Move over man caves, these days it’s all about she sheds. These tiny spaces are dedicated to joy, hobbies and self-care – a little oasis for ‘me time’ or a beautiful workspace with fabulous décor filled with brilliant DIY ideas. Click or scroll through and take a look at some of our favourite she shed ideas and be inspired to create your own...
From the outside, this boxy garden room shed looks like any other contemporary design. But once the sliding glazed doors are rolled open a garden lounge like no other is revealed.
Wouldn't it be lovely to enjoy not one but two reception rooms on a budget? Tattoo artist and Interior Designer, Nicola Smith, has cracked the idea by transforming her garden room into a maximalist-style she shed bursting with colour and pattern. Even the air-conditioning unit has been wrapped up in a fabulous leopard print pattern.
Make your she shed the focal point of a garden party by turning it into a welcoming and intimate break-out zone. A sheltered area is always handy when the weather is unpredictable. Marry the inviting structure and outdoor space together with vintage-style festoon lighting.
Utilise the small space by installing a high shelf for cottagecore, spring-look accessories. This will leave the lower area free to bring in rustic-style bench seating. Dainty fairy lights and paper lantern lights will ensure an ambient and cosy atmosphere that will continue after dark.
Working from home is the new normal for many but it helps to create a separate space to balance work and home life. This home office/summer house belongs to TV presenter, AJ Odudu. We love how the shed's walls are left natural so colour and personality shine through using simple furniture pieces and accessories. AJ says: "Paint is the most affordable way to update a space, but other options are going large scale with art, adding touches of gold/metallic accessories, candles and fresh flowers is a great way to blend high and low-end pieces".
AJ Odudu's she shed is also set up for stylish relaxation. AJ explains: “I have added insulation, electricity and internet connection into mine so that I can maximise the use of my room all year round. Be it for Zoom meetings, workouts or chilling with a drink in the seating area, we’ve created a really versatile space for use... and beyond.”
A she shed may be the ideal place to curate a pink decorating idea but don't be afraid to go dark too. Thorndown paints 'Cavepool Grey' transforms this glass-fronted garden shed into a dramatic and stylish cocoon. Contemporary horizontal slate fencing and a display of plants balance the rich tone.
Continue the cool and classy vibe inside with a darker-toned navy shade as well as on the ceiling and fill the space with Scandi-style furniture to create a modern extension of the home to hide away.
A Shed of the Year 2023 nominee, lucky Laura O'Mahony gets to go to work in her beauty cabin – what a pinkster's (pink lover's) dream! Laura was fortunate to acquire the building when she purchased her house, so was ready with a pot of pink paint during lockdown to convert the space from a Pilates studio into a pamper palace her clients love.
As not to make customers feel nauseous from too much candy colour, inside, a calming scheme of white, cream natural wood creates the ideal atmosphere for a bit of well-deserved pampering. A feature pink floor and neon light add elements of fun to the little retreat.
This adorable lean-to-style potting shed was a genius lockdown project created by @life_of_isatu and her husband. It made a fabulous garden upcycle project as they were able to repurpose many materials including windows and doors they already owned in the build. The mix of black, white and natural finishes is perfectly in keeping with Isa's quiet yet luxurious style.
Inside, the workbench and flooring are made from old scaffold boards. The butler sink for potting is a great find from a local reclamation yard. Natural baskets, coordinated ceramics and neutral-toned dried flowers fill the space with modern country charm.
Fancy whisking off for a while to a landscape-filled Alpine forest and snowcapped mountains? This A-frame she shed seems to have been plucked right out of a ski chalet village. Another Shed of the Year 2023 nominee, the cool cabin with a built-in veranda is set beside a DIY garden pool in Essex rather than Aspen.
Repurposed from the wood of an old but large standard shed, The A-frame ski-chalet doubles as a pool house. Inside the pitched-roof wonder has a TV and Wi-Fi installed so it makes the ideal hang-out to dry off after a fun swim.
Another Shed of the Year 2023 nominee, Tin's House's Tin Shed is positioned under a willow tree at the back of an award-winning garden. A retired curtain workshop, it has been lovingly built from reclaimed finds. The owners needed a retreat so their son with complex special needs could feel like he was a million miles away on holiday without actually leaving home.
Eat your heart out Little House On The Prairie, stepping inside this tin shed's new interior is like time travelling back to a simple and carefree life full of wood cabin charm. It sleeps four comfortably, has a working stove and there is a gap under the summer house for wildlife to live and to harvest rainwater from the roof. Bliss!
For some, she sheds offer much-needed space, a sort of extension of your house, while for others it is a private sanctuary that once experienced life cannot be imagined without. For Alice in Scandiland, her she shed is like a little slice of heaven.
Restrictions mean that Mary Fudge is only allowed a small shed on her allotment in Kent. But good things come in small parcels and this charming package which is another Shed of the Year 2023 nominee is delightfully named Ethel after the owner's grandmother. Mary wanted a create a "nice place to relax and have a cuppa", and as the original Ethel loved a 'cuppa' and gardening, the name was a natural fit.
Inside the 'land-girl' look continues the tiny shed's adorable vintage vibe. Metal drawers and garden chairs are family hand-downs and a friend of Mary's made the curtains. "Everyone comments that it feels like going back in time inside my lovely shed," says Mary. We can see why.
