Size

You should start by accessing your storage needs. A small wooden shed isn’t going to work well for you if you fill it completely full just so you can make room for the car to fit into the garage. Try to buy a wooden shed kit that will be large enough to grow into. The amount of space your shed will take up out of your property is also an important consideration.

Location

If your shed kit is strictly for storage, as opposed to a work shed, pool cabana, playhouse, etc., then you should probably locate your shed in a place that isn’t too visible from your porch or deck. Usually, storage sheds aren’t overly attractive as they are made for the specific purpose of storing items in and keeping unwanted intruders out. For the most part, they don’t have any windows or fancy trim.

On the other hand, if your wooden shed is to be used for another purpose, such as a garden shed, then you won’t want to hide it off to the side of your house. It should be located near the garden and have an attractive appearance.

Base

Another consideration will be what type of base your shed will sit on. Typically, this would be a wooden frame that you can purchase separately from the main shed kit or build yourself from scratch. The advantages of a wooden frame base are the ease of building, cost and flexibility. Wooden bases can be used as a skid to make relocation of your shed possible without having to tear it down.

The other alternative is to pour a concrete slab for the base of your wooden shed. This is a great option if you know the location of your shed is permanent.

If you have a few basic construction skills, about one weekend of time and the desire to have an attractive wooden shed in your own backyard, then a wooden shed kit is the perfect solution for you.

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Start by assessing how you will want (or need) to use your shed. A couple of possibilities include storage or even your own mini retreat in your backyard. The size of your wooden shed is also an important consideration that you should keep in mind. It’s a lot easier to determine your shed’s size once you know its purpose.

Now is a good time to start your online research, and a great place to start is by searching for images of wooden sheds. There are hundreds of photos online that will give you a good idea of what other people have built. Once you have a few of your favorite shed photos selected, you can now search for downloadable shed plans. Some you can find free of charge but most will cost you $5.00US (which really isn’t that much).

For a really inexpensive option for wood, used wooden pallets work great. Some very creative shed enthusiasts have actually built complete wooden sheds just from the boards of old pallets. Look for companies that throw them away on a regular basis. If you ask, they will probably let you have them free (if you don’t go overboard). If you don’t feel comfortable asking or you just can’t find a company that is throwing them away, you can always purchase them. The cost runs around four US dollars per pallet.

You will have to be a little creative yourself if you build a shed from pallet boards since there are no existing plans available. It is very possible that the only items you may have to purchase are the hardware and materials for the roof.

It can really pay off to be resourceful. A “new” wooden shed is just a weekend away.

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First, you have to take down any existing shelving. This will give you not only the room to work, but it also makes the project go a lot quicker. You will be taking this down temporarily so don’t throw anything away that you think you will be able to use again. In between any two studs, you will attach lengths of what are called shelf standards. These are strips of rolled metal, usually available in zinc, brass or metal coated with different colored epoxy. They have horizontal slots cut out every half inch to accept clips that hold the shelves.

For a cleaner look, route out grooves for the tracks if you wish to have them flush with the surface of the studs. Otherwise, surface mount them by simply screwing them into studs. Install two separate tracks up the sides of each stud. Put them in about three to three and a half inches apart for added stability. To make sure your shelves will be level, the slots on each side should be the same distance from the floor.

Insert support clips (four for each shelf) into the slots in the tracks at the desired height for the shelf. Now, measure from one stud to the other the distance between the tracks. Taking a piece of 1×4, cut to length for the shelves using the measurement you made between the studs. Because the 1×4 is the same width as the 3×4 stud, there’s no need to rip down any of the shelves.

You can now reattach the existing shelves back to their original locations. Add as many small shelves as you want. They are the perfect place for all your small items you have laying around the shed.

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Using wood over other materials (like metal or plastic) has many advantages. They blend into the environment better and have a very natural and comfortable feeling to them. They also provide better insulation which, in the winter months, protects you and the items you store in it.

Size is one of the first things you should think about when you are considering a wooden shed. Knowing what you are going to put in it will help you make this determination. Leave a little extra room to grow for some more items you may not even be thinking about right now. Just don’t use the extra room to store a bunch of junk you will probably never use in the future. That’s what the garage is for – just kidding.

When you are planning your shed, think about the height you will need as well. You may want to add shelves higher up or put items in the rafters for less frequently used items. See Organizing Your Wooden Shed.

Some garden sheds come with more than one room, which is perfect for use as a retreat, pool cabana or playhouse for the kids. However, its not necessary to have a multiple room wooden shed if you plan to only use it for storage.

Next, another important consideration is the type of floor your shed is going to sit on. Many garden shed kits have an optional wood floor that you build on a frame. The frame or “skid” allows the shed to be moved quite easily to other locations by simply sliding it.

Just like a house, you can pour a concrete slab for your shed. This is a much more permanent option, of course. Once you are finished with your shed, you have the option of staining the concrete, covering it with a flooring product such as carpet, painting it or leaving it bare.

