10 Ways to Spruce Up Your Shed This Spring
It’s the perfect time of year to turn your attention to the neglected room at the bottom of your garden
Hannah Young
13 May 2016
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers). You can find me online at www.ReviveYourSpace.co.uk or in person helping others to declutter, organise and restyle their homes. I believe it's important to make the most of what we already have and love to share the benefits of being organised and efficient, creating more physical and emotional space for the things that are most important to us.
Professional Organiser in Yorkshire and a member of APDO (Association of Professional... More
As the days become warmer and the evenings lighter, now is a great time to start some outside decluttering. It’s easy to neglect the space outside your house, especially in the winter, but it deserves just as much TLC as any room inside.
A garden shed can all too easily turn into a dumping ground for all things damp and dirty, and can soon become the domain of the garden spider. Now is a great time to reclaim the shed as your outside haven and book in a spring clean to spruce it up.
A garden shed can all too easily turn into a dumping ground for all things damp and dirty, and can soon become the domain of the garden spider. Now is a great time to reclaim the shed as your outside haven and book in a spring clean to spruce it up.
Think about its purpose
What do you use your shed for? Storage for gardening tools and garden furniture; a spot to nurture seedlings; a peaceful escape? Everyone will have a different answer. Or maybe you’ve never really given it much thought.
If you’re not quite sure what your shed is for, make a little time this spring to think about how you want your shed to work for you. Then remove everything that doesn’t serve this purpose, and make space for the things you do want in there.
This shed has a built-in workbench with plenty of clutter-free space for growing seeds and potting up plants. There’s even a comfy stool for when the owner’s feet need a break.
What do you use your shed for? Storage for gardening tools and garden furniture; a spot to nurture seedlings; a peaceful escape? Everyone will have a different answer. Or maybe you’ve never really given it much thought.
If you’re not quite sure what your shed is for, make a little time this spring to think about how you want your shed to work for you. Then remove everything that doesn’t serve this purpose, and make space for the things you do want in there.
This shed has a built-in workbench with plenty of clutter-free space for growing seeds and potting up plants. There’s even a comfy stool for when the owner’s feet need a break.
Splash out on paint
Most sheds are constructed from wood and are prone to weathering when subjected to our wet, windy winters. Periodically, they’ll need painting with a wood treatment or protector. Before painting, check for any damage and repair where necessary.
There’s no rule that says a shed must be treated in a shade of brown. Choose a beautiful colour from the wide range now available. The soft, muted tone on this shed creates a warm, inviting feel without drawing too much attention. A chair painted in a complementary colour creates a beautiful little outdoor reading spot in the dappled shade.
Most sheds are constructed from wood and are prone to weathering when subjected to our wet, windy winters. Periodically, they’ll need painting with a wood treatment or protector. Before painting, check for any damage and repair where necessary.
There’s no rule that says a shed must be treated in a shade of brown. Choose a beautiful colour from the wide range now available. The soft, muted tone on this shed creates a warm, inviting feel without drawing too much attention. A chair painted in a complementary colour creates a beautiful little outdoor reading spot in the dappled shade.
Coordinate bold colours
If you want to make a bit more of a statement with your shed and other garden furniture, then go bright. A vibrant paint job can really lift a small courtyard garden, with pale paint colours on the walls creating the illusion of more space.
Here, the garden furniture ties in with the shed, trellis and raised beds to create a bright, coordinated outdoor room. Choosing bold colours will help to brighten your mood on even the dullest of British summer days!
If you want to make a bit more of a statement with your shed and other garden furniture, then go bright. A vibrant paint job can really lift a small courtyard garden, with pale paint colours on the walls creating the illusion of more space.
Here, the garden furniture ties in with the shed, trellis and raised beds to create a bright, coordinated outdoor room. Choosing bold colours will help to brighten your mood on even the dullest of British summer days!
Plan your route
We often forget about our shed because we’ve plonked it out of the way at the bottom of the garden. It can be difficult to reach and can easily become overgrown with plants. Plan the space outside the doors to your shed so it’s accessible whatever the weather. This may be a good time to prune back plants and clear any weeds from the entrance, too.
A beautiful path is a feature in this garden and provides a clear walkway, however wet the lawn may be. There’s also plenty of space around the door to move large items in or out.
Discover clever ways to add paving to your garden
We often forget about our shed because we’ve plonked it out of the way at the bottom of the garden. It can be difficult to reach and can easily become overgrown with plants. Plan the space outside the doors to your shed so it’s accessible whatever the weather. This may be a good time to prune back plants and clear any weeds from the entrance, too.
A beautiful path is a feature in this garden and provides a clear walkway, however wet the lawn may be. There’s also plenty of space around the door to move large items in or out.
Discover clever ways to add paving to your garden
Brighten up the inside
Start by clearing everything from inside your shed. Give it a thorough sweep from top to bottom to get rid of all the cobwebs and debris. If possible, follow by vacuuming from top to bottom, too.
Fix anything that’s broken or in need of repair, such as the lock, hinges or flooring.
Finish by painting the inside of your shed. This can give it a whole new lease of life by making it feel like a brand-new room and helping it feel much lighter. In fact, try to treat your shed as another room and you’ll look at it in an entirely different way.
