Part of planning for a new backyard shed is choosing what it will look like. There are many different design styles of sheds which makes it easier to pick one that best suits your home and storage needs. The main types are the garden, the barn, sheds with garage doors, the lean to, the modern, the greenhouse and the firewood sheds.

The term garden shed is loosely used to represent many types of sheds as long as they are in the “garden”. Often the garden shed will have a few more details than a regular storage shed. Details like steeper roofs, windows and window planter boxes add the details to make them look cute and fun.

Another backyard shed style that adds character to any yard is the shed barn. By using the design elements of a full sized barn on a much smaller scale you can have a great looking country style shed right in your own yard. Whether you want a gambrel, a raised center aisle or a gable barn you can have it by building a barn shed.

Sheds with garage doors are typically on the larger size. Adding a garage door greatly adds to the functionality and ease of access to the shed. Being able to easily drive a riding lawn mower or 4 wheeler into your backyard storage shed is a luxury that a garage door affords.

Lean to shed plans are the simplest of designs to build. The single sloping roof plane makes the roof easy to construct and install roofing on. They work well up against a fence or house wall to keep the water running off the roof away from the foundation or off your neighbors property. One of the most innovative ways that the lean to is used is as a backyard home office or work studio. When a lean to shed is used as a office it is often called a “modern shed”.

The modern shed is a lean to shed with the addition of windows, nice door and usually nicer siding. The inside is finished to look like a professional office or studio space. Using a shed is not a new idea but customizing it to be a professional space that you will love to work in and clients will be impressed with is.

Greenhouses come in all sizes and styles. The main contributing differences between a greenhouse and regular sheds are the generous use of a translucent roofing material like polycarbonate. By adding this great material to the walls and roof of your shed you will let in plenty of daylight to encourage plants to grow.

Firewood needs to be kept dry to properly season so it will burn well. Having a dedicated firewood storage space with a rigid roof that can keep snow and rain from continuously soaking the wood is critical to protecting your investment and making sure the wood will be ready to burn when it gets chilly outside. Choose a plan that has enough storage space for the amount of wood your will burn in a given year.

Shed size is another factor that affects the style of the shed you build. After deciding on the shed size you need you will find that most styles come in small to large. With so many choices it may seem hard to pick just one backyard shed plan. Take some time to write down your needs and then see how that fits into your construction budget. Pick your favorite style and then get to work.