There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of design options available to you today on the internet. And, the best part, they come in a wide variety of sizes. But if you really want a custom shed then you’ll have to start with a good set of garden shed plans and at least one solid weekend of time. It won’t be long until you have a new shed building in your own backyard.

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Everyone has their own reasons for making their own retreat but for our purposes here, this will be for solitude and relaxation since garden sheds are usually pretty small. You’ll have to have electricity though – this is a MUST. I would recommend hiring this out to a licensed electrician (if it isn’t already wired).

Plan your space well by putting it down on paper. Draw everything to scale. Place your flat screen TV (yes, this is a must, too) somewhere where there isn’t going to be sunlight bouncing directly off of it. From there, it will be easy to place your viewing chair. Personally, I like recliners but they do require more space.

Once you have the necessities planned out, start with a clean slate and remove everything from the shed. It is still a shed after all, so shelves and even a fold up work bench are perfectly acceptable. Shelving between studs work great for a your smaller items and it saves on a lot of space since the shelves don’t stick out.

Adding an area rug is also a requirement (for me, at least). Not only do they give your shed a more finished look that you would want to actually spend time in, but also it helps deaden sound. I like to have a rug that leaves about a foot of space all the way around to the walls. It gives the room a look as if it were carpeted. Your lighting should not be overlooked. I try to keep as many items off the floor as possible so I hang lights from the rafters.

Since function is really important in smaller spaces, you shouldn’t go overboard with decorations. There might not be much room left once you have your TV up, your recliner in place and your space saving refrigerator put in. Now you can enjoy that game (I mean, shed). So sit back, relax and enjoy some solitude.

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If you decide you aren’t ready to build a wooden shed from scratch, then you should consider purchasing a wooden shed kit. They take a lot less time to build (once its delivered) and they require less carpentry skills which makes this the perfect way to go as a first-time woodworking project.

Wooden sheds are best placed in plain view from your windows because you will want to take advantage of their natural beauty. The foundation should be flat but slightly sloped back towards the rear of the shed for proper water drainage.

Once you’ve found the best location for your shed and properly prepped the site, simply stake out where the four corners of the shed will go and tie strings between the stakes. Make sure to use a level along the strings. For this, you can purchase a very inexpensive level that has a hooked wire that you attach to the strings.

The best permanent solution for a foundation is to pour a concrete slab. But, if you decide to build your shed on a wood foundation or “skid” you’ll have the advantage of being able to move your wooden shed since its not permanently set in one place. The boards act similar to the way the rails of a sled slide across snow.

The best material to build your wooden shed is arguably cedar. Cedar is a hardwood that has natural rot resistant and insect repellent characteristics.

You’ll want your shed to last a lifetime – and it should! Make sure you use quality materials and keep them protected from the elements with a good water sealant. With proper care and upkeep, your shed will bring you years of enjoyment.

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You don’t have to be a pro to build a quality shed.

The next option you have is to purchase a pre-cut wooden shed kit. These kits include all or most of the materials you need to build your shed. And, since the pieces are pre-cut, all you need to do is follow the instructions and put it together – just like a puzzle. This method still requires some basic tools though such as a hammer, screwdriver, and level, but you won’t need as many tools as you would if you built your shed from scratch.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could hire a reputable contractor to build your shed. Contractors are able to handle certain aspects of construction that you may not want (or should not) tackle yourself (such as pouring a foundation if necessary or installing wiring for electrical outlets and lights).

Your decision may ultimately be based on the comfort of your skill level versus the comfort you have with your pocketbook. If you’ve never done any construction before, wooden sheds make a great first-time DIY project. And, as long as you go over safety rules and how to properly use construction tools, you can even get your kids involved.

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Set Your Goals

Having a game plan for building wooden sheds will make all the difference if you are to have a shed you want to be proud of. A great starting point is to determine what it is that you want the shed to be used for in the first place. Using this as a starting point will definitely help you determine the location and size of the shed. A good exercise is to ask yourself questions, such as, “can I free up some valuable garage space by making my shed a workshop that stores all my tools for woodworking? Or, will my shed be of better use next to the pool as a cabana for my pool chemicals, toys and supplies?” Write all these questions down to help you determine the best use for your new shed.

Pick the Right Plans

When you go to purchase a set of shed plans, they should be easy to follow. Try to find an example drawing before you spend money on any set of plans. Exploded diagrams and plenty of photos and illustrations are common in better quality plans. Easy to follow diagrams are the real key to being able to build the masterpiece you are wanting. At the least, your plans should have a complete list of materials. To help make your search easier, we recommend MyShedPlans for the best and easiest shed plans available on the internet. Find out more on this incredible package by clicking HERE.

Make it Square and Level

By making everything level and square, any handyman knows that building wooden sheds goes easier and faster. And, it makes all the difference between a wooden shed you want to show off and your average shed that just sits on the side yard of your house. Try to use woods that resist rot (mold) and insects naturally, like cedar or redwood.

Using this plan, you should have a wooden shed that you can be proud of for years to come.

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