A trend that I’m seeing this year with respect to backyards is a return to vogue for backyard garden sheds. And it seems that the run of the mill pre-built wooden and metal sheds are not what most customers have in mind. No, the new trend this year is custom garden sheds - storage buildings with style are what people want this season.
Customization is in, and everyone wants their outdoor accessories, and this includes a storage shed in the backyard, to fit with their overall outdoor decorating scheme. Typically in the past there was a pretty big market for siting and constructing (if you could call it that) pre-built garden sheds that clients would buy at their building store. This year though people are looking for a totally unique design, and are looking for entirely custom built sheds to suit their decor.
The customizations that clients are looking for are not entirely aesthetic. There is a much greater awareness for the environment, so in fact many customers are requesting green and recycled materials for their garden sheds. Others are concerned about customizing the the roof pitch and gutter design to maximize rainwater collection. Other requests are for tricky shed placement so the new building fits in with the existing hard and soft landscaping.
One call I received was for a particularly whimsical style of shed, recently made popular on the reality series ‘Jon and Kate plus 8′. The 3 little crooked houses that they had built struck a chord with many people, and that is the new most popular request - adding some whimsy and imaginative style to backyard sheds is on the top of the list.
The other clients that are looking for customized backyard sheds are concerned about functionality more than style. The green thumb house owners are looking for a place to store all their gardening tools and landscaping supplies, as well as provide a space to do some potting and start seedlings in the spring. There are many others with different hobbies that would like a custom built studio for such things as stained glass, pottery, and painting. All of these are ideal uses for a cute backyard garden shed.
Regardless of what you need a backyard shed for, whether it is to add a bit of extra outside storage space, or whether you need a garden workshop, remember that you shouldn’t be limited to a plain looking press board shed reminiscent of the 80’s. As people discover their outdoor spaces once again, backyard decor has become as important as interior design. Put some thought into the style of your garden shed and you will have a great focal point to base your garden design on.