You may love them, or hate them, show them off, or hide them, but a shed is one of the most misunderstood things that occur in our lives. Many people go out and get a shed, and then within weeks, find that it is not suitable for their ever changing needs. A change in hobbies, or family size can render early shed selection inadequate for the newly created situation. Forthought and advance planning always helps but lets face it, the first thoughts are, "Well it is only a shed so anything will do!" Bang a generally instant disaster, but how doers one go about having a useable shed that meets unknown requirements. Let us see.....
There are certain main features that have to be considered when thinking about a shed, covered by those old favourites of teaching, Who , What, Where and When.
- Who will use it (Him, Her, Kids, The Gardener?)
- What is it for (Wood, Bikes, Toys, Gardening, Tools?)
- Where is it going (Next to The House, Garage, Bottom of the Garden?)
- When will it be used (Occasionally, Often At Night?(
The Shed may be a sanctuary for one to hide in, a treasured place for proud possessions, a dumping ground for everything that cannot be hid elsewhere in the house. The uses are endless, and in this we can be grateful that there are many varieties of SHED.
It is with dismay, that I note that the local Gardening/ DIY shops seem to have a passion for selling Galvanised Boxes with no actual floor, and pass them off as SHEDS. They are I suppose what passes as a storage shed, but far beyond the luxury of wooden walls, with opening full glass windows, warm dry wooden floors, enough room to "swing a cat" with some height for those of us over 6 ft, (one point something metres) Shelves, a Workbench and Electricity with dare I say it, HEATING and LIGHTING.
Yes, I have had all those wonders in my shed but, I have to add that that shed was extremely cheap, and again, the luxuries where relatively inexpensive.
So where do we go from here.
Well, we will venture into the Who , What, Where and When. and from there look into how each will affect your decisions.
Perhaps from this a more rational decision as to what will be suitable can be made and thus lead you to the right design for your forthcomong needs.
See you soon.
Robin
Note. All opinions printed here are the personal choice of the author an experienced designer and not necessarily the views of others.
