This update is for everyone who’s been asking about the shed now that we finally painted it to match our white house (yes, it only took a year). While we were at it we swapped the lights and added window boxes. I’ve become, unexpectedly, very enthusiastic about sheds — like, it would be in my dating profile level of enthusiasm.
Admitting I like sheds is a surprising development for me. For a long time I didn’t care for them — in fact, I resisted when John wanted to use half of our beach house’s tiny backyard for one. I objected for an entire year and we lived with everything that should have been stored in a shed scattered around the house. Trust me, sandy beach chairs, umbrellas, paint cans, bikes and yard tools strewn through a foyer and laundry room is not ideal.
After a year of clutter, I relented and let John have his beloved beach house shed. That was when I realized sheds are practical and can also be downright charming. I immediately fell for the pink shed and daydreamed about never leaving it.
It really came down to two details: the lights and the window box. Those finishing touches changed my whole perspective. A well-placed light fixture and a lovely window box prove you don’t have to sacrifice style for storage. In fact, a thoughtful shed can enhance privacy, anchor the yard and create a cozy, tucked-in feel.
Back to priming and painting our Richmond shed after postponing it for over a year — here’s a shot from when we primed before the leaves changed. That primer looks a touch blue in some lights, so it’s not the final white that matches our house trim and doors.
One of the memorable moments during this project was discovering a hornet situation — a story I’ve shared on the podcast — but we got past it and finished the prep and painting.
We painted the doors the same soft French blue that we use on all three of our house’s exterior doors. The color is Tranquility from Benjamin Moore’s Affinity line — it’s subtle and ties the shed visually to the house.
Making the shed the same color as the house and using matching door paint created instant unity between the structures. They even share the same shingles, another small but effective design tie.
Over time the original lights started to feel too boxy for the shed’s long rectangle shape, so we replaced them with fixtures that have softer, curvier lines. The new lights have a charming pulley-like arm and we swapped in oversized round bulbs for a friendlier look — I think they’re adorable.
We chose window boxes from the same place we used for the pink shed because they’ve held up well. They’re made of no-rot material, are easy to mount, and include a handy self-watering feature. Just pour water into the designated opening and it slowly distributes moisture into the soil for days.
This is the view from my kitchen window now. I don’t mind doing dishes when this is the sight in front of me. I admit I’ve caught “shed fever” — it’s like a harmless obsession that makes the backyard feel complete. The shed functions as an adorable anchor point that changes the way the yard reads.
Placement matters: our yard curves back toward two neighboring houses through the woods, and one neighbor was especially visible in winter when leaves dropped. As soon as the shed was in place, it provided a more private view and a pleasant separation between properties. Now the view beyond our yard is the cute little shed instead of the neighbor’s backyard.
The shed also provides functional storage — we organized it thoughtfully so tools and gear have a home, which keeps the yard and house feeling tidy. It’s been a small but meaningful upgrade that enhances both utility and curb appeal.
So that’s how my appreciation for sheds went from zero to very real. What started as practical storage has become a delightful focal point in our yard — a little structure that offers style, privacy and serious organization benefits.
P.S. You can read about getting this shed back in 2016, the beach house shed, and how we organized these sheds in previous posts. This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.