21 Best She Shed Ideas

Find a variety of ideas for creating your perfect backyard escape whether you are an artist, a musician, a writer or just yearning for a private, me-time retreat.

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By: Erica Reitman, Felicia Feaster, and Jacquelyn McGilvray

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She Sheds and Me Sheds

The term "she shed" may be gender-specific, but anyone who needs a place to escape without going too far could use a she shed or, more aptly named, a "me shed." Basically, a she shed is a small, dedicated space outside your home — usually in the backyard — that's set up for you to work, enjoy a hobby or just a place to relax and get away. When it comes to decorating your shed, make it your me space and design it just for you. Make it colorful and funky or soft and serene, whatever makes you happy and expresses your personal style. We've rounded up a few she-shed ideas; let these designs inspire you to create your peaceful sanctuary.

The homeowners of this elegant boho garden gazebo wanted a light, airy shelter, so designer Vanessa Matsalla painted the space all white with the exception of the pretty teal doors. Three desks were added to the octagon getaway making this gazebo a WFH delight.

See More of This Space: Living Large in Small Spaces: Gazebo Turned Bohemian Workspace

From: Vanessa Matsalla

Yoga Shed

Salute the sun every morning by converting your storage shed into a quiet place for stretching and meditation. Paint the walls a soft hue, hang a print of your happy place and install meditation bells. And if you don't have them already, consider putting in French doors to enjoy plenty of fresh air.

Find More Ideas: 20 Serene Massage and Meditation Rooms

Potting Shed

This open door provides a glimpse inside a well-organized woodshed that combines storage with an efficient work area for the avid gardener. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

Learn More: Backyard Shed Buying and Planning Guide

Potting Shed

Any gardener would love this neatly organized workspace. Painted pure flat-white, the walls inside this shed provide a clean backdrop for hanging tools and even displaying plants.

Find More Ideas: 25 Organization Ideas That Will Make You Love Your Shed Again

Home Office Shed

Whether you’re using your shed for crafting or working, you’ll want lots of natural light. Here, a full-glass door, windows on each side and upper transoms let in plenty of sunshine to keep the petite place glowing and bright. Take a peek at the inside in the next slide.

Home Office Shed

It's not just about escape and relaxation with she sheds. With more of us working from home, the backyard shed can be the perfect place to get work done without distractions.

Find More Ideas: 65+ Small Home Office Ideas

Greenhouse Garden Shed

This adorable Dutch-door shed on Long Island, New York, has a glass-walled kick-out where owner Kevin Loud puts his plants in the winter and starts seeds in the spring. Loud and his partner, Joe Elsasser, worked together to design and build the 91-square-foot shed. There’s also storage space for garden tools.

Find More Ideas: 20 Great Garden Sheds and Potting Benches You'll Want in Your Backyard

Painting Studio

This is not your average mundane metal shed used for storage. This shed with a panoramic view in Queensland, Australia, serves as a studio for artist Tamara Armstrong. Take a peek inside this artist lair in the next slide.

Painting Studio

Finding a style that fits your she shed is important. Tamara's simple style allows her to showcase all of her paintings amid a variety of windows that bring in an abundance of natural light. Adding minimal yet personal items allow for personal style to be incorporated even more into the shed. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

Painting Studio

A former teacher who's now a full-time painter, Tamara often holds workshops in her shed.

Collector's Shed

Love art or pottery, vintage movie posters or lunchboxes? Make your she shed a place to spotlight a favorite collection.

Learn More: The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying Antique + Vintage Furniture

Writing Retreat

This custom-designed she shed provides 80-square feet of privacy. The stepping stones, clean landscaping, tile doormat, exterior shutters and window box offer an especially inviting welcome. Take a peek inside in the next slide.

Writing Retreat

The maple wood paneling used on the interior walls was more expensive than the typical drywall, but it helps to achieve that sweet cabin vibe. A porthole window lets light in and makes it almost seem like this cabin is on an old ship and not in a backyard. See more of this space in the next slide.

Writing Retreat

If you want to truly escape, you’ll need to set the mood for relaxation and creativity, so don’t forget to add a music source to your she shed. Colorful posters, plants and a neon sign are also helpful for inducing your creative juices.

Quilting Cottage

It may look plain from the outside, but inside this shed is a world of creativity. The homeowner wanted her hobby to be a true escape, so she turned this little outbuilding into a sewing shed. Click to the next slide to see inside.

Quilting Cottage

Sewing can be so therapeutic, especially when you're not worrying about the little ones playing near your equipment. Give yourself some peace of mind and permission to get lost in your latest project by setting up a sewing area in the shed. Pull in an old sofa or loveseat for when a nap is needed.

Find More Ideas: 33 Craft Room Storage and Organization Ideas

Gardener's Cottage

Pennsylvania shed-owner Judy Weiss revamped an existing shed with her husband at the DIY-frugal cost of just $500. The result is a wonderfully neat and organized way to store Judy's gardening tools. The handmade cabinet area creates the perfect organized space for all of the gardening tools. Antique gardening tools line the walls and an old water pump adds some flare to the space while still fitting the gardening theme. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

Gardener's Cottage

These galvanized tubs with a cover create the perfect table that fits the theme of the space. The tubs also store tools and other gardening essentials.

