Whether your job requires you to work from home, or you’re looking to create a dedicated space to delve into your hobbies, if you find yourself lacking the room, then it might be time to turn to outside areas for help - like a shed.
Turning a shed into an office is becoming an increasingly popular trend as it saves on space inside your home, as well as enabling you to draw a clear line between your work and home life. In this blog, we are going to guide you through how you can start turning your shed into your dream, at-home workplace, as well as give you some ideas on how to decorate your shed so it’s both practical and stylish.
How to start turning a shed into an office
Before you start drilling holes and installing insulation, you’re going to need to prepare a few things so that when it comes time to transform your shed you know what you’re doing and have all the tools and equipment you need. Below we’ve included some recommended steps for you to take before you start the renovation process.
Design the layout
The first thing you’ll want to do when turning a shed into an office is design a layout. We recommend drawing this up to scale with measurements for accuracy. Make a list of all the equipment you wish to bring into the office, from computers to printers, and plan where everything will go. You can come up with a few different ideas of how your space will look and this will give you a good idea of the space you’re working with and how you can approach renovating it.
What areas require work?
Next, you’ll want to understand the current state of your shed and assess what you’re working with. This will help you identify any hazards and problem areas that your shed currently has and how you can fix them, as well as giving you a good idea of what it may cost to turn your shed into a productive oasis.
List the tools and equipment you’ll need
Once you know what state your shed is in and what issues you’re currently facing, you can make a list of supplies and tools you will need to tackle these issues. Again, this will help you understand what costs you might be looking at, as well as getting you fully prepared to start the renovations.
Getting started with the renovations
Once you’ve identified the layout, the changes and the equipment you need, you’ll be ready to get started on transforming your shed from a cobweb-filled box into the aesthetic office of your dreams.
The first thing you’ll need to do is ensure the shed is damp-proof to prevent mould and other issues from occurring in the future. Then you’ll want to install some insulation, electricity and other essential components before you begin the styling process to create a cosy and professional-looking office.
How much does it cost to turn a shed into an office?
Depending on what you want to achieve with your new office, the cost can vary. This is why it’s worth setting a budget beforehand and assessing the state of your shed so you can be aware of what you’re spending. Usually, the cost to turn an old shed into a liveable and productive space can be anywhere from £1,800 to £20,000, depending on the level of renovation you wish to pursue.
Panelling ideas for your garden shed home-office
Go further than a lick of paint and instead opt for stylish, durable wall panels. We highly recommend PVC wall panels for a shed office due to their multitude of benefits. Their top benefit for a shed is that they’re easy to clean, which is great for a small, outside area that would usually attract dirt or insects. They need nothing more than a cloth and some soapy water to be pristine again, so you can waste less time on cleaning and more time getting work done. We have a great cleaning guide for wall panels if you’d like to learn more about the easy maintenance of wall panels.
Aside from the easy cleaning regime, PVC wall panels are easy to install and are built to withstand a build-up of condensation, which you might experience during colder days or if you’re planning to have a kettle in your office. PVC panels can also add an additional layer of insulation and soundproofing, which are both features that are great to have in a garden office.
How to choose wall panels for a shed office
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right PVC panels for your shed, from size to colour, it will all play a part in creating your ideal workspace. To help you discover which panels are best for you, we’ve gathered a list specifically tailored for decorating a shed office, from bright, vertical designs that give the illusion of space to acoustic panels that help block out sound.
Light office panels
If your shed is small and lacks big windows (or any windows at all for that matter) the best thing for creating the illusion of a bright and airy office is some light wall panels. They’re great for brightening up any dark space and helping to give the feeling of a bigger space.
For a sleek, contemporary appearance, with an all-round professional feel, Ivory especially is a great choice for building a bright and elegant room with a soft colourway. Our Vox Kerradeco Stone Ivory can be used as a stunning accent piece or to cover your entire room, and its ability to bounce light around is second to none for those who are looking for something to brighten their dark and dreary shed.