Inside, the handmade hut has a perfectly curved ash beam ceiling, a cute kitchenette for making endless cups of tea and a cosy double bed for curling up in with a book at bedtime. Available to rent on Airbnb, we think it's all the inspiration you'll need to get building your own she shed.
It's not fair, Rachael Taylor's colourful haven is better than our house. A former Shed of the Year entry, called Rainbow Daydream, the creative space is a testament to two of Rachael's biggest passions in life: colour and patterns.
Inside, Rachael's love for bright colours and bold patterns is evident, but as a working print designer and creative stylist, it's no surprise. There are bespoke touches throughout, including the vinyl floor design, which features all her own patterns and makes her "want to do a happy dance".
For many of us, the need to create an extra room in the garden serves more pressing needs, such as creating a much-needed workshop. Artemis Russell has us green with envy over her clean, usable studio, which she uses as a sewing shed.
Staying with the vintage theme, albeit with a slightly more contemporary spin, how about building your own she shed for hosting tea parties? Just think of all that space to store your old china, and there's a table outside for when the sun makes an appearance.
To be honest, though sweet, this shed is crammed with owner Anne's hoard of old teacups and tea tins, which is why this outdoor seating area around the back comes in handy. After the kettle boils, just put the radio on in the shed and then retire here for a little alfresco tea party!
When it comes to building your own, it’s important that you create a she shed that suits your interests, which is why this cute cabin from Kloter Farms had us from the off. Designed as a sanctuary for book worms, the large double doors can be flung open to let sunlight pour inside while you get lost in a good book...
Inside it has everything a good reading corner should have: a comfy sofa, a table for placing your cup of tea, and a well-stocked bookshelf for when you finish your book and want to move onto your next. Oh and peace and quiet, which is also hugely important for us readers.
We love the shabby chic feel of this garden house – a sort of all-season take on a summer house. In fine weather you can keep the doors open, listen to birdsong and let butterflies flutter in, while in autumn and winter, close the doors behind you and cosy up on the sofa. We can almost feel the crunch of autumn leaves beneath our boots.
Blogger Jeska at Lobster & Swan sometimes refers to this little hideaway as her ‘tea shed’ as she and hubby sometimes like to escape from their home office and come here for G&Ts. Sounds pretty divine to us!
If you're not quite ready to let summer go, then this seaside-inspired shed named Cod N' Chips may appeal. It's based on a traditional beach hut but this one comes with electrics, lighting and even room for a sleepover.
Owner Lucy Hynes and her dad (who did the building) kept costs down and their carbon footprint low by making the shed out of recycled materials where possible, including repurposed wood and windows. Nautical touches such as a ship’s wheel and model lighthouses give the cute interior a distinctly coastal theme.
Of course, not all of us are creative or handy enough to build our own she shed, so does that mean we should miss out? Of course not, there are lots of options for purchasing she sheds, which can be erected in your garden, such as this smart example from Waltons for a quite reasonable £1,869.99 ($2,379).
You can have the shed or summerhouse delivered and even pay for the installation service so you can take the stress out of building your garden room and simply enjoy the benefits. The clever design includes French doors that open up the interior to the fresh air, a small-scale terrace and a side storage area for garden essentials.
For a more rustic and romantic feel, why not follow Greg Whale's lead who built this shepherd hut she shed for his wife to mark their 25-year wedding anniversary. Greg says he has never undertaken a project like this before but he persevered for six months to present his lucky wife with this wildly romantic bolthole. Now that is love for you!
Once the outside was done, Greg kitted out the cosy interiors with sheepskin rugs, cushions and even a wood-burning stove. Greg says the hardest part of the project was sourcing the 100-year-old wheels but it was certainly worth it!
On first inspection, this may look like any other rustic she shed but actually it is a space that performs many functions. Sheddie Susan Lowe designed it to provide a dining area, office, bar, as well as storage space all rolled into one.
One of the shed's main functions is to provide a safe place for her daughter to come and hang out with friends when she is older. In the meantime, it's a great space to play in now and includes a swing, sandpit, basketball net and chalk boards. We think this is a super shed for a super mum!
This very pretty pink cottage is a lovely haven for craft maker Megan Ballarini, and its name Mermaid Cottage suits its coastal style. We can picture ourselves sat out front on a deck chair reading the paper on a lazy Sunday morning.
Inside the wooden interior has been painted a brilliant white and decorated with a trio of handmade wooden roses. There's a desk with storage for working and a comfortable cane armchair for kicking back and relaxing - complete with a mini wooden footstool so you can put your feet up!
How about this for something a little more upmarket? Interiors designer Kristen Whitby had a shed installed in her garden and then set about adding her own unique vintage charm to it with the intention of making it feel like an extra room to her house.
If you didn't know this was the inside of a she shed, it could easily be the interior of a country-style cottage. Whitby has stacked books in the gable to give a timeworn feel while the white sectional sofa with dusty blue and striped cushions is an incredibly tempting place to put your feet up.
If you decide to buy a shed and install it in your garden then the good thing is, it is like a blank canvas to play with. Want to create a garden library? Sure, go ahead, or perhaps like this one here, you would like to make your very own yoga retreat.
Imagine waking up each morning and stepping out into your garden for an early yoga session? With a zen-like she shed, you can lay down your mat and choose between closing the doors to the outside world, or leaving the doors open and letting the sounds and smells of the natural world in.
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