She Sheds: Women Finally Have a Place of Their Own

Man caves emerged as a way to allow men to create a space of their own. Not only does it serve as a private retreat from everyone in the house, but it allows them to plaster the walls with posters, eat and drink freely, and relive their bachelor days.

Women need a retreat, too. In recent months, a new design trend has emerged and it’s taking the decorating world by storm. Known as “she sheds,” these female versions of the man cave serve as the perfect counterpart to a man cave. With a she shed, women no longer have to escape to the garden tub with candles and a glass of wine to get some peace and quiet. A woman can have a room to her own, to plaster in pink, lace, and anything else that makes it her own. Here are a few ways you can put she sheds to use in your own home.

Renovate an Existing Shed

If you already have a workable shed in your back yard, the least expensive, easiest option will be to simply use that. You can add a fresh coat of paint, change out the doors, and make structural improvements on the inside before bringing in your furniture and decorations to make it your own. Here are a few examples of shed renovations that can serve as inspiration.

Build It Yourself

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can build your own shed using support beams, floor joists, and plywood. This guide can serve as inspiration, but you can customize your shed to look the way you want. Before you choose this option, check with the building codes in your area to determine whether you’ll need a permit to build the type of shed you want. Some areas require permits for certain types of sheds but not others, so this could determine the type of shed you opt to build.

Use a Garden Shed

Instead of buying a full-blown shed or building your own, you can save money by purchasing a garden shed. These small structures are designed to hold gardening utensils, yard work equipment, and other miscellaneous items. But larger garden sheds can easily be converted into she sheds with a little creativity. Best of all, garden sheds can be purchased or built using a kit, all at a fraction of what a full shed would cost.

Visit the Salvage Yard

If building materials are an issue, you can find the materials you need at a salvage yard and build your she shed on a budget. Then shop thrift stores and garage sales for the items you need to decorate the interior. Add comfortable seating, a small table to hold your wine glass, and a mini-fridge to make it the perfect retreat.

The new she shed trend is showing that men aren’t the only ones who need to get away from time to time. After a long day of dealing with other people, what could be better than escaping to your own garden retreat, decorated exactly the way you want? When you have a place you can call your own, the stresses of the day won’t seem nearly as overwhelming.