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’ with fabulous decor and filled with brilliant DIY ideas. Take a look at some of our favourite she shed ideas and be inspired to create your own... 

It's not fair, Rachael Taylor's colourful haven is better than our house. 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'. 

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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.

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.

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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 she 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 £1,350 ($1,684).

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!

Read more: This couple built their tiny house on wheels for just $15k

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!

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.

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!

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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.

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.

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