My friend, the garden designer, author, and speaker, Rebecca Sweet, transformed an old disused backyard garden shed into a cozy home office and retreat. Via Rebecca Sweet, Harmony in the Garden.

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The continuing pandemic has a lot of folks rethinking how to manage life in the new normal. Planned vacations have become staycations. The commute to work for many remains a walk from the bedroom to the kitchen table, and some dining rooms have morphed into classrooms. Living and working in the same space leaves many yearning for an escape pod.

A colorful backyard shed I visited in Portland, Oregon. Robin Plaskoff Horton.

It may still be a while before we can safely return to the gym, chill out at a spa or raise a glass together at a bar. The tiny house movement has spurned an interest in small backyard home annexes that go way beyond the garden variety shed. While a prefabricated shed is an option, if you’ve got the skills and are looking for a creative home-improvement project, think about picking up one of the many free plans to build a shed. Here are some ideas for creating the retreat of your choice within steps of the back door and with garden views to boot:

1. Home Office

The desk in Rebecca Sweet’s shed office looks out onto the lush garden in her Northern California backyard. Via Rebecca Sweet, Harmony in the Garden.

Even if it’s just steps from the house, adding a self-contained dedicated private backyard home office can be a godsend to help improve focus and maximize workflow. Choose a shed with windows to bathe the space in natural light.

The comfy interior makes Sweet’s shed more than an office, rather a place to escape and repose when not working. Via Rebecca Sweet, Harmony in the Garden.

Create a personal interior design aesthetic and add some favorite objects that will inspire you, as did author and designer Rebecca Sweet in her shed space. Stay organized using freestanding or built-in bookshelves and storage drawers for stashing tools, materials, and files. For an inexpensive desk and one that conserves space, rest a desk surface on top of two file cabinets. Free up floor space with a wall-mounted drop-down table or computer desk. 

Pinterest, via @mybakyarddecor.

Like any outdoor shed conversion, begin by checking your area’s zoning regulations and whether you’ll need a permit. Hire an electrician to wire the place to make it a stand-alone fully functioning space. Insulate the shed for year-round use, and check with professionals about adding heat and cooling sources (even portable ones.) Step outside from time to time to soak in some nature and don’t forget to exercise to keep both body and mind in shape.

2. Guest Quarters

When the in-laws or friends you like–but not too much–visit, you and your guests will appreciate guest quarters that aren’t within shouting distance. If you don’t go for plumbing, hook up a hose to a sink and add a composting toilet if there’s room. Second-hand furniture can do the trick and a sofa bed allows for more space during the day. Create a mini kitchenette with a small microwave and fridge, hot plate, and a portable waste water tank from which you can recycle gray water to water the garden.

3. Potting Shed

Expand the tool shed into a potting station with space for seed starting and re-potting plants. Use shelving to organize and store containers by size. Fashion a potting table surface on top of stacked wooden or plastic crates where you can store soil, fertilizers, amendments, and other necessities. Mount a large pegboard on the wall for hanging tools. Many town libraries now have seed libraries where you can “borrow” seeds. Keep favorite gardening books at hand and sink into a comfortable chair for researching and planning the garden.

4. Home Classroom

Borrow some ideas from the homeschoolers. Find out what works for the kids by involving them in designing the space. Inspire creativity and easy engagement by placing books, objects, and colorful materials within easy reach using low shelves and bins. Encourage independent projects by having the kids gather found objects from around the house like cardboard boxes, ribbon and yarn, wrapping paper, and old magazines. Children’s furniture will fit perfectly in this pint-size footprint. Optimize and conserve space with multi-purpose pieces that double as seating and consider using stacking chairs. Add a chalkboard, a bag for chalk, and a bulletin board to hang student work. Encourage “field trips” to the kitchen for chemistry lessons disguised as cooking, and use the garden as nature’s classroom for learning about botany and butterflies.

5. Children’s Play Space

Pinterest, @LauraAshleyUK

The kids want to get out of your hair as much as you want them out of yours. Let them help select fun paint colors to enliven the room and place modular padded rubber tiles on the floor for a comfortable play surface. Include lots of toy storage, a fold-away table, loads of books, puzzles, games, and an old chest full of dress-up costume items. 

6. Yoga and Meditation Space

Pinterest, via @backyardbuildings

It may be the ultimate escape pod and a place to chill, relax, do a few yoga poses, and meditate. While the point of meditation is to unplug, it may seem funny to turn to one of the popular meditation or relaxation apps, but they can be helpful for those who need instructions or a jump start.  Add your favorite scented or unscented candles (try some battery-operated ones for added safety), add some gentle music, a meditation floor pillow, or a comfy futon. Besides a little quiet time, what more do you need?

7. Art Studio

Tap into your artistic self in a shed studio where you can paint, draw, craft, write, or do whatever you feel like doing to get those creative juices flowing.

8. Home Gym

It may be a while before the person sweating next to you feels safe. So start by rolling out some rubber-padded flooring and cover one wall with a mirror. Place a treadmill or rowing machine that can be stored upright after use to free up floor space for other activities. Add a rack for free weights and dumbbells, a yoga mat for post-workout stretching, and a foam roller for working out those muscle kinks. Keep a stash of towels on hand for when you work up a sweat and a small fridge for water to maintain hydration. Alternate working out indoors and stepping outside into nature. Breathe.

9. Maker’s and DIY Workshop

He-shed, she-shed… DIY-ers of all kinds, this space becomes a special private enclave for woodworking, sewing, furniture building, and making all kinds of things you may not yet have even thought about. 

10. Backyard Bar

As bars in many cities remain closed, some resourceful folks are turning garages and sheds into bars. To maintain social distancing with those outside your “pod,” place one or two high-top tables and bar stools at least six feet apart. Add music from a wireless speaker, a dart board, a game table of choice, some mood lighting (if the space isn’t wired, use a battery-operated lamp), pour and chill.

11. Home Spa

Brooke Lark, Unsplash.

This can be a place to wind down and enjoy some self-care. Furnish with a comfy sofa or chair, shelves for spa potions and lotions, and some bins for fluffy towels. Light scented candles, use soft lighting and music, and maybe a tabletop water feature for soothing sounds of water.

12. Home Library

Hackney shed library, Office Sian Architecture.

Escape to the back forty to lose yourself in a book. Fill floor-to-ceiling shelves with your favorites and categorize them by theme. Use inexpensive ready-made shelves from IKEA then add crown moldings at the top and baseboard at the bottom to create the look of more pricey built-ins. If needed, wire for electricity and insulate to protect books from extreme temperatures. If electricity isn’t an option, pick up a battery-operated lamp, book light, or camping headlamp. A comfortable reading chair and footstool are a must, maybe a small writing desk. Print up personalized bookplates and lending cards if you want to share your books.