This Year’s Most Popular Backyard Sheds, Studios and Getaways
In 2016, Houzz readers found inspiration in a wide range of creative outbuildings
It’s clear that many of us dream of having a little shed to call our own. The 10 most popular photos of outbuildings uploaded to Houzz and saved to ideabooks in 2016 include an artist’s studio, a blacksmith shop, a craft room, a potting shed, a sauna, a home office, a yoga retreat and a greenhouse. Shapes and sizes varied from a simple lean-to to a shingled sphere, and just about everything you can think of in between. Which kind of outbuilding are you dreaming of? What would you want to use it for?
9. This spherical little pod in Maine is a sculptural getaway complete with porthole windows, a skylight and a door that will make you feel like you are entering a UFO. Its construction is based upon boatbuilding principles, and it’s made from locally sourced sustainable materials.
8. Straightening up this once severely leaning outbuilding was no easy task but was well worth the effort. It now serves as homeowner Dick Lanne’s blacksmith workshop. His wife, an avid gardener, transplanted the ferns from elsewhere in the yard. The couple added the fence and stone wall to create a pig pen. They also brought in metal pieces from Dick’s collection and the shutters to enhance the building’s character.
See more of this blacksmith’s shop
See more of this blacksmith’s shop
7. Along with vibrant plantings and accessories, this modern studio brings a cheerful pop of red to this Seattle backyard. The design from Modern-Shed includes a butterfly roof, transoms, and large windows and doors that let the inhabitants enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
6. Houzzers looked for practicality as well as fantasy when marking their favorite sheds this year. This simple structure has plenty of space for garden tools and other household necessities thanks to smart racks, hooks and shelves added to the inside of the doors.
5. This idyllic little cabin is a sauna that can steam up to 12 people at once. The look of this new structure is distinctly Scandinavian — the black stain on the shiplap pine siding is made from a traditional Finnish blend of pine tar and linseed oil. A 6-by-6 picture window provides a relaxing view out to the woods and stream.
See inside the sauna
See inside the sauna
4. A greenhouse remained a popular dream for avid gardeners this year. Curved eaves and large double doors attracted green-thumbed Houzzers to this one, which is available as a kit from Vitavia.
3. A nice level yard is the perfect spot for this clean-lined modern box. The clever open corner provides a streamlined porch complete with fireplace, while the interior serves as a space for working out and yoga.
2. Instead of adding a crafts space onto their island home, this couple opted for a freestanding prefabricated shed from Modern-Shed. It’s hard to believe that it only took four days to have it assembled and finished with electricity.
See more of this shed
See more of this shed
1. Working from home can be challenging, especially when you’re distracted by household tasks. A separate home office building is a wonderful solution that turns telecommuters into backyard commuters. This charming studio in London with large glass doors and a lovely garden is a dream. Inside white walls lend enough room for large-scale paintings, and a skylight lets in more natural light overhead.
Get a closer look inside this shed
Browse more photos of sheds on Houzz
Get a closer look inside this shed
Browse more photos of sheds on Houzz
See more of this studio