So you can’t seem to part from all those precious tools you hardly use anymore. And, you can store them in your wooden shed out back, but your shed could be used for SO MUCH MORE than just an area to store tools. There are several different purposes for sheds and all it takes is a little modification.

Garden sheds are perhaps the most popular types of sheds and they seem to have a natural fit located next to the garden. This makes it really convenient for storing your garden tools and gardening supplies. And, its a breeze to pot all your plants with an added workbench. You can actually feel a connection to the past with the character and charm of many of today’s garden sheds.

There are a lot of other purposes for sheds as well. As an example, pool cabanas are actually sheds that are placed near the pool. They are made to store all your pool toys, supplies and cold snacks (with the addition of a small refrigerator). Your kids won’t be running into the house all wet anymore. And all the pool chemicals for your pool can be stored in the cabana away from the house.

Sheds are perfect for artists’ studios and for kids playhouses because of their size. And, with the addition of a few pieces of furniture and other accessories, a wooden shed makes a great little sanctuary.

If you are seriously considering building your own shed, there are a couple of alternatives for the kind of material you can build it with. If your shed is going to be in a highly visible place, I strongly recommend building it from wood for aesthetic reasons, if nothing else.

Your other alternatives are metal and plastic. Metal is strong but they can get really hot, especially in warmer climates. Plastic is going to be your least expensive option and they are virtually maintenance free.

Assuming you’ve made the decision to put a wooden shed in your backyard, you’ll need to decide if you are going to hire someone to build it or if you will tackle that challenge yourself. There are a LOT of shed kits available out there for you to choose from if you feel comfortable enough with your carpentry skills. And, its much faster and easier to build a shed from a kit than it is making it from scratch.

So, its important to step back from your project before you get too deep and evaluate what its purpose will be. The rest will fall right into place.

Terry Shaw enjoys everything about garden sheds. For a lot more information, construction tips, and resources, visit his web site: Best Wooden Sheds.