Start by clearing everything from inside your shed. Give it a thorough sweep from top to bottom to get rid of all the cobwebs and debris. If possible, follow by vacuuming from top to bottom, too.
Fix anything that’s broken or in need of repair, such as the lock, hinges or flooring.
Finish by painting the inside of your shed. This can give it a whole new lease of life by making it feel like a brand-new room and helping it feel much lighter. In fact, try to treat your shed as another room and you’ll look at it in an entirely different way.
Create a cosy corner
There’s no space for spiders in this shed. If you have an allotment or fancy a bit of an escape from your house, make yourself a snug bolthole with a few home comforts.
Making a weatherproof shed means you can store your gardening books in there for handy reference. Add in a rug, blanket, flask of tea and some artwork to keep you inspired and comfy for hours at a time.
Be inspired by more garden room ideas
There’s no space for spiders in this shed. If you have an allotment or fancy a bit of an escape from your house, make yourself a snug bolthole with a few home comforts.
Making a weatherproof shed means you can store your gardening books in there for handy reference. Add in a rug, blanket, flask of tea and some artwork to keep you inspired and comfy for hours at a time.
Be inspired by more garden room ideas
Label, label, label
This vintage chest of drawers has been repurposed. It’s a great way to upcycle an old piece of furniture you no longer want indoors or have found at a bargain price from a second-hand warehouse. By labelling all the drawers, you’ll be able to quickly find things you carefully stored away many months ago in the autumn!
Take a little time to create a monthly job planner for your garden, and add in items month by month as you go along. A little care this year will help you out next year and every year after that.
This vintage chest of drawers has been repurposed. It’s a great way to upcycle an old piece of furniture you no longer want indoors or have found at a bargain price from a second-hand warehouse. By labelling all the drawers, you’ll be able to quickly find things you carefully stored away many months ago in the autumn!
Take a little time to create a monthly job planner for your garden, and add in items month by month as you go along. A little care this year will help you out next year and every year after that.
Hang that equipment
Don’t just prop your tools up in a corner: adding lots of heavy-duty hooks is the best way to look after them, preventing them falling over and getting damp on the floor. If you create a space for each tool, you’ll know exactly where it is next time you need it.
Wall-mounted baskets are also perfect for smaller items. Have a basket for each category of item, though, so things don’t get jumbled up together.
If you have children who love to spend time in the garden, then making sure everything has its place in your shed is very handy for them, too, especially when it comes to tidying away at the end of the day.
Don’t just prop your tools up in a corner: adding lots of heavy-duty hooks is the best way to look after them, preventing them falling over and getting damp on the floor. If you create a space for each tool, you’ll know exactly where it is next time you need it.
Wall-mounted baskets are also perfect for smaller items. Have a basket for each category of item, though, so things don’t get jumbled up together.
If you have children who love to spend time in the garden, then making sure everything has its place in your shed is very handy for them, too, especially when it comes to tidying away at the end of the day.
Revive your trusty tools
If you’re lucky enough to have some tools handed down to you from friends or family, show these items some respect and spend time cleaning, sharpening or having them renovated professionally. Restoring old tools to their former glory not only saves them from the rubbish tip, it adds character to your potting shed.
However, if you’re prone to collect ‘things that might come in handy one day’, don’t keep tools you’re not using. Be ruthless, throwing away anything that’s broken and donating unwanted items to charity or listing them on your local Freecycle page. This can be therapeutic for you, and helpful for the planet and fellow gardeners.
If you’re lucky enough to have some tools handed down to you from friends or family, show these items some respect and spend time cleaning, sharpening or having them renovated professionally. Restoring old tools to their former glory not only saves them from the rubbish tip, it adds character to your potting shed.
However, if you’re prone to collect ‘things that might come in handy one day’, don’t keep tools you’re not using. Be ruthless, throwing away anything that’s broken and donating unwanted items to charity or listing them on your local Freecycle page. This can be therapeutic for you, and helpful for the planet and fellow gardeners.
Let the light in
Banish the dark, dingy corners of your shed with lots of windows. They will allow in plenty of natural light if you don’t have electric lights installed, and provide a new vantage point from which to enjoy your garden.
There’s nothing to say you can’t also store your gardening equipment in the same place you relax with a quiet drink at the end of the day.
TELL US…
How do you organise your shed? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
Banish the dark, dingy corners of your shed with lots of windows. They will allow in plenty of natural light if you don’t have electric lights installed, and provide a new vantage point from which to enjoy your garden.
There’s nothing to say you can’t also store your gardening equipment in the same place you relax with a quiet drink at the end of the day.
TELL US…
How do you organise your shed? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
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Maybe we need a Wendy House for grown-ups, AND a work shed! Now that would be bliss! Dream on, comme on dit...
I have two sheds: one clean one dirty. The clean one has my record player in it and my old records, plus a desk and my gardening books. The dirty shed, below, has all my garden equipment in it and can be as dirty as I like. Both are tiny, but I love them both.
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A splash of paint can work wonders for your outside space. There is no need to keep to the traditional stains for your sheds. We like these examples from our range of Little Greene paints combining calmer tones on the garden shed with brightly coloured accessories.
The bird boxes are painted in Little Greene's Spearmint (202) Garden (86) and Carmine (189).
The shed here is painted in Little Greene's Lamp Black (228), complemented by the bright coloured furniture in Trumpet (196) and Spearmint (202).