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Do you find yourself running out of space in your home and in need of a solution? Whether for outdoor equipment, DIY tools, or even extra bits and bobs from the house, a shed is a great way of storing items both big and small neatly away. The good news is, if you have a spare patch of land in your garden, there will be a shed out there which will fit on it.
Perhaps you need somewhere to put your BBQ away for the winter, or maybe you've done a big spring clean and need a place to stow items that you're not ready to throw away. Whatever your plan is for your shed, we've looked at the best quality options from Amazon, Argos and more to help you find the perfect addition to your garden.
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Table of Contents
Garden sheds come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and materials, and all of these types of shed have numerous different uses. This guide will help you think about the key features you should look for in the newest addition to your garden.
First things first, before any shed-building happens, you need to have the right place to put it. This will mean creating or repurposing a solid surface as a base.
You could lay some paving stones or concrete, anything that will provide a good foundation and stop your shed from sinking into the ground and potentially damaging its structure.
Some shed brands will offer recommendations on how big they think the base should be for a particular model. If this is not the case, though, look at the dimensions of the bottom of the shed and work off this; the base should be a bit bigger than these measurements.
Checking the dimensions of your chosen shed is important for deducing which size of base to lay, but it is also critical to ensure that the shed will actually fit into the space you have available. Grab a tape measure and see how much space you have to play with, remembering to take the base into account.
It is also worth considering how much stuff you actually have to store. You might not need space for that much, in which case it might be best to not go for a huge shed that will take up lots of garden space but remain mostly empty.
The floor of a shed will usually be a panel of the same material that the rest of the shed is made from. The inclusion of a floor makes the whole shed a lot more stable and secure, and protects it from the elements.
The floor of a shed is different from the foundation base it's built on. Even if it comes with floor panels included, it is still important that a shed is put on solid ground like paving or concrete.
Although wood is still an extremely popular choice when it comes to sheds, it is not the only choice. There are plastic and metal options out there, which might suit you more for a number of reasons.
Wood is popular with good reason. If treated correctly, it can last well and it can be painted any colour. It is also widely considered the most attractive shed material as it provides a more natural look.
In addition to this, they are cheap to build and warmer – a good choice if you plan on spending lots of time in your shed.
Metal is easy to maintain and can be less expensive than other options, although this isn't the case across the board. The main reason metal isn't as popular as wood is the fact it's less aesthetically-pleasing.
It is also not as easy to change the colour of a metal shed as it can't just be painted over like a wooden one. But if size is what you want, they tend to be the more industrial option and are therefore usually bigger.
Out of all the options listed, plastic is the cheapest. It can also be the easiest to assemble, often only requiring a simple assembly of parts. They are very easy to clean and the least prone to damage over time.
However, they are considered less attractive than wooden sheds and are also not great if you're thinking about the environment and how much plastic you buy and use.
There are 3 main styles of roof you can go for on a shed: apex, pent or flat. Each have their own advantages – and disadvantages – that we will break down here.
Apex roofs are the roofs you typically find on houses. The triangular shape with two equal sides helps with drainage and gives you extra space inside your shed. Sometimes they even have the scope for shelving in the rafters, offering even more storage.
The one problem you might face with this kind of shed is its added height. If your shed is too high, it might be deemed by your neighbours as intrusive or potentially even cause problems with planning permission, so check before you buy.
A pent roof will help you to avoid some of the issues you could face with an apex roof. They tend to be lower but their angle still allows for drainage.
Being lower means you won't have as much space inside the shed, but you'll probably keep your neighbours more on-side with a less intrusive building.
Make sure a pent roof has enough of an angle to drain, though, as some can be quite flat, which will lead to pooling water and potential damage.
Windows will really help to shed some light (sorry!) on your storage. If you plan on spending time in your shed, it is definitely worth thinking about buying a shed with some way of bringing some sunlight in.
Smaller sheds don't normally have as many windows as the understanding is that you won't be spending any time in them, plus there is also only a limited amount of usable wall space.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Keter Darwin 4 x 6 Plastic Shed | £280.00 Mid | A Plastic Shed With a Classic Look | ||
2 | Forest Garden Overlap Pressure Treated 8x6 Pent Shed | £370.00 Mid | This Pent Roof Will Make This Shed Less Imposing | ||
3 | MCombo Garden Cabinet Tool Shed | £159.99 Low | This Shed's Lower Height Makes It More Discreet | ||
4 | Mercia Wooden 10 x 6ft Greenhouse Combi Shed | £850.00 High Mid | The Perfect Shed for Those With Green Fingers | ||
5 | National Trust by Crane Garden Buildings Blickling Garden Shed | £3,499.00 High | A Beautiful and High-Quality Traditional Option | ||
6 | Costway Wooden Garden Shed | £228.95 Low Mid | A Shed That Will Fit Into Small Spaces | ||
7 | Outsunny Corrugated Garden Metal Storage Shed | £234.99 Low Mid | A Simple Shed for Storing Tools | ||
8 | Duramax ECO 10' x 10' Hot-Dipped Galvanized Metal Garden Shed | £354.25 Mid | Best for Storing Shedloads of Stuff | ||
9 | Palram Skylight Plastic Amber Garden Shed | £450.00 High Mid | Clever Technology Allows Light Without Windows | ||
10 | Rowlinson Double Bin Store | £209.99 Low Mid | Keep Your Rubbish Out of Sight |
This shed is extremely easy to erect with panels that slip together quickly without the need for lots of other tools, in fact, only a hand drill and a step ladder is needed. The plastic material is hard-wearing and completely weather-proof, so you can leave it in your garden come rain or shine without having to worry.