However, if you’re looking for something a bit more bold than a modest ivory, but still want the benefits that come with choosing a light-coloured panel, then you may want to try some light pastel tones such as blue or pink instead. Incorporating your favourite colours into your office can help create a workspace you love and feel excited to work in every day. It can become a great source of motivation, so carefully choosing a colour scheme is important for a productive work area. These abstract pink wall panels are a great choice for anyone looking for a pop of colour combined with sleek features and light-bouncing benefits.
Dark office panels
Don’t rule out dark colours for your office shed just yet! Dark colours can actually create the feeling of a cosy space. If you naturally gravitate towards darker colours, then having an office with colours that make you happy will help promote productivity, so don’t be afraid to go darker with your colour scheme. These Vox Kerradeco Wood Carbon panels are the perfect modern touch to your shed office. Whether you want to keep it simple as a dark accent wall or fully embrace the dark side by filling your entire room with these grey panels, you can enjoy the textured wood effects and easy-to-clean benefits.
Textured office panels
Adding a textured touch to your shed office can help to add character and bring sleek contemporary styles into your workspace. From our Fun Wood PVC wall panel range we have these stunning Vilo Motivo Fun Wood PVC Panels. These panels feature an eye-catching wood effect design with numerous shades of beige combined with light grey pastel tones and can be placed either horizontally or vertically to suit your style. Wood effect panels are an excellent choice for those who want to keep the rustic, yet modern, shed feel even after the renovations.
However, if you’re looking for something that integrates a variety of bold colours and sweet pastels for a softer and warmer look, then we have these Vox Vilo Colour Wood PVC Panels from our Vox Vilo Colour panels range. Featuring a stunning primary beige colour with numerous pastels mixed into it, as well as a textured wood effect, this panel style is great for adding a touch of both colour and character to your new shed office. They’re also 100% waterproof for peace of mind, so you can enjoy your office even when it’s pouring down knowing it’s fully protected.
Acoustic office panels
Working from a shed may come with unwanted noises, for example, nearby traffic or neighbours cutting their grass. These things aren’t ideal when creating the perfect working environment, especially if you expect to take a lot of meetings and calls in your new office.
You’ll want a space that allows you to be productive without distractions, and our acoustic slat wall panels offer more than just a modern aesthetic, they also come with soundproofing technology that helps eliminate echoes and outside noise.
Our wide acoustic slat wall panels in light ash are a perfect choice for a shed office. With light designs that will open up your space, to 3D texture for some extra character and soundproofing qualities. You can enjoy the best of both worlds and join your meetings completely worry-free knowing that there won’t be any distractions on your end. We also have a wide variety of other colours in our acoustic slat wall panels collection for you to enjoy.
Finding the best floor tiles for your shed
Aside from wall panelling, you’ll also want to include some durable flooring for your shed office. Flooring will play a very important role for an outdoor office, as it can help to keep the warmth in. The possibility of dragging in mud and water is also a lot higher than an in-home office, so you’ll want something that’s easy to clean as well.
Our Urban Stone Greige Vinyl Tiles Flooring are not only quick and easy to install but also creates a worry-free foundation with anti-slip, easy-to-clean and waterproof features, so you have peace of mind even during those rainy days.
However, If noise is at the forefront of your mind. Then we have flooring that can help with that too. Our Lime Oak Vinyl Planks Flooring is not only complete with a sleek wooden design, but also reduces sound with unique foam top layers that absorb the sound of steps and echo, making it the perfect partner to our wall panels. It also features anti-slip and waterproof technology so that you can enjoy an all-in-one combination of style and functionality.
Fitting your interior shed cladding
Once you’ve picked out the perfect panels and flooring for your shed it’s time to start thinking about installing them. We have a very handy guide on how to install PVC wall panels to help you get the job done with ease, complete with a list of all the tools you’ll need.
Turn your shed into your dream workspace with Panel Company
Here at The Panel Company, we have a huge selection of office panels for you to choose from to help you create your dream at-home office.
If you’ve already decided on what wall panels are the best for your shed, then why not finish off the look with some PVC trims? These trims will be sure to complete your renovation with a dash of professional detailing so you can enjoy your new shed office in style.
