If you’d like a quiet place to work from home, covert your shed into a home office! Portable buildings also serve as great studios and hobby centers. While you could use the shed just as it comes, some people prefer to go above and beyond, creating a truly ideal work space for their needs.

It’s important to note that this should only be done if you own your shed. Though our rent-to-own program is a great offer, you’ll need to wait until it is fully paid off before making any permanent changes. One of the benefits of the rent-to-own option is that you can actually get a feel for if this shed is the right size for your DIY home office or not. If you find it’s too small you can always trade up to a larger size without losing your investment. 

Own a shed? Here are 10 basic steps for converting your shed into an office or studio:

1. Replace Doors or Windows

If you’d like to replace the doors or windows of your shed to give it more of an office feel, that should be done first. If you do replace these pieces, be sure your new door has a secure lock and the windows are well insulated. With Cook portable buildings, you can add extra doors or windows with our custom options available.  

2. Add Electricity

You’ll need electricity for your office computer, Wifi, printer, lights and more. But, wiring electricity is not something to tackle on your own. Hire a professional electrician for this part. Most electricians are certified and offer a guarantee on their work. 

In fact, if your building is going to be used as a business location, the electrical work will be inspected and must be completed by a licensed electrician. This part of the electrical process only consists of rough-in work, including installation of wires and cables for basic power, lighting, Internet access, phone lines, and cable television.

Here’s what you need to consider before adding electricity to your shed! 

3. Insulate

To keep your shed warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, insulation is a must. If you’ve worked with insulation before, you know how itchy it can be! It’s best to make sure all parts of your body are covered before beginning this process. Also be sure to fill the entire wall and ceiling cavities with this material. That includes the space behind electrical boxes. This will help keep air from getting through.

4. Put Up Drywall or Wallboard

The next step is to begin hanging your choice of wall covering, whether that be drywall or wallboard. You’ll also want to cover the ceiling of your portable building in drywall. A good tip is to choose a drywall length that best suits your building.

Finishing the walls will be a lot easier when you have as few butt joints as possible. After your wall covering has been put up, you’ll need to go back and smooth over the edges by filling them with compound and sanding the resulting rough patches.

5. Install Trim Work

Now, you’ll want to start installing trim work within your shed. That includes baseboards, crown molding, and window casing. These simple elements will really help add a refined look to the inside of your converted shed.

6. Paint the Walls and Trim

After finishing your drywall, you’ll continue by painting the walls, ceiling and trim work. Begin with a primer. Then, add a base coat and top coat of paint. If you’re struggling to decide on the right color, read this post! 

7. Finish Electrical Work

Now that your walls and ceiling are ready, it’s time to go back and do some finishing electrical work. Add in the light fixtures and plan where your computer station will be. 

8. Install Floors

Complete your renovation by laying carpet, tile, hardwood or laminate flooring in your new shed.

9. Fill It Up

Begin filling your shed with office/studio essentials. These may include a desk, chairs, a computer, an office phone, filing racks, etc. This would also be the time to bring in a window unit for heating and air conditioning.

Space heaters and fans can help provide additional heating and cooling if you like. If you would prefer to have central heating and air in your building, this should be installed by a professional before drywall or wallboard goes up.

Once you’ve converted your shed into a home office you may want some help organizing everything on the inside. Check out these tips! 

 

    10. Decorate

Continue to make the space your own with elements that display your unique style. You could add curtains to the windows, hang up photographs, bring in a dry erase board, lay down a rug or set up lamps. You might even add inside plants, a wreath to the door or work on a stone pathway out to your door. Check out these Pinterest-inspired ideas for your shed here. 

 

The amount of effort you put into transforming your shed will really show once it’s complete. Who knows, you may never want to leave the office now!

One aspect we didn’t mention is proper ventilation. This is something that should actually be installed during the construction of the shed itself. Luckily, Cook Portable Warehouses come equipped with vented ridge roofing, so that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about.

If you’re ready to DIY your way to a new home office, here are a few different shed styles worth considering: 

• Garden Shed – This style already comes with a window, flower box and shutters making the outside very homey and approachable. It will be a beautiful addition to your backyard, even during the shed transformation stage. 

• Utility – If you’re wanting something customizable, this shed is a great blank canvas. You can add the windows, doors, flower box and shutters where you need them. If you decide you need a little extra storage for your home office, you can also add a loft. 

• Premium Utility Cabin – Turning your shed into an office will be simple with this gorgeous design. You’ll enjoy sitting on the porch for your morning coffee and then heading inside for a day of work. You have control over the color of the shingles and the siding. Plus, if you need more windows or doors, you can add those as well. 

• Premium Lofted Cabin – Take the features you love from the Utility Cabin and then add a loft to it! The bay window gives plenty of natural light and the loft adds storage space for your home or for office supplies. 

Learn more about the special construction features of Cook Portable Warehouses and see why our sheds make excellent office and studio buildings! If you still need a shed to turn into your office, then let’s start building yours today. 

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