There’s a running joke among my friends that our conversations inevitably wander back to one topic: sheds. We admire the ones we pass on our runs, bemoan our lack of storage, and sometimes hatch elaborate plans to persuade our spouses that a shed should come before the next home project. Clearly, we lead very thrilling lives.
With the arrival of our new shed, I’ve officially become the object of a little backyard envy among the group. Luckily, I didn’t have to deploy any of my usual persuasion tactics to get it in place.
Why a shed? For us it was simple: to tidy up the garage and to improve our yard’s privacy and visual balance.
Our garage had become a catch-all—entryway, workshop, storage, and occasional parking spot—leaving it perpetually cluttered and covered in sawdust from our projects. We wanted to move tools, scrap wood, and messy items out so the garage could be more useful for family things: bikes, strollers, beach gear, and actually parking a car. That alone felt worth the investment.
But the landscaping played an equal role. One corner of our oddly shaped lot sits much closer to a neighbor than any of the others, and every attempt to screen that area with plantings has failed. We even lost two large holly trees we bought specifically for privacy, so a permanent structure felt like a smarter solution. We also wanted to visually push back the end of the yard and create a more defined grassy space. Adding a shed felt like a win-win for organization and landscaping.
We considered multiple approaches: building from scratch, assembling a kit, buying a ready-made unit from a big-box store, or hiring contractors. Ultimately we chose a local company that sells custom-built sheds made by an Amish manufacturer. The quality and craftsmanship were hard to pass up, and buying made more sense than attempting a time-consuming DIY while juggling other paid work.
One of the biggest perks was customization. We picked a 12′ x 16′ size, matched the siding and roof colors to our house, chose the siding type, selected window sizes and placement, and added a dormer to increase natural light inside. That dormer makes a noticeable difference in brightness and the overall feel of the interior.
After ordering, the shed was built and delivered in about four weeks. We prepped the site by transplanting a few bushes and removing two small trees. Delivery day was impressive: a single delivery driver backed in with a special trailer and used hydraulics and PVC rollers to tip and slide the shed into place—an efficient, almost theatrical process.
Next on the list was electricity. We had an electrician run wiring for outlets and lighting, but I dug the trench for the power conduit myself—12 inches deep as recommended. Inside, outlets were placed at counter height along the back wall where I plan to build a workbench, and we installed bright, efficient overhead LED fixtures to keep the workspace well lit.
We added two exterior sconces to brighten the yard and add curb appeal. Matching siding and roof colors to the house helped the shed feel like a natural extension of our home rather than an afterthought.
The final small project was a step up to the shed door. We made a simple step from pavers rather than a ramp since we don’t plan to store wheeled equipment inside. After digging and compacting a gravel and sand base, we experimented with paver arrangements and settled on a configuration that felt and looked right. I plan to add adhesive and potentially a single-piece cap for a cleaner finish, but for now it’s solid and functional.
We’re holding off on planting around the shed until the cooler months—landscaping in peak summer heat rarely turns out well—so for now there’s a small mock-up of what we might do come fall. We haven’t started moving things in yet; we want to plan the layout carefully and finalize the size of the workbench. Even so, the shed has already made a huge difference. The backyard feels cozier and more private, and the garage is on its way to being usable again.
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