Benefits of Building A Multi-Purpose Shed

Benefits of a Multi-Purpose Shed

Building a multi-purpose shed has many advantages. One of the first benefits is lowering building costs. If an outdoor shed can serve many purposes instead of building an outdoor building for each purpose you have cut your building costs drastically.

Having a multi-purpose shed in your backyard gives you many options for use and expands your outdoor space. Think of an office shed that also doubles as a guest shed, a tool shed that can double as a greenhouse shed, or a pool cabana that can double as both an office shed and a guest shed. All it takes is a little pre-planning if you are building from scratch or even if your outdoor shed is already built it’s possible to create a multi-purpose shed with a few strategic changes.

Give Yourself Options When Building

Giving yourself options when building your outdoor building saves you money down the road and allows you to build for multi-purpose uses from the beginning. I like to suggest installing rough plumbing and electrical when building your outdoor building no matter what its intended use from the beginning. Having rough plumbing and electrical in place will save you so much money down the road if you consider using your outdoor building for anything other than a tool shed. It’s a wise investment that will pay dividends in possible resale value too.

Expand Interior Shed Space with Wall Height

This suggestion only works if you are building an outdoor shed, but it creates so many more possibilities we want to mention it here. Instead of 8-foot ceilings, go for 10-12-foot ceilings. The difference that 2-4 feet of wall space can make is tremendous in a small space. With 12-foot ceilings, you can also install a loft for storage or sleeping which opens up other possibilities for your outdoor shed. Also, having 12-foot ceilings makes your small space seem so much roomier and gives you lots of storage options at the same time.

Expand Shed Space with Window Placement

If you are building from scratch and not remodeling an outdoor shed, window placement is an easy way to expand the interior space of your outdoor shed. Since space inside a 10 x 12-foot shed is limited, you want to make the most use of the space you have and window placement is a great way to achieve this. If you place your windows to start at the 5-foot height you have gained wall space on that wall. In tiny spaces, if you put one traditional window placement at 3 feet to see outside and your view but then place your other windows at 5 feet and above, you have gained a lot of valuable wall space in a small area.

Building An Office Shed and Guest Shed Building

An office shed and guest shed build is probably one of the easiest multi-purpose builds to achieve. Take advantage of our wall height ideas and window placement ideas to start with and then expand your space with these ideas. The first piece of furniture I would buy for an office shed/guest shed building would be a convertible couch that could double as a bed. If you don’t want to take up the space with a couch for your office think of buying a Murphy wall bed with bookcases on each side or above to save even more space. A Murphy bed takes up minimal space and gives you great options for storage at the same time.

Building A Pool Cabana and Guest Shed Building

When building your pool cabana keep in mind both wall height and window placement if you are using it as a guest shed also. We suggest making the wall facing the pool either a slider barn door or using a large patio sliding door to open up the space while making use of the view of the pool. If you want your cabana to double as an entertainment room, cabana, and guest house, you can install a Murphy bed, so the space can accommodate a pool table, foosball, or an air hockey table with room to spare.

Building a Greenhouse and Tool Shed Building

Converting or building a multi-purpose greenhouse and tool shed is a simple build or conversion. If building from scratch installing glass inserts on one side of the roof will allow for a great greenhouse with ample room on the other side for tool storage.  If you are converting a tool shed to double as a greenhouse you can install multiple skylights on one side of the roof to provide ample light for your plant starts. If you are using a tool shed as a greenhouse be sure to install gable louver vents that open and close to help regulate the temperature. We have shade cloth on suction cups that we put up on the greenhouse side when the weather gets too hot to help regulate the indoor temperature of the greenhouse. Installing windows in your tool shed from the beginning on facing walls helps you ventilate your tool shed but also allows for ventilation if you decide to multi-purpose your tool shed for a greenhouse.

Building Storage Into Your Multi-Purpose Shed

Starting with the end in mind when building your outdoor building saves money in the long run. In a small space, storage is king, and finding ways to incorporate extra storage into your build no matter what purpose you choose to build for is good planning. Making good use of wall space without infringing on floor space helps maximize storage in a small space. So, we advocate for tall ceilings so you can build in a loft for storage or sleeping if your multi-purpose shed is to be used as a guest shed too! Secondly, putting your shelving up high near the top of your wall helps free up wall space and creates a cottage look that can store everything from books to extra bedding.

Additional Tips for Maximizing Space

Also, to maximize space keep your lighting in the ceiling and off the floor. Can lights work, but LED directional ceiling lighting helps you get light where you need it most, it’s versatile and easy to install. Keep your flooring choice in mind when building a multi-purpose shed, lean towards what use your shed will have most and above all else keep it easy to clean. Tile works well for office sheds, guest sheds, and cabana builds multi-purpose sheds because it can take lots of traffic and cleans up well.

If you are wanting a mini kitchen in your office shed or guest shed, keep in mind a rolling multi-level cart that can handle multiple small appliances. Also, for all the multi-purpose builds except a tool shed we suggest a mini-refrigerator or mobile bar, now both of these items come on wheels and are portable. The beauty of a mobile refrigerator is it can be a great fit for your guest shed but can also go camping with you since it’s vehicle charging compatible.

At Shed Windows and More we have an amazing selection of shed windows, hardware, and shed accessories to help you create the DIY outdoor building of your dreams. Thinking multi-purpose when it comes to building your outdoor building gives it greater use for fewer dollars and extends its longevity while adding value to your home.