Guest Cottage

If you're lucky enough to have a she shed on the water, make it serve double duty as both a personal escape and as a guest house for visitors.

SHOP: The Best Outdoor Storage Sheds on Amazon

The Jewelry Maker's Space

Sonoma, California, jewelry and clothing maker Anne Freund brings charm and a touch of romance to this cozy shed that includes a workroom and storage area. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

The Jewelry Maker's Space

Having a workspace separate from your living space provides the perfect escape and prevents work from seeping into other parts of your life. It's also a great place to display your collections of trinkets.

Party Shed

Want a little privacy for your next book-club night or a place to host an outdoor party in the shade with a mini-fridge? Make your shed a space for entertaining by adding plenty of seating, ambiance and, of course, throw pillows.

SHOP: The Best Outdoor Storage Sheds on Amazon

Metal Shed

With no building experience but a can-do attitude, artist Melanie Van Houten turned an existing metal shed in her Florida backyard into an art studio using scrap wood for the shed floor and walls. Her recommendation for building a she-shed in Florida: air conditioning. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

Metal Shed

The metal walls were painted white to give them a slightly weathered, shabby-chic look. Using white also creates a blank background to show off artwork and allow it to pop. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

Find More Ideas: 20 Creative Craft Room Ideas

Metal Shed

This corner is perfect for relaxing, reflecting or working. All the pieces emphasize the personal style of this shed, making it cozy but not overdone.

Find More Ideas: Gorgeous Maximalist Outdoor Spaces That Will Never Go Out of Style

Colorful Shed

This vibrant she shed sits in the backyard of a large 120-year-old pink Victorian. When owner, Fredda Perkins first heard the term "she shed," she decided to turn this outbuilding into her whimsical retreat. The outside of the structure appears to be brick but is actually a pressed metal. The eccentric colors were chosen from the “whoops” bin at the hardware store where prices are always less than half. See more of this shed in the next slide.

Colorful Shed

The sound of running water is a constant around this she shed due to all the handcrafted water features. This one was made with repurposed instruments and a cattle feeding trough. The flagstone pathway and patio go around the entire building. The path is lined with bowling balls at some points and is peppered with colored marbles and smooth pieces of slab glass. See more of it in the next slide.

Colorful Shed

All of the windows in the she shed were salvaged. The two trapezoid-shaped windows at the top were found in the attic of the main house. The curly corbels along the front of the she shed, as well as the door, are vintage pieces found at a flea market in East Texas.

See More of This Space: A Fairy-Tale She Shed in Texas

Shed as Escape

HGTV star Egypt Sherrod decided to elevate the entry to her shed and "constructed a grand staircase to create an exciting entryway and show some personality up front. Just because it might be called a 'shed' doesn't mean it has to look like your typical shed," she says. Take a peek at the inside in the next slide.

Learn More: Backyard Shed Buying and Planning Guide

Shed as Escape

The beauty of a she shed is the chance to make it perfectly functional and suit your every need, as Egypt Sherrod did with her backyard she shed. "With limited space, smaller-scale furniture will make the space feel larger," says Sherrod of the clever teak bar she created in her shed. Sherrod's other space-saving tips include going with a daybed instead of a sofa and a floating ledge instead of a table.

See More of This Space: Egypt Sherrod's Backyard Shed Is Adorbs

Pottery Shed

This 10-by-12-foot shed serves as a pottery studio for the lucky homeowner. A shed is a great alternative for a pottery studio if you're concerned about having a kiln in your home. But be sure to consult a licensed HVAC professional to ensure the space is properly ventilated.

Photo Studio/Casita

La Casita is the clever, dual-purpose invention of Dallas resident Paige Morse. Paige uses the clean-lined space with a Scandinavian influence as a photo studio. But she makes extra money by renting out her main house on Airbnb, so when guests are booked, she just retreats to this backyard getaway, which includes a functioning kitchen and bath. See more of this retreat in the next slide.

The Photo Studio/Casita

This picture-perfect space has a calming and cozy feel with all of Paige's personal touches. See more of this she shed in the next slide.

Find More Ideas: Scandinavian Design Style 101

The Photo Studio/Casita

While Paige's house is occupied by guests, she can have complete privacy with the fully functional bathroom and kitchen in her she shed — a plus for any space.

Artist's Shed

This artist's retreat began as a simple garden shed. Custom touches like skylights and French doors let in lots of natural light, while slat-wall panels hold paints and pails of small tools. A hinged work table allows the artist to fold it down and out of the way when not in use.

SHOP: 10 Small Storage Sheds You Need Now Under $300

Reading Shed

If the highlight of your month is your book club meeting, think about designing a reading shed for you and your library-loving pals. You could fill your new space with bookshelves and comfy reading nooks. Bring in a wireless speaker so you can listen to your favorite podcasts or audio books.

Inspiration Shed

If you're the type of "she" who loves a little bit of everything, you might just want to set up a more general space that will let you do it all. Try setting up your she shed like an extension of your living room with a few comfy spots for you to relax, create or simply rest. A nice outdoor space will take your she shed to the next level.

She Sheds: A Room of Your Own

Looking for some incredible she-shed inspiration and some ideas for your own future digs? Erika Kotite’s eye candy, She Sheds: A Room of Your Own, features an array of outrageous outbuildings suited to a variety of interests.

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