Take a Peek at These 8 Cozy Backyard Sheds and Studios
Soft lighting, warm interiors and plush furnishings make these outdoor retreats inviting
Lauren Dunec Hoang
November 30, 2019
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and in-house designer for Sunset's Editorial Test Garden. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR.
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and... More
You may be inspired to find another home for your garden tools after taking a look at these sheds and studios turned into snug backyard retreats. Warm wood, soft lighting, layered quilts and other cozy details set these outbuildings apart from the pack. From a shepherd’s hut kitted out as a guest cottage to a garden shed hiding a hot tub, these retreats may sweep you away and provide inspiration for next year’s project.
1. Craft Studio With a Porch
Tucked behind a house on Vashon Island, Washington, this mini prefab studio by Modern-Shed provides extra space where the homeowners can work on arts and crafts projects. The sloped tongue-and-groove pine roof extends generously over the studio’s entryway deck, protecting the doorway from the elements and adding a nice architectural touch.
Ready to add a backyard shed? Find a design-build firm near you
Tucked behind a house on Vashon Island, Washington, this mini prefab studio by Modern-Shed provides extra space where the homeowners can work on arts and crafts projects. The sloped tongue-and-groove pine roof extends generously over the studio’s entryway deck, protecting the doorway from the elements and adding a nice architectural touch.
Ready to add a backyard shed? Find a design-build firm near you
Turning an existing shed into a studio? Adding a porch, lofting the ceiling or widening windows can make a small structure feel more spacious. Soft elements like an entryway mat, cushy furniture and rugs to cover floorboards can help the space feel inviting.
See more of this island craft studio
See more of this island craft studio
2. Covered Hot Tub
Imagine a guest’s surprise when he or she discovers a luxurious hot tub behind the door of this playhouse behind a Welsh holiday home. Plus, the cottage is much more charming to look out onto than a blocky, covered hot tub.
Imagine a guest’s surprise when he or she discovers a luxurious hot tub behind the door of this playhouse behind a Welsh holiday home. Plus, the cottage is much more charming to look out onto than a blocky, covered hot tub.
3. Kitted-Out Caravan
Wheeled straight into the backyard, this gussied-up shepherd’s hut would be an inviting spot for hosting visitors.
Wheeled straight into the backyard, this gussied-up shepherd’s hut would be an inviting spot for hosting visitors.
It has a built-in bed, a second fold-down cot and a mini kitchen, complete with a fridge, farmhouse sink, coffee press and toaster — effectively everything an overnight guest would need.
Rustic details, like salvaged wood doors for the underbed cupboard along with mismatched china, add to the charm. Layered patterned quilts, fuzzy throw blankets and vintage touches make the space feel especially homey.
Rustic details, like salvaged wood doors for the underbed cupboard along with mismatched china, add to the charm. Layered patterned quilts, fuzzy throw blankets and vintage touches make the space feel especially homey.
4. Snug Home Office and Storage Shed Duplex
A wall divides this backyard shed, allowing separate areas for sports equipment and a home office. While the storage space is bare-bones with its unfinished plywood walls, the home office was treated with a luxe finish. The room has warm lighting, pale mint-green walls, shelves and space for a desk.
A wall divides this backyard shed, allowing separate areas for sports equipment and a home office. While the storage space is bare-bones with its unfinished plywood walls, the home office was treated with a luxe finish. The room has warm lighting, pale mint-green walls, shelves and space for a desk.
5. Fairy-tale cottage. With a steep shingled roof, a Dutch door and raw-edge wood siding, this charming tiny house in Latvia looks like it’s straight out of a storybook.
Inside, a ladder leads up to the mini sleeping loft, which would be just enough room for young kids to curl up for a sleepover or an adult to relax with a book. The interior of the structure by Bordertown has been kept simple, with some boards left natural and others whitewashed to brighten the living room. Recessed lighting makes the cottage an appealing place for playing after dark.
6. Rustic Guest Cabin
This little cabin set back from the main house in Pasley Island, British Columbia, Canada, provides space for overnight guests with a snug double bed and lofted single bed.
Quantum Construction, the project’s contractors, gave special attention to the details of the cabin’s exterior, so that it suits the wooded environment. They used wood shingles to cover the sides and natural logs to support the roof of the generously sized porch.
This little cabin set back from the main house in Pasley Island, British Columbia, Canada, provides space for overnight guests with a snug double bed and lofted single bed.
