses for when you don’t “feel like going.”
Building your own gym at home takes away all of those excuses. You can workout whenever you want without leaving your driveway.
One of the biggest benefits of a garden gym building is you get to workout whenever you WANT to. No more “but it’s too busy!” or “I don’t have time!” excuses.
Don’t forget about installing proper ventilation. You may also want to consider reinforced flooring to ensure it can handle all of the heavy weights. Lastly, make sure you have enough head clearance. Last thing you want is to smash your head through your new gym roof.
Art Studio
Creative minds need room to roam.
A garden art studio is perfect for painters, sculptors, photographers and anyone else who works on projects at home. Natural light, privacy and space are just a few benefits of converting your garden building into a studio.
Similar to home offices. You’ll want to ensure you have proper insulation, electricity and heating. Don’t forget plenty of room for BYOB (bring your own blur)
Music Room / Recording Studio
Music studios require space. Space you typically don’t have in your home.
Unless you wanna deal with your neighbors complaining about your guitar solos at 2am. Soundproofing your garden building is the perfect way to enjoy music at home.
Make sure you add plenty of acoustic foam to the walls. You’ll also want to soundproof the door and windows.
Games Room / Entertainment Space
Not always about working. Garden buildings can be the perfect place to relax.
From home cinemas to pool tables. Having that extra space to gather with friends or toss around a baseball is priceless.
Being separated from the main home is key here. Parents can lounge downstairs while kids can entertain friends downstairs.
Just about anything you can think of.
How To Pick The Right Size Garden Building
You don’t want to undersell yourself and buy a garden building that’s too small. At the same time you don’t want to take over your entire backyard.
Here’s a quick size breakdown:
- 8 x 6 feet = Small Storage Shed or Office/Craft Space
- 10 x 8 feet = Small Storage Shed / Home Gym
- 12 x 10 feet = Small Home Office with space to spare
- 20 x 10 feet = Multipurpose room (Home Gym, Studio, etc.)
At Leisure Buildings we find 20×10 garden sheds are the perfect size for most families. They allow you to have enough space to work with without taking over your backyard.
Think about what you’ll be storing or using in your garden building. Measure twice. You’ll want to leave room to move around your space.
Sizes do feel smaller once you start filling them up with furniture. Try to plan accordingly.
Tips For Making The Most Of Your Garden Space
Alright. You’ve bought the perfect garden building. Now what?
Making sure you can USE your garden building year round is important.
Consider adding…
- Insulation. You don’t want to feel like your going to freeze or melt every time you step foot in there.
- Electricity. Seems obvious but don’t be afraid to spend a little more to have it professionally installed.
- Natural lighting. If your able to. Make sure you’re able to spread light throughout your entire build.
- Indoor flooring. The floor you choose will determine what you can do with your build.
Don’t forget about the path TO your garden building. Last thing you want is a nice building you’re scared to go to when it rains.
Wrapping It All Up
No longer are garden buildings simple solutions to storing your garden waste.
Home offices, gyms, studios. You name it you can probably utilize your garden building for more than just storage.
Remember:
- Garden buildings can be versatile and used for many purposes.
- Home offices/gyms/personal studios are some of the most common uses
- Bigger garden buildings like our 20×10 gardens sheds allow for maximum versatility.
- Don’t forget about insulation and electricity. You want your garden building to be usable YEAR round.
Figure out what you NEED your garden building to be. THEN go from there!
