Working at home can be a challenge. Distractions are everywhere and it can be hard to stay focused.
What if you could move your home office into the backyard?
You can!
An existing shed can easily be converted into a home office.
By adding insulation, installing electrical wiring, lighting and HVAC you can make a cozy office space in your own backyard. Of course, if you want to use your office shed in the winter you’ll need to consider heating as well.
Here are 10 easy steps to convert a shed into a home office.
- How can I modify the existing space in my shed?
- What do I need inside my garden office shed?
- What’s my budget for my DIY shed office?
It’s never a good idea to start any home reno without a plan – even if you’re just converting that old backyard shed into a quiet workspace. It’s much easier to stay on budget and make real progress if you have a good idea of what the final finished project will look like.
2| Add Windows to Your Backyard Office Shed
Most shed’s have 1 or 2 windows preinstalled, but you’ll want lots of natural light if you’re going to truly create a productive workspace in your backyard. It’s hard to be at your best if you’re stuck in a dingy, dark space locked away from the outside world.
Brighten up that space with windows, boost your mood and your productivity!
The video below shows how easy it is to add windows to an existing shed:
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3| Add Shed Office Insulation
Even if you live in a warmer climate it can still get cool in your tiny office shed if you’re working in the evening during the winter months. If you want a comfortable workspace, insulation is a must!
The problem with adding insulation when trying to convert a shed into a home office is that you’re already dealing with a small space. You probably don’t want to frame in the walls and add traditional panel insulation.
For this type of project spray foam insulation or foam boards are probably a more practical alternative.
4| Upgrade Your Shed Office Security
If your current level of garden shed security involves a lock you picked up at the local dollar discount store, it’s time for an upgrade.
This is going to be your home office.
You’re going to have a computer in your new home office, possibly a printer and potentially other valuable items not typically found in a shed. You’ll need a better quality lock and you may want to consider adding video surveillance as well. Maybe even an alarm system!
The level of security is up to you, but you’ll need a better lock at a minimum.
5| Run Shed Office Electricity
Somethings are better left to professionals.
While electricity is essential for your home office shed conversion, it’s not a DIY project you’ll want to take on if you have no experience working with electrical wiring.
If the idea of working with electricity makes you nervous, don’t do it!
One simple solution is to install a NOCO power port to the wall of your shed and run an outdoor extension cord to your home. Checkout the video below if you want to see how it’s done:
6| Finish Your Office Shed Walls
Whether you chose spray insulation or thin panel insulation at some point you’re going to want to cover it up and give your office walls a nice finished look.
There are a few different options such as adding plywood, using traditional drywall or perhaps even vinyl paneling.
The idea is to give your shed office walls a finished look. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in this space. It should look and feel like a real office.
7| Choose Flooring for Your Home Office Shed
Things are moving along now.
You have power in your office, the walls are finished, but what about the floor? No backyard office shed would be complete without the right flooring.
You can choose just about any option you’d find inside the home such as vinyl plank, carpet, laminate or even hardwood.
When choosing your flooring just make sure it’s practical for your space, your climate and your decor!
We think vinyl plank is one of the easiest options for an office shed as the video below demonstrates:
8| Consider Shed Office Heating and Cooling (HVAC)
While working with your winter coat on in your garden shed office is an option when it’s cold out we don’t recommend it. For one thing it’s hard to type in a thick winter coat and for another there’s a better solution.
It’s a good idea to consider adding an HVAC system when you convert a shed into a home office.
Fortunately since you’ve already added the electrical this can be a fairly simple step. A space heater and a portable air conditioner can quickly turn that stuffy backyard shed into a cozy space all year round.
9| Don’t Forget Shed Office Internet Connectivity!
No office would be complete without a reliable internet connectivity solution.
You can simply use your phone as a mobile hotspot or you can tap into your home internet by adding a WiFi booster close to the backyard.
This step isn’t hard to execute, but it’s essential for today’s home office.
10| Finishing Touches and Shed Office Furniture
Congratulations on making it this far!
Your backyard shed office is just about complete, but you need to add those finishing touches. Spruce up your space with some plants, decoration, personal memento’s and of course furnishings.
It’s time to move that desk, office chair and filing cabinet from your spare room into your new garden shed office.
That’s it.
You now have a good picture of what it takes to convert a shed into a home office, but should you do it?
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time working from home and your running out of room inside your house it may be the best option available to you.
Read on if you need a little more convincing!
Why Convert a Shed into a Home Office?
Before moving my home office into the backyard I was constantly bombarded with distractions. With 6 people in the same house it doesn’t stay quiet very long. By moving my office outside, I was able to find the quiet and comfortable space I needed to work. Here are the main reasons why you may want to think about converting your shed into a home office.
1| No More Commute
The average daily commute eats up an hour and a half of your time. That’s time you could be spending doing other things like walking the dog or helping the kids with homework. Not to mention not having to deal with the stress of bumper to bumper traffic.
With an office in the backyard your commute is about 30 seconds — the time it takes you to walk from your back door to your shed. As long as you have a desk, Wi-Fi connection and an office chair you’re good to go.
2| Increase Your Productivity
Working in my backyard has been a revelation. I’m not tripping over family members and I’m not procrastinating nearly as much.
As soon as you step into your backyard office it’s easier to stay focused and dive into the work day. It’s much like working in a corporate office, but without the coworkers.
It can be lonely, but there are easy ways to manage that. We recently wrote about some helpful tips on how to deal with the loneliness when working from a backyard office if you want to check those out.
3| Create a Professional and Separate Work Space
No matter how many times you tell your kids that you’re working and can’t be distracted, they probably won’t really get the message. Moving your office away from the home and into a backyard shed creates a real separation they can understand.
