There is more to wooden garden sheds than meets the eye

Garden sheds are a characteristic feature of many modern garden houses, because they are so versatile. There is the traditional use of the garden shed: a place where everything can be stored, including the kitchen sink. But these days people are using their imagination when it comes to garden sheds; some see their garden shed as an extension of the home and are turning them into:

A reading shed, with recliners, rugs, low lighting, where you can enjoy the quiet, and of course, a resident coffee maker and permanently stocked cookie tin.

A play shed, which competes with the local toy store for the number of toys the shed contains.

A music shed, either located at the bottom of the garden or fitted with soundproofing so that little Johnny can thump – sorry, play – his drum set to his heart’s content.

A craft shed where artistic moments can be nurtured

A rubbish/garbage/recycling shed used to store and ‘hide’ the many rubbish and recycling bins that are issued to homeowners by the council.

Several reasons why garden sheds are no longer seen as ‘just a shed’ are because sheds now come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. For example, even a simple garden shed design will have side and rear windows that allow natural light in. The shed will have full-height walls and doors giving it a “home” look, and many sheds come with additional options like shutters; planters; decor; veranda, to enhance visual appeal. Today’s garden sheds are seen as an attractive garden feature and not something to be hidden behind a hedge.

Then there are garden sheds that are multifunctional and combine the convenience of a garden shed and something else like a gazebo and a potting shed all in one. These sheds are ideal for gardeners who only have a small garden but need a place to store things while having a place to care for seeds and plants. A firewood shed combines a garden shed with a firewood storage accessory.

Now, there are some people who only see a shed as a place to store things or as an extension of the house. Then there are people who really love their sheds and call themselves ‘sheds’ (a term used among shed fans, but I don’t think it’s in the Oxford English Dictionary yet). There is an annual “Shed of the Year” competition hosted by Readers Shed that was held during National Shed Week, which began on July 7, 2008. Celebrity judges for the competition included shed enthusiast and food expert real estate, Sarah Beeny, Trevor Baylis, who is the founder of Windup Radio, Alex, of shedworking.co.uk, and Dr Kathryn Ferry, teacher of beach huts. Together, they decided which shed was the most unique and different after a public voting system beginning in June 2008 produced a list of winners. There was a great public response to the competition with over 3,000 votes for over 900 entries in 12 categories. And the 2008 winner was “The rugby pub”, a pub shed owned by Tim from Sudbury in Suffolk and said to be the perfect “men’s” shed. The shed was designed and built by the owner. It has eight skylights in an octagonal roof, a pair of double doors, a fully equipped 152 bar, a ceiling fan, sink with cold running water, comfortably furnished with a kelp mat floor, a hammock…basically everything you need. must have a shed to be equipped with.

So if your converted garden sheds [http://www.gardeningthoughts.co.uk/acatalog/sheds.html] are something you think the world should see, don’t forget to enter next year’s Shed of the Year competition.