The plastic has a wooden effect, so even though it might lack the authentic wood quality, it does still have the appearance of it and avoids some of the drawbacks of having real wood. A great all-rounder!
This shed is big and has plenty of space, but with a pent roof instead of an apex roof which might look better when put up against the neighbours fence. The traditional design, made from wood with overlapping planks of wood, will fit into any garden.
The wood has been treated so it won't rot and the shed has the unique quality of being able to be constructed with the door and windows on one side or another.
If you don't require too much storage space and want to avoid getting a shed that is too high and intrusive, this is a good choice. It has a lovely natural finish thanks to the wood, and the pent roof will make it even more discreet.
There are shelves to make extra room for piling up your tools which will make everything easier to find. The floor is included, along with some anchoring nails so you can secure it to its base in a simple way.
Providing not just ample storage space but also doubling up as a greenhouse, this shed is ideal for the gardeners out there. You can use the glass area to keep all your fruits, vegetables and flowers, and keep all of your equipment in the main shed area. Everything you need for your gardening will be in one spot!
The roof in the ceiling allows for ventilation and, whilst you might be worried about the amount of windows and the security of the shed, rest-assured that the shatterproof styrene glazing will keep everything inside safe.
This shed is special for a number of reasons. Firstly, this collection of sheds was inspired by the outhouses on National Trust properties giving it an authentic feel. This is enhanced by the cast iron door furniture and the tasteful black roof.
At the side of its smart window, you'll find a covered area where you can store wood, which is perfect if you have a fire and want easy access to supplies. The care and attention that has gone into this shed does lead to an extremely high price which means it won't be within everyone's budget.
If your garden is small and you need a storage space that will squeeze into a spare corner, look no further than this shed. Despite the fact it has an apex roof, it's not too high and the width and depth are equally compact.
It comes with five different shelves and one long space to store an array of different items, though this might be limiting as it doesn't have that much space to store bigger items.
Corrugated steel is known for its strength, and this shed uses that to its advantage. You can keep anything inside including tools and equipment, and it is even big enough to store bikes. The pent roof is at enough of an angle that water doesn't build up in the grooves of the steel.
This shed comes without a floor, so might not be as secure – something you would want if storing valuable items like power tools or bikes. With everything inside, this shed might also become a bit tight, and only having one door could make it hard to access things.
This shed's huge capacity is perfect if you have a big family or household and your living space is overflowing with bits and bobs. This shed is designed to be functional and long-lasting; the treated metal will remain free of rust and dents, and there's a 15-year warranty too.
There is no denying that this shed is large and most will probably struggle to fit it in their garden. In addition to this, some people might be put off by its prioritising of function over design. With no windows, you won't be wanting to spend too much time inside.
At first, it looks like this shed will be very dark inside with the door closed, but this is in fact not the case. The roof is made from a material that allows 10% light transmission, so although it might look opaque, some sunlight will actually get through.
Whilst made largely from plastic, this shed uses a metal structure to reinforce it and make it even stronger. Just be aware that the different components and materials do make it quite hard to build, and you will probably require more than one person to assist.
A bit different from the other options on this list, this shed serves a very specific purpose. It is designed to be a way of storing bins that also stops wildlife from getting into them. It neatly hides your bins from view, creating a more attractive garden vista.
However, its lack of weather-proofing – not necessary for storing bins -– does put it at a disadvantage. It is not very versatile and, although it's attractive, it can't offer much beyond small item storage.
From the practical to the decorative, there's an almost endless list of things most of us would like get around to buying for the garden. If you're in need of some inspiration, take a look at the articles below.
Any one of these sheds will provide a fantastic home for all your clutter and extras that you've been struggling to store. With a solid base and a sturdy construction, sheds will last a long time. Building them might be a bit of a hassle, but once you have them up they will last and last, making them a very worthwhile investment.
Author: Emma Cramp
No. 1: Keter|Darwin 4 x 6 Plastic Shed
No. 2: Forest|Garden Overlap Pressure Treated 8x6 Pent Shed
No. 3: MCombo|Garden Cabinet Tool Shed
No. 4: Mercia|Wooden 10 x 6ft Greenhouse Combi Shed
No. 5: National Trust by Crane Garden Buildings|Blickling Garden Shed
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