Quantum Construction, the project’s contractors, gave special attention to the details of the cabin’s exterior, so that it suits the wooded environment. They used wood shingles to cover the sides and natural logs to support the roof of the generously sized porch.
Inside, the cabin feels like a camp bunk for grown-ups. A lofted single bed accessed by a wooden ladder is slotted over the main double bed below. Not only does this save on floor space, but it also makes the double bed feel extra comfy — like sleeping in a snug nook.
7. Cozy Art Studio
This light-filled studio space in Corpus Christi, Texas, is just steps away from the house but feels like a tranquil retreat. The building is oriented to receive as much natural light as possible, while also allowing room for a pecan tree to grow up through the roof’s exposed rafter tails.
This light-filled studio space in Corpus Christi, Texas, is just steps away from the house but feels like a tranquil retreat. The building is oriented to receive as much natural light as possible, while also allowing room for a pecan tree to grow up through the roof’s exposed rafter tails.
Elements that warm up the space — like the spotlights washing the warm brown wood ceiling — are highlighted, giving the space a cozier feel.
8. Garden Living Room
With striped bunting, comfy furnishings, twinkle lights and pots of flowers out front, this garden room by Jenny Ballantyne Interiors in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, could hardly look more festive. Although designed more as a summer house, the garden room could easily become an inviting cool-weather destination with a small space heater and perhaps an electric kettle for tea on hand. Often just adding more light and warmth is enough to make a space more inviting, even in winter.
More on Houzz
How to Add a Backyard Shed for Storage or Living
10 Ways to Revamp Your Garden Shed
Find a pro for your remodeling or redecorating project
Shop for outdoor products
With striped bunting, comfy furnishings, twinkle lights and pots of flowers out front, this garden room by Jenny Ballantyne Interiors in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, could hardly look more festive. Although designed more as a summer house, the garden room could easily become an inviting cool-weather destination with a small space heater and perhaps an electric kettle for tea on hand. Often just adding more light and warmth is enough to make a space more inviting, even in winter.
More on Houzz
How to Add a Backyard Shed for Storage or Living
10 Ways to Revamp Your Garden Shed
Find a pro for your remodeling or redecorating project
Shop for outdoor products
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Such creative shed designs featured in this article! We just converted a shed into a home office for my husband (after working from home for 8 years in our dining room, oh man, it was time to do this!). The shed was a new build by a local shed/cabin company. We had to hire out the electrical work (permit required) and finished the interior ourselves. The shed was built in August and the project was finished in December. It was time consuming since we could really only dedicate weekend time to the project (and a few holidays & days off from work). Also, we are not experts by any means, so a lot of trial and error on the interior work.
I see no problems so far with rodents, snakes, mice, etc. We do have very rowdy and wild squirrels, one opossum (lives in the neighbors old shed that has no door, so easy entrance), a raccoon (who fights with the opossum), and neighborhood feral cats. We also live in a rural area (not a farm, though), however, we are within the city limits and walking distance of our little town square, so we probably have less wildlife activity than you would see on a big farm. We took great care with insulating, sealing & caulking every nook & cranny of the shed, so hopefully the wildlife will stay in the wild.
Our next project is a She Shed for us girls :-)
That looks fantastic and so well thought out. Definitely a space to spend lots of time in. Number 8 is my Summer House, which has been in situ for five years. We’ve never had any problems with rodents...I would say the worst problem is the spiders! However a quick spring clean every now and again does the job. It’s such a retreat and we’d be lost without it. Well done again for creating a gorgeous space! Love it!
I don't see the issue with not having a bathroom in an outside shed that my husband is using as an office. His "office" is only about 20 ft from our back screened porch. Not having a restroom actually makes him get up and MOVE around. If not, then I know with him being a software engineer, he would sit long hours until he absolutely had to go, haha. When he comes in for his restroom break he also grabs snacks, his tea, or lunch, discusses the news of the day with me, plays with our dog a few minutes, etc. I do understand not having a restroom for overnight guests would be very inconvenient or if you plan on sleeping out there, however that's not how we are using our outdoor spaces (now building a cottage for us two girls and our online business).
. Our lot is .34 and we have plenty of space for 2 sheds, one shed is 12x14, the 2nd shed is 16x20. Our home is 2400 sq ft to give an idea of the space we are building around on our lot. Our backyard is not cluttered and looks super cute with two little buildings (sorry, I know "super cute" is not a technical building term :-)....we are in the city limits and walking distance of our historic town square & had no issues gaining building permits (rural town).
Pic #1 - his office shed
Pic #2 - Girls cottage (to the left of his office)