Working from home is a growing trend and it doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. Some like me have been doing this for a while, but if you’re new to the idea it might be a lack of space for an office that’s holding you back from making the transition.
Moving your home office into the backyard is an increasingly popular idea that’s gaining traction for those that are facing space issues. Is it a good idea? In answer to that question, here are 6 great reasons people are building backyard office sheds for their remote work setup and why you might want to consider it as well.
1| Working Closer to Home Reduces Expenses
World events may have forced a lot of people to work from home in 2020, but it was really just an acceleration of something that was happening anyway. With living costs rising all the time, people are looking for innovative ways to make a living while reducing overall household expenses at the same time.
When one or both spouses work from home you don’t necessarily need two cars. If you build a backyard shed office your commute is just the 30 seconds it takes you to walk from the backdoor to your workspace.
Other than the initial cost of building your office space or converting an existing shed into office space, you don’t add a lot to household expenses. You can also reduce spending on other expenses such as work clothing, the cost of eating out and insurance on that second car. If you want to to start working at home on a tight budget it can happen.
2| No Need to Rent Office Space
If you’re running your own business there are a lot of things to worry about. Renting office space is one of the biggest issues.
Where do you find space that suits your needs and what will your monthly expenses be? It isn’t just the cost of rent, you have to think about utility and maintenance costs as well. All of these concerns are the reason many people shy away from starting their own business.
Creating office space in your own backyard for your business solves a lot of problems. You don’t have to rent office space and there will probably only be a small bump to your home utility costs. You may even be able to claim some of them as a tax right off.
3| You Can Share Office Related Tools
When you rent office space outside the home, you need a lot of different tools to be productive. Chances are you’ll need a printer for your office, probably a scanner, a reliable router, a Wi-Fi connection to the internet and general office supplies. There’s a lot to think about.
When you set up an office in a shed in your backyard you can take advantage of the tools you already have in the home. You can use your home Wi-Fi system for your business and use the printer you already have when you need to — along with everything else you have access to at home.
4| You Have Better Work-Life Balance While Working at Home
While it may be important to have a private office space where you can concentrate on the day’s tasks, it’s still nice to do it close to home. If you want to take a ten minute break and help your spouse with the baby you can — it’s just a quick commute to the back door.
As long as you stick to short breaks away from the office you can actually be more productive at home than you ever were in the corporate world. That’s because you have better work-life balance and that improves your mental state. When you’re in a better mood you can get more done.
5| Able to Work Closer to Nature
If the view from your office is your beautiful flower garden instead of the walls of a cubicle, you’re bound to be in a better frame of mind. The stats back this up as well. According to Flex jobs, remote workers are 35 to 40% more productive than their in-office counterparts. That’s a staggering number and we think it has a lot to do with the setting they get to work in.
Not only are you close to home and family when you work out of a comfortable backyard office, you’re surrounded by nature as you work. If you need a quick break you can grab the hose and water those flowers. It’s a much less stressful environment to work in and because of that it’s a more productive one as well.
6| Your Office Shed Can Be a Multi-Use Space
One more great reason to build a backyard shed is because you can use it for a lot more than just work. It can also double as a games room if you have the space or even a guest room if you add a pullout couch.
The point is it doesn’t have to be just an office shed. It can be an extension of your home that adds value and functionality. There’s no reason not to use an office shed as a multi-use space and it’s just one more great reason to build a backyard office shed.
