Garden sheds can be handy structures, and beneficial for a variety of purposes. To ensure your new timber shed is as useful as it can be, it’s important to make sure you have considered some key elements. In this guide from Hales Sawmills, you can discover everything you need to take into account when choosing a shed.

The Intended Purpose

Not every shed can meet a particular purpose, unfortunately, meaning it’s essential to select a shed that will work for your intended purpose at the very beginning. Discover below how the intended purpose of your shed should impact your selection process.

Tool Storage

To maintain a garden fully, you will need the right tools to do so. After using these tools, you will need a reliable and safe space to store them. Tool sheds can be the perfect solution, designed to hold equipment safely and securely when not in use.

Potting Area

Looking to grow some new plants in a dedicated space? You will need a potting shed. In a potting shed, you can grow, nurse and transport your plants. These sheds provide a sheltered place to tend to your plants, meaning you need not garden solely depending on the weather. Typically, potting sheds have large windows, allowing light to reach the plants inside.

Workshop

Often, indoor spaces aren’t equipped to provide an area for working on any repair or woodworking tasks. As a welcome alternative, many people choose to use a specific shed for this purpose. Generally, these will need to be large enough to hold a worktable, as well as the tools and equipment that are needed for a project.

Security

If you have valuable equipment that you would prefer not to store inside your home, a security shed may be the perfect solution. Security sheds are designed to be extra strong and therefore resistant to damage. Sheds built for security purposes often have secure locking systems on their doors as well, preventing a person from entering easily.

Leisure

Providing an outdoor area to relax under shelter, a shed can be perfect for spending leisure time. If you’re considering a shed for relaxing, you might want to take into account the kinds of furnishings you would like inside. Should you like a sofa, for example, you might want to consider if the shed you would like to opt for will be big enough to support its size.

Available Space

Sheds, as with any structure, will take up space wherever you decide to put them, making it important to consider the space you have available to you. In this section, you can learn what to consider when placing your shed.

Residential Gardens

Backyards and outdoor garden areas typically vary in size and shape, meaning the space available to you will be completely individual. Before choosing your shed, it’s essential to consider whether a potential structure will fit comfortably in your available space, while still leaving plenty of room for you to enjoy the outdoors.

Allotments

Dedicated allotments can be wonderful spaces to grow crops and plants. While on your allotment, you might find that you want to have storage onsite, or a place to relax indoors. A shed can be the perfect solution, however, it’s important to consider how its size will impact your precious growing space.

Colours

Sheds can be painted with exterior paint, so the sky’s the limit when it comes to deciding which colours you would like your shed to be. In this section, you can learn the benefits of different painted styles for your shed, helping you to find the perfect solution.

Natural

Many people choose to leave their shed in their original glory, rather than opting to paint them to adjust their designs. Timber sheds can bring with them the beauty of natural wood, which allows them to seamlessly blend in with natural surroundings.

One Colour

Monochromatic looks can be great for a garden shed if you’re looking to help it fit in more subtly into your outdoor space. On the other hand, painting your garden shed a bright colour can make it pop out against its surroundings, drawing attention.

Multiple Colours

You might choose to paint your shed in multiple colours, from paired pastel colours to compliment bold tones. Choosing your own design for your shed can help you personalise it to your tastes, and help it fit in better with the overall design style of your property.

Accent Colours

Eager to bring attention to certain areas of your shed? Accent colours can be used to help certain features of your shed stand out. Consider using a different colour on the frames of your shed, such as around any windows, to help them stand out against the main colours. Similarly, painting the roof a different colour can make it pop against the main body of the structure.

Roofs

When it comes to the appearance and functionality of a potential shed, the roof is an important aspect. In this section, you can learn about three popular options for shed roof styles.

Apex

As a traditional style, an apex roof refers to a shed that has a symmetrical, pointed roof, similar to a house roof. This particular option offers a large amount of headroom, allowing anyone inside to move about comfortably. Sheds with apex roofs are well-suited to leisure spaces and workshops in particular, but can also work well for storage and other purposes.

Pent

A pent roof is a sloping style, that is higher at one side than the other. This design allows rainwater to run off easily, preventing it from pooling or seeping into the inside. As the design is typically simple, it will also prevent the shed from taking up unnecessary space.

Flat

One of the less popular types of shed roof is known as a flat roof. These roofs are typically perfectly horizontal and often have a small dip that allows the water to run off to prevent pooling and flooding. Flat roofs on a shed can also sometimes offer a space to grow plants when equipped with a gardening bed.

Key Features

When it comes to the key features of a shed, you will likely have some decisions to make. Certain features can typically make a difference to the functionality and appearance of your shed, making it important to select a solution that will meet your needs.

Windows

Opening out to let in the fresh air, windows are not a strict necessity for a shed, however, they can make the design work better for you. Windows let in light, which makes them incredibly useful for sheds that will become potting sheds.

Doors

Did you know that sheds can come equipped with more than one entrance? Multiple doors can be useful for a myriad of different reasons, from making sure large items can fit in and providing more exits in the event of an emergency.

Porch

With many sheds that are specifically designed for leisure, you might have the option of an added porch. Often porches can be wonderful when added to a shed, as these add an open yet sheltered area. These porches can be decorated with a variety of furnishings too, which can be perfect if you’re looking for a summerhouse-style shed.

Accessories

When choosing your shed, it’s important to consider the accessories you might need to make it the perfect space for your needs. By factoring in these accessories, you can ensure your chosen shed can support them. Below, discover some popular accessories that can elevate the function of your shed.

Shed Shelves

For workspaces and potting sheds, shed shelves can be space-saving and convenient. Shelves can hold a variety of items, from newly potted plants to tools. If you’re considering shelving, it’s important to consider this when choosing the size and shape of your new timber shed.

Lighting

As the seasons change and sunsets become earlier, spending time outside in your garden shed in the dark can become more difficult. Luckily, lighting solutions are available to help brighten your space, making it functional year-round. These often come in a variety of styles including lamps and strip lighting, allowing you to choose the best lighting solution for your preferred type of shed.

Workbench

If you’re looking to create a craft and repair space, you will need a workbench. As workbenches are typically large, it’s essential to choose a garden shed with this in mind. If you can’t quite find the right type of workbench for you, it may be even best to craft your own.

Seating

Seating will be dependent on what you intend to do with your garden shed. Summerhouses-style sheds, for example, will benefit from comfortable seating which can be perfect for relaxing in. Workshops, on the other hand, will benefit from robust and movable seating, sensible for working on. Finding the right seating for your needs is essential, so make sure to take this carefully into account.

Our Products at Hales Sawmills

Interested in a timber shed for your outdoor space? At Hales Sawmills, we have a range of products that can be perfect for meeting your needs. From the garden sheds themselves to the exterior paint needed to decorate them, you can find everything you need to create the perfect outdoor structure. Please visit our website to learn more about us at Hales Sawmills, or get in touch with us directly for advice and support.