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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1. For Storage – Storage Sheds

Storage sheds are, by far, the most basic type of shed. To keep out potential thieves, they usually don’t have any windows – just four walls, floor, roof and door. These sheds can have either a floor made from wood that is built on a frame or a floor made from poured concrete. Its really important to have a well organized shed since there isn’t much space in a small shed to begin with.

2. For The Garden – Garden Sheds

Garden sheds are one of the most convenient items you could have for your garden – especially if your garden is a healthy distance from your main house. It becomes crucial to have a place to store your gardening tools so you can easily find them when you need them most. Garden sheds are also a great place to keep a potting bench and all your extra gardening supplies.

3. For All Your Tools – Tool Shed

Are all your tools piling up in the corner of your garage – and your wife tired of looking at the mess? Tool sheds are a place where you can keep all your tools in one spot. And, just like a storage shed, they should be as secure as possible. All you have to do is add some pegboards, shelving, some cabinets and a workbench and you’ll be all set. So now the only complaining you will hear is maybe, “are you out there in the tool shed again?”

4. From One Use To Another – Converted Sheds

Since sheds are so easy to convert from one purpose to another, this type of shed is my personal favorite. To convert your storage shed into a mini retreat, simply add some paint, a nice rug and some cozy furniture. You can also change it into an artist studio or a pool cabana, and so on.

5. For The Kids – Playhouses

You could either build a playhouse for this specific purpose or you can take an existing shed and make it into a playhouse as described in the above paragraph. Its just as easy to convert back once it has been outgrown by the kids.

This is a basic overview of the five most common purposes for sheds, but there are certainly many more. Hopefully, you will be inspired enough to go build your own wooden shed. You won’t be disappointed.

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The best part is, wooden sheds can be converted fairly easily from one use to another. If done correctly, a garden shed can be used for a couple of purposes at the same time. For example, a pool cabana is not only used to change into a swimsuit, but is also a great place to store the pool supplies and any chemicals that should be stored away from the main house.

So, why build one, anyway? Besides their versatility and storage capabilities, wooden sheds are fun to build and they can be a great starter project if you aren’t that handy with tools. And, it should only require a weekend’s worth of time to complete.

You know what you want a shed for, but WHY a wooden shed? Once you have built a wooden shed, you’ll notice right away the long-term value you have over a plastic or even a metal shed. They may cost more up front, but they are more pleasing to the eye and if you build from a set of good shed plans, you have way more options.

Plastic and metal sheds are actually harder to modify or add additional space to than wooden sheds. And, as far as repairs go, they are much quicker, easier and cost less for wooden sheds. If you have ever tried to fix a plastic shed, you know what I mean.

The best wood to use for sheds is cedar. Cedar contains oil that occurs naturally. This oil is what gives the wood its distinct aroma and also protects it from insects and rot.

Another option you have is to buy a wooden shed kit that comes already cut to size. And, depending on the manufacturer, a lot of the assembly is already done. This makes for a fast and easy way to get a shed put up in your 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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