A retreat, a workshop, a home office, a gym, an outside kitchen or even a microbrewery, sheds are not just places to store garden tools and DIY equipment anymore.
People are putting a huge amount of creativity into designing their own special space in the garden, often without it costing the earth.
We British love our sheds and there are thought to be over 11.5 million domestic sheds in the UK – the highest concentration in the world. Almost a fifth of people who own one say they would like to live in it.
Statistics show that although they are most popular with people aged 45-54, lots of younger people are investing in sheds too.
A shed full of memories
Jane Tomlinson from Cheshire designed a shed for her back garden in memory of her husband.
She said: “I moved house with my husband Carl in the summer of 2021.
“The house was a new build and the garden was just grass, so our plan was to landscape it. Tragically, Carl was involved in a fatal cycling accident just before Christmas that year.
“This year I decided to go ahead with our plan to landscape the garden and chose a nautical theme as Carl was a talented, fanatical windsurfer and surfer.
“With the help of a garden designer we came up with something special. The focal point of the garden is the summerhouse which sits in a specially designed beach area. Inside the shed is furnished with all things nautical and on the outside there are a couple of old surf boards of Carl’s.
“It’s a lovely place to sit and remember Carl and the great times we had.”
Carl’s Surf Shack has been shortlisted in this year’s #shedoftheyear2023, sponsored by Cuprinol, which celebrates every conceivable style, shape and size of shed in the UK.
The competition is in its 17th year with seven categories including nature’s haven and summerhouses.
Head judge and founder of the competition, Andrew Wilcox, said: “It’s incredible what can be done to create a beautiful shed for as little as £150.”
Famous sheds
Author Roald Dahl produced some of his finest work from his writing shed. Every morning for 30 years he would travel through his garden to the small brick shed.
Famous writers Agatha Christie and Rudyard Kipling also wrote from their sheds.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden revealed her luxury garden shed on Instagram, which comes with a glamorous marble bar. Instagram/Amanda Holden
Artist and comedian Vic Reeves is a huge sheddie, being the owner of five sheds which include an art studio, a bar, an art gallery, a children’s playhouse and a greenhouse.
Former theatre producer Pippa Murray, the inventor of ‘Pip & Nut’ moved into a rent-free shed for three months when she was creating her nut butter company after winning a competition called ‘Escape to the Shed’. Pip’s products are now available in 5,000 locations across the UK including Sainsbury’s and Fortnum & Mason.
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