Let’s face it, too many of us use our garden sheds for nothing more than storage and it can quickly get a little disorganised. Got some old cardboard boxes that won’t fit into the recycling bin? Throw them in the shed. Need somewhere to quickly store patio furniture cushions out of the rain? You got it; garden shed.

It’s understandable. While we concentrate on making our polytunnels as efficient as possible; making planting areas, tending crops, keeping it tidy the shad at the bottom of the garden can often become sadly neglected and, as we mentioned, a convenient depository for any old thing we can’t find a place for.

But these outbuildings can prove to be a viable space for more than just chaotic storage. Whether you want to use it as a place to practice a hobby or convert it into somewhere to sit in winter or when the weather isn’t great, your garden shed is a versatile building.

But to make the most out of it, you may need to give it a spruce up and we have some great ideas to improve your garden shed.

Top 10 ways to improve your garden shed

Give it a lick of paint

One of the biggest problems with a lot of garden sheds is they become little more than an eyesore in your outdoor space. This is especially true if they are left to fall to ruin and what was once a fresh-looking building now resembles a rotting pile of wood.

OK, if it’s rotting, you’ll probably want to tear it down but if it is simply in need of a little TLC, a lick of paint could be just what the doctor ordered. Make sure to use a suitable outdoor wood paint that will not only improve the appearance of the shed but will also protect it from the elements.

Take a look in another of the big DIY stores and you’ll find a fantastic range of colours. Sheds and outdoor buildings no longer have to be grey. Be bold. I painted my shed a shade of lilac which looks amazing. A fresh coat of paint does wonders for any garden shed. And while you’re at it slap a bit of paint on any old benches you. The transformation is incredible.

Add some window boxes

It is perfectly possible to make your garden shed a focal point as opposed to just being a functional space. But in order to do this, you will need to pretty it up a little and adding some simple window boxes is a great way to achieve this.

Window boxes are a brilliant weekend craft project for you and the kids and you can create a box that fits the theme of your garden. Planting is easy and maintaining the plants is very simple. You can grow things like herbs, beans and lettuce or you might opt for flowering plants for a splash of colour.

Climbing plants

If you want your shed to blend into a more mature garden then there’s no need to surround it with a lot of potted plants. You might consider adding some climbing plants to the outer walls of the shed. This will give it a natural appearance and will calm the harsh lines of the structure.

There are many different varieties of climbing plants but you want to ensure that the plants have excellent support. Things like wisteria, jasmine, honeysuckle and clematis are all ideal candidates to adorn your garden shed. Just be sure to stay on top of deadheading to encourage consistent growth.

I have to say this is my favourite hack. Seeing colourful plants climbing up a freshly painted shed just sets the garden off. It also hides a multitude of sins if you haven’t got around to emptying all the rubbish out of the shed.

Improve storage solutions

As we have already mentioned, your garden shed can quickly become disorganised and you’ll struggle to find what you need. But adding some innovative storage solutions will help to keep things in check and will save you time when trying to find what you need.

You might install some shelves for smaller gardening tools, bottles and gardening books. A pegboard for smaller tools is a great space saver. It can also be helpful to use boxes and barrels for larger items as well as hanging hooks for larger tools like hedge trimmers, garden shears and even your lawn mower.

Put up a bird feeder

The UK is fortunate to have a vast array of wildlife but too many people are omitting to encourage our feathered friends into their garden. By hanging a simple bird feeder on the outside of your garden shed, you will be providing a nutritious food source to the more than 570 bird species that live in this country.

What’s more, there are several different types and styles of bird feeder, many of which make a beautiful decorative piece for your garden shed.

Convert your shed for the kids

If your shed has been standing empty for some time but you don’t want the hassle of pulling it down, you might consider converting it as a play space for your children.

A shed is just the right size for a playhouse and is often far better than those plastic houses you can buy online. You’ll be able to get creative and cater to your kid’s individual interests. If they are an aspiring little chef, you might install a wooden play kitchen or for those adventurers, a bird watching shed or a jungle hideout is the perfect play space.

Add seating

Whatever you use your garden shed for, seating is a great idea. If you’re in there doing a hobby, you’ll want somewhere comfortable to sit. But even if it is simply a storage place, some seating is brilliant for when you need to do things like maintaining garden tools.

For some people, the idea of converting their garden shed into a seating area is very tempting. You might instal built-in wall benches or construct a table. You could even go one step further and insulate the shed so you can enjoy a cup of tea in the garden even during colder or wetter weather.

Install a water butt

A water butt is a great way to reuse rainwater for watering your plants during dry spells. You will need to get your DIY hat on for this as you’ll first need to prepare the shed for water collection.

You will first need to install a waterproof run and guttering to allow rain to flow into the water butt that you will place under the downspout. Also be sure to install a suitable filtration system to keep the water as clean as possible.

Improve its structural integrity

For many people, once a garden shed is erected, it will remain the same for many years but over time, the structure can weaken. You want to avoid any nasty accidents and improving the integrity of your shed is a must.

You might install more stable ceiling beams or replace any rotten or weakened panels. For the most part these repairs should be sufficient but if the shed is in a very bad state of repair, you may wish to replace it entirely.

Add a lock

The sad truth is that there are people out there who are willing to take what isn’t theirs and with your garden shed being far less secure than your home, it’s much easier for an intruder to get in. So, why not make it harder for them and protect your belongings at the same time?

Adding a high-quality lock will ensure that nobody but you can access the shed and even its presence will serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves.

Of course, any garden shed can be improved by a colourful and vigorous planting scheme. We’ve got thousands of climbing plants, shrubs and ornamental trees in our nursery all ready to be packed and delivered to your door.

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