It also makes it more real for you and your spouse. If you’ve invested a tidy sum converting your shed into an office there’s more incentive to get to work and make sure it pays off.
Even if you go the DIY route it can still cost $5000 or more to convert a shed to an office. Some shed to office conversions can cost more than $50,000 if you enlist professional help. If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars on a home office, you’ll want to treat it as a dedicated office just like you had before you left the commuter lifestyle.
4| No Available Office Space Inside the Home
There’s an old saying — something about necessity being the mother of invention. That really applies when it comes to finding home office space. Most of us don’t have a spare bedroom available we can convert into a home office.
When there’s no space available in the home for a dedicated office, creating one in a backyard shed makes a lot of sense. You don’t have to use your kitchen table as an office. Instead you can head outdoors to your nice quiet office space in your garden.
We actually dive deeper into into the reasons for converting a shed into an office in our article 14 Benefits of a Backyard Office if you need more convincing.
Outdoor Home Office Alternatives
If you don’t have a backyard shed you can convert to an office there are alternatives. There’s no reason to give up on your dream of a private and quiet space to work that isn’t in the interior of your home. These are some great alternatives that can work just as well.
1| Use a Porch or Balcony as a Home Office
If you have a porch or a balcony on your home it can make a great outdoor workspace as well. Even if it isn’t enclosed it can still provide you with a shady and quiet spot to work when the weather’s nice. When I first started working as a freelancer my balcony was a great place to find a bit of privacy.
If you can enclose your porch or balcony even better. Then you can use your outdoor office year round with a small electric space heater. You don’t have the clear separation from your house that you get in a shed office, but it still offers a dedicated space to work with some degree of privacy.
2| Convert Your Gazebo into a Home Office
When I first started working in my backyard I was sitting under my Gazebo using a lapdesk and banging away on my laptop. I purchased a set of curtains for some privacy and protection from the elements. It was a simple, cost effective solution.
While a gazebo isn’t the perfect answer to your home office needs, it’s a decent option when the weather cooperates. Even if there’s a bit of rain you can keep working under the roof of your gazebo. With a patio heater you can keep working outside long into the fall.
3| Your Sunroom Can Be a Home Office too
My neighbor has a home office setup in his sunroom. It’s a great option, because it gives you a separate area to work and you still have access to the electrical in your home — you don’t have to run extra lines as you would when converting a shed to an office.
There are a couple of drawbacks though. For one, you’re still connected to your home so there are likely to be more family distractions. Also, adding a sunroom is a big investment if you don’t already have one attached to your home now. Converting an existing shed to a home office is usually a much cheaper option.
4| Create Office Space in Your Garage
One other home office alternative that can work is to clear out space in your garage. If you don’t have any extra space for a desk inside your home and you’re just using your garage to store junk or park your car it’s a ready made solution for your home office issue.
You can easily insulate your garage and use a space heater when it’s cold. You may have to upgrade the lighting, but that isn’t a major hurdle.
Again, this isn’t a perfect solution. You’re still going to be working in a space attached to your home and all of the daily distractions. You’ll also have to find a different storage spot for the junk and you’ll have to park your car in the driveway.
6 Businesses You Can Run from An Office Shed
If you do have a shed you can convert to a home office, but you’re not actually working from home yet there’s no reason you can’t make the transition. There are all kinds of businesses that can be run out of a backyard work space. Here are 6 businesses you can run from an office shed with a modest budget.
1| Freelance Writing
Freelance writers can work anywhere. You’ll find many working out of the local coffee shop or library. Some even like to work from the beach, although all that sun and sand can be a bit distracting.
A backyard office is perfect for a freelance writer. It gives you a quiet spot to focus those creative juices and you have easy access to all the comforts of home. If you have electricity in your shed you can even have a mini fridge for snacks and cold beverages.
2| A Photography Studio
With some dark curtains on the windows, a shed can make a perfect photography studio. You might even find some inspiration in your backyard for some great photos. If you’re into portrait photography you’ll also want to include the right lighting and background colors in your renovation budget.
3| Landscaping Business
Most homeowners already have the tools to run a small landscaping business. If you have a decent sized shed you can easily turn it into a base of operations for your business. Add a desk and a chair in the corner for the paperwork side of the operation and you’re ready to start running your landscaping business out of your own backyard.
4| Repair Business
If you’re handy you might want to consider starting your own repair business. It’s the ideal business to run from a backyard shed and you won’t even have to make too many changes. A good workbench and the right tools are essential.
If you plan on working through the winter you’ll need to insulate and add a heat source as well. I have a friend that runs a thriving small engine repair business out of his shed and he set everything up for just a few hundred.
For more ideas on how you can start working from your own take a loo at our article 15 Backyard Business Ideas That May Surprise You.
5| Affiliate Business
When you run an affiliate marketing business your main tool of the trade is a laptop. Everything’s done online so all you really need is a quiet space to work, office furniture, a reliable internet connection, good lighting and heat in the winter. It’s a business that you can easily run from your backyard office.
6| A Wood Working Craft Business
Another great startup you can run from your backyard shed is a craft business. If you’re into wood working you can even use those skills to create crafts in your shed that you can sell online.
Chances are you already have the tools, you just need to transform your shed space so you can use it for your new business. Your family will probably be happy that you’re working in the backyard and not in the house. Wood working can be noisy and messy.
If you don’t find anything in this quick list that fits your background and skill set, check out my article
Your Office Shed Can Transform Your Work from Home Life
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in the last couple of years it’s that we can do just about any type of work remotely. As more people have had a taste of what that can mean for work-life balance, fewer want to return to the office.
Some projections are predicting that more than 25% of all workers will be working remotely by the end of 2022. That number is only expected to grow. Converting that backyard shed into a home office will give you a great head start on your own work from home dreams
