When working from home, it is essential that you have a home office where you can set up your desk and work peacefully. Since office regulations do not bind you, you can pretty much work anywhere you feel comfortable. Recently, it has become very popular to set up a home office in your shed.

A shed is a small enclosed space usually set up in a backyard or a garden to store tools. Still, if you build it yourself, you can make a larger shed that can serve many other purposes, such as a home office. This method is highly convenient for many people as it allows them to step outside their homes to work but remain near. 

The Advantages of Working From a Shed Office

There are many advantages to setting up a home office in a shed. Many find it much more private than a room in their home and more flexible than going to an office. Here are some advantages of setting up a home office in a shed. 

You Get To Pick the Ideal Size

Most people do not have an extra room in their homes to fully dedicate to their work. If you face similar problems, building a shed that you can fully customize to fulfill your needs would be much easier. When working from a shed, you can have as much space as you want. Especially if you are building a shed, you can choose how big you want it to be. A good size to start is around 100 to 200 sq. feet.  

Work With More Natural Lighting

One of the most significant benefits of having your workspace in a garden is access to a lot of natural lighting. Having sunlight coming through your vitamins is exceptionally beneficial for your mental health, and it can also help your body upkeep its vitamin D levels. Additionally, having ample sunshine during the day reduces your electricity bill since there is no need to turn on your light. You may not get this level of natural sunlight if you work from inside your home because windows facing different directions allow varying levels of sunlight to come in. 

You Still Get To “Commute” To Work

When working from an office inside your home, it becomes difficult to get into the mindset because you are used to commuting to work. Suppose you set up your home office in a shed located in your backyard. In that case, you will still navigate out of the house, through your garden, and into your home office. This allows you to get into the mindset of going to work without having to deal with traffic, noise, and the stress of commuting. 

It Will Get You Away From the House

Scientific studies have shown that those who live and work in the same space have a hard time psychologically stepping away from work, which can skew their work-life balance. This means having a separate designated workspace is crucial to thriving at work. 

If you have a workspace that is separate from your home, you can leave all your worries from home behind as you go to work. Similarly, when you are done, you can leave all your stress from work in the office when you return home. 

You May Save Money

When you work from home, you save a lot of money because you don’t need to spend a lot on commuting or gas to and from work. Additionally, most backyards and gardens get a lot of light, so you will most likely see a reduction in your electricity bill as you won’t need to turn on the lights during the day. 

Types of Home Office Shed

If you plan on setting up a home office in your shed, it is essential that you have the perfect shed that will help you stay productive and motivated. Here are the different kinds of sheds you can consider.

How To Set Up Your Home Office Shed

When setting up your home office shed, there are different factors that you should keep in mind to ensure that the office is functional. Setting up a desk with your computer and a chair is enough for most people. In contrast, others want to have a whole extravagant setup with printers, storage cabinets, and cute accessories. Due to this, it is crucial that you assess the needs of your job and what you personally want from your office before you decide on important factors. 

Here are a few things you should consider before setting up your home office in your shed.

Pick Your Backyard Space

One of the first things you should consider when setting up your home office is the space you have. If you pick the wrong size or place, it may hinder you in the future and make being productive in your space harder. When picking out a garden shed, ensure that you pick one that is suitable for how large of a garden or backyard you have. If you have a small space, a personal pod may suit it best. On the other hand, if you have ample space, you can opt for a larger shed to create the office space of your dreams. 

You should also ensure that you do not place your shed under trees because it can damage the roof. Additionally, you should also keep in mind the sun’s movement and place your office in a space where it is not under direct sunlight all the time. 

Building

Converting your old backyard shed into an office is quite possible. Still, it depends on the situation and other factors (such as considering strict local planning or zoning laws). By the time you have factored in the renovations and all the other odds and ends to build it up to scratch, you might have as well purchased a new one for your backyard office. It is possible, though, so it is worth weighing up the cost of investing in a new home backyard office or renovating an office out of an old shed.

If you do have an existing garden shed, there’s no need to build a new one from scratch. Or you can purchase affordable and time-saving DIY shed kits. With their revolutionary designs, DIY sheds are made for easy assembly, so any builder with varying skill levels can construct and set them up. 

