Converting Sheds into Livable Space
Boomerang kids and sheds, and what does Boomerang mean and what has that to do with shed designs? Boomerang is the term for the kids out of college, can’t get a job, and living back at home. They probably go as nuts living back home as the parents do having them back. One solution for the Boomerang is a miniature home in the backyard that is somewhat off the grid, inspired by none other than your backyard shed.
George Hemminger of the YouTube channel Survive and Thrive did just that. Inspired by sheds sold at places like Home Depot, he built this small house for $1,200, which is a doable price tag for the Boomerangs to do themselves while they job hunt and/or pay off their college debt. This can give them hope and control over their life. George states “85% of college grads are living at home these days.” *YouTube Video is no longer available.
The video didn’t reveal what he did inside his sheds, but a DIY handy person can expand on this idea by including a kitchenette, bedroom (raise the ceiling), and a bathroom. Run the electricity and plumbing and your all set. Stuck at home college grad is now living independently. But, that starts to cost more and is not off the grid. Two boomerangs could split the cost and have quite the place.
So let’s look at more sheds.
Summerwood offers sheds, pool cabanas, home studios, and more. This is their cabin-style that could easily be used for a college grad, house guests, or grandma or grandpa who can’t live alone anymore and you don’t have the room for them.
Converting sheds into livable space is taking off. Shedshop.com offers sheds as studios, home offices, workshops, and hobby rooms, but state their studios are not suitable for use as a bedroom. Above is a happy converted shed owner showing off his TV room. Sheds are now shedtastic!
Some before and after sheds and a shed turned into a man cave:
HGTV Rate My Space shows an owner’s existing shed before.
Shed inside after is an exercise room/dining room.
Shed outside after is an amazing transformation. This idea is perfect if adding on to your existing home is out of the question.
New York Times talks about sheds turned man cave and this one is packed to the gills. I know, the term man cave is overused, but there is something to be said for a place for your husband to have all the things around him that he enjoys. It’s a great space to bring his buddies, and wouldn’t you be a coup (coo) of a wife for his buddies to be jealous of to have partnered something like this!
Tatertotsandjello.com is a DIY decorating and craft blog. She has a neighbor who transformed her shed for free by trading her scooter to someone who turned her shed into a beautiful space via a Craigslist ad.
Shed after photo is inspirational for converting a shed into a livable space. And a couple of gal-pal college grads could easily be sitting pretty like this with a little ingenuity and imagination.
If you have a shed (or imagine one) in your backyard, stand up, (are you standing ?) go look at it, and re-imagine what it could be for you and let me know what your shedtastic conversion dream would be.
For more small shed-type living read about Small Space Living and also
You Are Also Going To Love… Livable Shed Design Ideas
Thanks so much for visting today and I love hearing from my readers.
Steel garage lasts a long time. Some are cheap and really affordable but still has the quality that is really good.
There are also livable sheds big enough for sleeping.
I’ve had classes inside portable buildings in my childhood, but I never thought that people would live inside of them! The second picture you showed looks like a completely livable house! While miniature houses made from sheds isn’t for everyone, it’s a great solution for those who don’t need much space and don’t have much money. Sheds aren’t just for storing things anymore! Thanks for the cool article.
Sheds really is very flexible too. You can covert them to storage or livable space. Really nice.
Want to get a shed in a few months and convert it to a liveable shed but situation is the electricity more than the water and plumbing. Is there a way to have your electricity in the shed without digging a trench or having a extension cord plugged from your shed to some other building? By the time they charge for the use of their electricity, the shed living may be very expensive; an expense you wouldn’t be able to pay.
Hi Gale, the only to have power without digging or extension cords is to have a generator that could be pricey and is often noisy. Hope that helps.
Thanks so much, using solar power is an excellent solution for this situation.
Good idea…. OH i like this idea
This is gorgeous, I love reading your blog and this pretty styles and home designs..keep up
http://hind-toufga.blogspot.com/
@toufga Why thank you so much for such a nice comment Hind. I appreciate that a lot.