More often than not garden sheds sit abandoned and unused, filled with old plant pots, rusty lawnmowers and dozens of spiders! But with just a few changes, it really is very easy to turn your old potting shed into a gorgeous living space, like I did turning my garden shed into a lovely summerhouse, where I can retreat and relax when things get a bit too hectic in the house.
De-clutter
Throw away the junk! After many years you’ve probably built up quite a collection of clutter. It might feel like a big task but there is something quite satisfying about clearing years of clutter – grab a roll of bin bags and get sorting. Not all of it needs to be thrown, you can sell anything that might make you a few quid and this can be added to your ‘garden shed renovation’ pot.
Picking the perfect colour
The colour you choose for your new room is an essential backdrop to making the space feel tranquil and restful. Pick light pastel colours like light blue, dusky pink and soft green, or go truly on-trend with a muted grey. The outside of the shed is equally as important, choose a light, bright colour (dark colours will make the shed look dreary and dank) but make sure the paint you choose is long lasting and suitable for outdoor weather.
Flooring
Keep it simple with your choice of flooring. Vinyl floors are easy to put in and simple to clean, or for a softer look, a carpet will look gorgeous and homely.
Lighting
The type of lighting that you choose will obviously be dependent on whether you are able to bring electricity into the space. If that is possible, then soft lighting is the key to a tranquil getaway. Occasional lamps and floor lights with low wattage bulbs will add halos of light around the room. However, if this type of lighting is not possible, then battery lights will work brilliantly. IKEA do a huge range of battery-operated fairy lights that will create a twinkly romantic feel. Solar-operated lights placed outside the room will also look gorgeous.
Furniture
Furniture is integral to the look and feel of your room. Comfy chairs or sofas with plump pillows and fleecy throws create a relaxing space for you to unwind with a glass of wine and read your favourite book. Storage is also essential, as you want to avoid the space returning to its old incarnation as a junk room. Standalone shelves look great and can house a variety of things, from books to trinkets. For bigger items that you wish to store, it’s worth purchasing large plastic stacking boxes. However, if you want your storage to fit your decor, sourcing a large wooden chest is a great idea. You can even try a bit of up-cycling by sanding the chest and painting it the same colour as the walls.
Entertainment
Obviously how you choose to spend your time in your new room is up to you. Perhaps it will be a place to enjoy a hobby, if that is the case then ensure you have the perfect environment to do this. For example, if dressmaking is your hobby of choice then set up a table for your sewing machine, with boxes to house the fabrics and threads. Or maybe the room will be a place for you to retreat to to binge watch every episode of ‘Orange Is The New Black’ with a glass of cold sauvignon? If so then ensure you install a television (or a space to prop your iPad) and a mini fridge.
If you are not lucky enough to have your own garden shed to turn into a relaxing retreat, then you can start from scratch and design your very own. Lidget have a huge range of concrete garages and garden rooms to choose from, so you can create the room of your dreams.
Very interesting idea of usage of garden shed.