However, you should do your research and make sure that you purchase your DIY shed from a reputable and reliable source to assure yourself of high quality and competitive prices.

Layout 

Planning the layout of your shed is essential because it will ensure that you will have enough space when it is done. When planning the structure, it is necessary to consider the style of shed you want and its size. There are a variety of shed styles available on the market, so the choice is limitless. 

The size of your shed should consider your needs and the size of your backyard. The placement is also crucial as you can use your shed to accentuate your garden space or hide it in a corner if you need privacy.

Lighting

In any home office, whether it is located in your home or out in your garden, having the proper lighting is essential. When your lighting is ample, it can help you stay produced, as you are less likely to strain your eyes and get headaches. Additionally, different types of lighting are needed for various office needs, so you should pick your lighting carefully. 

If you want overhead lights, halogen lights are much better than LED lights as they are adjustable. You can choose a desk or floor lamp if you want a cheaper lighting option. These lights are much more flexible as you can move them around and even change them when you get bored.

Heating

If you live in a place where it is generally cold, working in your shed home office will become unbearable because of the cold. Since you will most likely be working year-round, you should install some heating to ensure the optimal temperature inside the shed. Additionally, heating can help prevent your paperwork from getting damp and protects your electronics from getting damaged. 

To maintain the temperature inside the shed, you can use an electric radiator that can be wall-mounted or portable. It will allow you to keep your office warm safely and will also take up very little space. It is also inexpensive.

Insulation

Another factor to consider when setting up your home office is to ensure it is well insulated. Good insulation will help protect your items from getting damp, and it will also take less energy to keep you warm. When your shed is well insulated, there will be fewer chances of the heat escaping. This means you can turn off the heater when you feel the office is warm enough, and the shed will maintain its temperature for longer.

Insulation will also help soundproof your room so you can take your zoom meeting in peace, knowing that you won’t be disturbed by noises from the outside.

Electricity

One of the most essential parts of any office setup is a computer. Therefore, you need to have an electrical connection to power your computer and other electronics. Electricity is also required for lights, which is why you need to hire a professional to do the electrical work for you. 

If you plan on using multiple electronic devices like printers, office shredders, lamps, etc., ensure you have plenty of sockets. If you try to plug everything into a single socket, you risk overloading it, which can be dangerous. 

Decorate Your Garden Office

An office does not need to be only functional. It is crucial that you have a cool home office that reflects you and your personality. 

When setting up your home office, ensure that you paint the office walls a color that you like, have art pieces on the wall, and maybe even a cool rug. If you have the space, you can also add a couch where you can work from if you get tired of your desk. 

Add Office Furniture

Having comfortable and ergonomic office furniture is a must, no matter where your office is. When picking out office furniture for your home office in a shed, ensure that you purchase a desk suitable for your height and an ergonomic desk chair. The chair should ideally support your back from multiple points and allow you to work without excess strain. 

If you need extra space, consider adding dual-purpose furniture pieces that allow you to store your files. You can also purchase a dedicated file cabinet to store all your important documents in. 

FAQs

1. Can you use a shed as an office?

Yes, you can use a shed as your office if you need a small workspace detached from your home. All you need are office essentials such as a desk, a computer, and a chair. Still, you can also add other items if you want the shed to be a permanent and functional setup.

2. How can you soundproof a shed for cheap?

If you use your shed as a home office and need to soundproof it, the best way is to take rolls of insulation and tack it to pre-existing walls. You can then use plasterboard and screw it to the beams of the existing shed walls. 

3. What do you need to have in a shed to convert it into a home office?

Suppose you plan to convert your shed into a home office. In that case, you need to have electricity, insulation, proper flooring, a desk, a chair, and a computer. If you have space, you can add a couch, filing cabinets, and gym equipment. 

Conclusion

With working from home becoming more common, people are looking for ways to reduce distractions and improve productivity. One of the best ways to reduce distractions is to move your home office to your shed so you can have privacy and still be at home. However, you must keep some factors such as size, location, and electricity in mind to ensure that the office fulfills all your needs. 

An office in your shed is the best possible solution. However, it is important that you keep some factors such as size, location, and electricity in mind.