Which Backyard Shed Size & Style Is Right For You?

If you're not sure which shed to buy, we'll help you figure out which backyard shed is best for you.

You may be asking yourself these questions.

• Which shed is right for me?
• What style of shed do I need?
• What type of shed should I get?
• How can I figure out which shed is best for me?
• What's the right shed type and size for my needs?

Before making a significant purchase like a backyard shed, it's important to know the purpose of your shed. Determining your shed's purpose will help you to decide which style and size meet your needs.

Below are five different shed use scenarios along with suggested sizes and styles—and don't miss the  helpful checklists.

Which one of these shed uses resonates with you?

Backyard Shed

This shed use scenario is the most traditional—most people use their sheds for no other purpose than storage. A backyard shed can be used to store lawn care equipment, outdoor decor (you gotta put those pink flamingos somewhere during the winter, right?), patio furniture, sports equipment, winter weather needs, seasonal decorations, and more.

Here's a list of items you can store in a backyard shed.

• Lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, weed eater, edgers & trimmers
• Leaf blowers, snow blowers, rakes, brooms, shovels & ladders
• Rock salt & salt spreaders
• Trash bags & leaf bags 
• Toolbox & saws 
• Bicycles, helmets & air pumps
• Sporting goods (balls, bats, frisbees, nets, paddles, etc.)
• Patio furniture & cushions
• Firewood
• Sleds
• Camping chairs & equipment
• Lawn decor
• Seasonal decor in plastic storage bins

Garden Shed

Garden sheds are perfect for storing both lawn and garden equipment, and they can offer valuable workspace.

While some gardeners toss their tools to the side when they’re done gardening, leaving bags of soil and gardening tools out is not only hazardous to others but can cause other issues—like rust on tools or meddlesome creators having a hay day in your soil bag. Most of us can see the obvious advantages of storing and organizing all garden tools and essentials in a dry and secure (plus attractive!) garden shed.

Which of these items are must-haves in your garden shed?

• Spades, shears, loppers, hoes, rakes, pruners & pruning saws 
• Wheelbarrows
• Gardening tools
• Soil, fertilizer
• Stakes
• Seeds
• Pots
• Hoses
• Gloves, hats & aprons
• Buckets
• String, rope & twine
• Watering cans

Tip: The next time you reorganize your garden shed, try out these organizational tips.

Hobby Studio or Workshop

Having a dedicated space for your hobbies is ideal. Creating art, tackling projects, and building models require room to work and a way to keep things organized and out of the way. Transforming a regular backyard shed into a hobby studio or workshop is easy. You can spread out, keep all of your supplies in one place, and disappear to the backyard whenever you want.

While each hobby requires specific tools of the trade, these items will be helpful in setting up any hobby space.

• Built-in bench or a separate work table or bench
• Wall lights, overhead lights, and/or tabletop light
• Wall or pegboard organizational system
• Shelving units
• On-site sink, hose, or dry sink
• Chairs or stools

Home Office

If you need an at-home office, don't add a pricey addition to your home, instead convert a shed into an office! It's affordable and practical. If you own your home and you have usable land, this solution is ideal. An office shed should be tall enough to stand up in comfortably and wide enough to house office furniture.

This one's a little more complicated as you'll need not only electricity, but WIFI, and potentially phone and cable lines for an efficient office. Additionally, you'll want to insulate the walls, hang drywall, paint, and choose attractive flooring.

Here are a few other things that will help you to make the most of your space.

• Desk & desk chair
• Laptop or desktop computer
• Filing cabinets
• Portable air conditioner or fans
• Space heater
• Dry erase  board
• Blinds or curtains
• Phone or cell phone charging station
• Area rug
• Printer, copier
•  Floor lamps & desk lamp

Tip: Consider these 5 things as you transform your backyard shed into the perfect home office.

Backyard Gym

A dedicated fitness space doesn't have to cost much money, plus if it's in your backyard, it has the added value of being convenient and easily accessible, 24/7. Here are a few tips for setting up a home gym in your backyard shed.

Make sure these workout essentials are on your get-it-used or buy-it-new checklist.

• 3 sets of dumbbells (5, 10 & 15 lbs or a quality adjustable set)
• Stability or balance ball
• Resistance bands for strength training
• Yoga mat
• Jump rope
• Stereo system or Bluetooth speaker
• Medicine ball
• Kettlebell
• Aerobic steps or Plyo-Box
• Pull up bar
• Interlocking foam mat squares for flooring
• Portable air conditioner or fans

What shed is right for you?

Now that you know how you will use your shed and the type you need, you can start thinking about the first steps of shed buying. To help with this, download our free shed buying guide. It'll help you understand the purchasing process from start to finish, and you'll have the opportunity to learn more about our shed options along the way. You never know . . . one of our sheds may be just want you need!

Explore our Shed Collection and Garage Collection — or test drive our online shed configurator.