They say that owning a shed is the secret to a happy marriage, which is just a touch sexist, though a 2013 survey by Cuprinol did find that one in five men flee to the shed to avoid arguments. Two years on and Atelier, manufacturer of ‘garden studios’ is heralding the arrival of the ‘she shed’ an outdoors room that can be used as an extra workspace or for relaxation. According to Atelier, 56% of women own their own ‘she shed’, which seems disproportionately high given the decreasing amount of outdoor space homes seem to have these days!

It’s perhaps because more of us are working with limited space that sheds are becoming more than places to store the bikes and lawn mower with further research by Alfresia published in September, revealing that one in five sheds is now used for non-traditional purposes. Is it time to take a second glance at your garden shed?

Alternative uses for your shed…

What could you use your shed for if it wasn’t loaded high with garden shears and skateboards?

Your own personal pub

Well, one oft-dreamed of option is the creation of your very own garden pub, though the convenience of being able to pull pints in your garden may cost more than you’d expect. In addition to a fairly decent sized shed you’ll need to factor in the purchase of beer taps and furniture, not to mention alcohol. If you do decide to take the plunge, the Micropub Association should be your first point of call for advice about your project.

My friend Aran’s awesome VW camper van / shed hybrid

Office space

If what you daydream about is having a quiet workspace to call your own, an upgraded shed could provide you with your own office. You will find a number of companies now specialise in building this kind of outbuilding, though you could start by upgrading your present shed. You’ll find it rather unpleasant to work in all year round without proper insulation and you’ll definitely want to wire it for electricity but you can factor in extra light by fitting bifold doors. These wooden outdoor variety from Creative Doors Direct are suitable for outdoor use. If you opt to heat with a log burning stove, ensure it’s properly fitted and vented by a professional. Unfortunately there have been a number of accidents in the last few years that have been attributed to ill-fitted heaters in luxury sheds, so always put safety first!

Chillout zone

Whether your priority is having a place to play the latest video games in peace or you want to recreate the tranquillity of your local spa in an area that’s kitted out with loungers and soft lighting, a shed can provide a room to ‘getaway to’. One of the main advantages of converting your shed space is that unless the building is over two metres high or thirty metres square you won’t need planning permission. That said, if you are planning on constructing something rather large you may want to warn your neighbours out of courtesy and consider carefully where you place it. It’s also worth noting that different rules apply if you intend to live in the shed.

Is your shed competition worthy?

Constructing super sheds has become a lot more common in recent years and there’s even an annual Shed of the Year competition that celebrates the creative efforts of UK shed lovers. The uses of the sheds entered in the competition are so varied different categories have emerged. This includes a group for eco sheds, pub sheds, workspace sheds and cabins and summerhouses. Think your shed might be worthy of an award? Check out last year’s winner, a pub shed in the Scottish Highlands here. You will find details on how to enter the 2016 Shed of the Year competition here. If you’ve not yet got started on styling your shed, there’s plenty of time to pimp yours up before the competition gets started.

Have you got a garden shed or are you too short on space to consider one? Those of you who do own sheds, if you were going to turf out the lawnmower and other tools from your shed, how would you put the space to better use? Would you like to be the landlord or lady of your own personal micropub or would you prefer a pamper space for quiet contemplation and relaxation?