100 DO IT YOURSELF Summer 2020BUILT-IN STORAGE
“I use the storage
closet at the back of
the shed for gardening
tools and outdoor
decorations. It’s nice to
have a separate space
for these things,” Karen
says of the pegboard-
lined 2×8-foot closet.
The back wall of the
closet is shared with
the interior of her cozy
shed—it’s the wall with
the daybed. The ceiling
of the closet is the
underside of part of
the sleeping loft.SHAREDSHEDBASICS
Homeowner Karen
Zimmerman has advice
about building your
own shed, whether as
an escape for finding
R&R or for down-
and-dirty storage.GATHER IDEAS “I recently
joined a Facebook group
called She Shed Sisters. It is
fun to communicate with
people all over the world
who have similar interests,”
Karen says. “This group,
along with Pinterest, has
great ideas.”CHECK THE RULES “When
adding anything to your
property, consult your city
to find out what they will
allow,” Karen says. Her shedmeets the maximum square
footage her city would
allow without a permit.BUDGET FOR BUILDING,
THEN SOME “I would say
the shed build was about
$2,600 and with other
materials I probably have
$4,000 into it,” Karen
says of her finished shed.
Of course, prices vary
by location. But doing
it yourself always saves
on labor costs. Be sureto account for materials
such as insulation,
wallcovering, and paint,
as well as upgrades like
the front door and other
accessories.DO OVER “If I had it to
do over again, I would
add water,” Karen says of
the one thing her shed is
missing. A bathroom and
kitchenette would turn this
she shed into the ultimate
hard-to-leave retreat.PEGBOARD
ALLOWS YOU
TO CUSTOMIZE
STORAGE SPACES—
EVEN BACKS OF
DOORS—WITH
EASILY MOVABLE
HOOKS AND
SHELVES.FOR RESOURCES
SEE PAGE 101.96-100_Zimmerman_Shed.indd 100 FINAL 2/12/20 12:47 PM