5 Reasons To Put Home Office Shed In Your Backyard Make Remote Work Easier
May 5, 2021 News and Tips
Do you need your in-home office space for something else? A home office shed may give you the space you need! If you are a remote worker or a small business owner, you can use a shed for more office space or storage space for business supplies. If you have any sort of work or business function at home, below are 5 reasons that you should get a storage shed for an office or storage space.
5 Reasons For A Home Business Shed
1. Boundaries At Home
Studies are showing that people are having a hard time psychologically with living and working in the same space. In fact, it can be very difficult to delineate work from home responsibilities, and “get in the zone” if you are catching glimpses of unfolded laundry or dirty dishes sitting around.
Having a clean designated workspace can be a crucial key to thriving better in working from home. In the event that you do have to meet a client or coworker in person, you will have much more peace of mind meeting them in a clean designated space versus feeling like you have to clean up your house first.
Are you tired of storing business supplies in your basement or garage? Because many small business owners don’t have the space they need, they often resort to keeping tools and supplies at their home instead of renting a costly commercial space. A home business shed can give you a space to keep your business things. Not only will it allow you to stay organized, it will also give you the ability to keep your business separate from your personal life.
2. Fewer Distractions
Focusing is one of the most important things for efficient and effective working. When working in the middle of your house, it can be easy to get distracted by other tasks that need to be done or people that are in your home. Even the most focused people can be distracted several times throughout the day.
A home office shed can create a space that is close by, but prevents the common distractions that are often present when offices are inside the home. By creating a separate work space outside of your house, you allow yourself to focus more deeply on your work, while still giving yourself the flexibility to eat with your family and other important events.
3. No Commute
Some remote workers or small business owners work at another location because they don’t have space at home. However, if you would have space at home, you could remove your commute time and spend that time doing something else.
If you are currently working away from home, but have the option to work from home, then a home office shed will help you eliminate unnecessary commute time and fuel cost.
4. Work With More Natural Lighting
A huge benefit to using a shed as home office space is that you will be able to design your office with natural lighting in mind. Sheds are relatively small compared to other buildings, and thus maximizing light is going to be a whole lot easier than virtually any other office space, especially if you add several windows. Natural light is great for mental health. If you get a shed from a local builder, you will want to think through the design and placement, and install windows where you will get maximum sunlight.
5. Tax Benefits
If you are self-employed and you use your building solely for your business, you can write off the cost of the shed as a tax deduction, along with the shed utility costs and possibly part of the property taxes.
In order to qualify for a tax deduction, you must either administrate your business from that building or use it for storing business equipment and supplies. If that is the case, your portable home office shed would give you a tax break while giving you a nice place to work!
For more information about the tax deductions, read the IRS home office guidelines.
Office Shed Styles We Recommend
1. Modern Studio Style Office Shed
This is a relatively new style we offer that has gained a lot of traction lately due to the home office trends. This is probably the most common shed style to use for a home office. If you want the feels of going to a modern downtown office space, this model will suit you well. It also a popular option for artists and other creative types.
The modern studio is a very simple lean-two design that is super easy to customize on the inside according to your needs. The single slanted roof gives you a tall sidewall which allows you to add lots of windows and easily catch natural sunlight throughout the day.
2. Cottage Style Office Shed
Traditional and classy, the cottage shed is a fantastic option for your home office. The dormer window on the top allows for a lot of natural sunlight to stream through and will give you a wonderful airy feel to your office.
3. Cape Cod Style Office Shed
If you are planning to DIY finish your home office shed, the cape cod will be an easier one with clean interior lines. When using this model for a home office, we suggest you incorporate some nice horizontal and vertical transom windows like pictured above to maximize natural lighting.
4. Custom Design
Sometimes, an office shed project requires a custom design. The picture below is a customer of ours who is a life coach. She uses this custom-designed shed as an office. The shed also serves as a studio to record podcasts.
We hope that these ideas are helpful for getting you on the right track! Having the perfect backyard office space will not solve all the pitfalls of remote work, but it is certainly a fantastic means of keeping work and home life separate. Please reach out to us at Beachy Barns if you are in need of a backyard office shed. We would love to help you out!
What is the Best Size For A Home Office Shed?
A good size for a backyard shed for an office is an 8×12 shed. This gives enough space for a good-sized L-shaped desk, filing cabinets, coffee maker, and some chairs for meeting clients. If you have a tiny backyard, you could go as small as 6×8 or 8×10.
For a business storage shed, a 8×10 would give you some room if you just need to store basic supplies. If you have equipment, you may need a 12×20 shed or larger.
If you combine the two, a 12 x 24 shed would give enough space for both an office and some storage space. This would be an efficient use of space and give you the space you need for both aspects of your business.
What Foundation Should I Have For A Home Office Shed?
While there are several good options for your shed, the best type of foundation for your home office shed is a gravel foundation. The gravel allows your foundation to drain well when it rains while still giving a solid base. Installing a 4”- 6” gravel foundation will give your home office shed a foundation that will last a long time. If you would like more reading about shed foundations, read our blog Best Shed Foundations To Use.
How Much Does A Home Office Shed Cost?
An 8×10 portable shed office building shell can be well under $5000 while a 10×14 can be closer to $7000. Obviously, the cost is dependent on the options and style that are chosen. Finishing the inside could cost as little as $1000, depending on what you do.
Beachy Barns has a 3D Builder where you can design a small home office building and see a 3d rendering as you go along. When you are finished, it will give you an estimated price which you can submit to get an official quote with no obligation to buy. Check out the options we have today!
Can I Turn My Existing Shed Into An Office Shed?
Absolutely. If you have a shed that is not being used, it does not take much to turn it into an office shed building. We recommend that you insulate your shed and run an electrical line to the building. Next, cover the interior with drywall or T1-11 (or something similar). Once painting and trim work are complete, you should be ready to set up your office!
Should I Insulate And Add Electrical To My Office Shed?
If you are using your shed as a home office building, then you should add insulation and electrical. Insulation will keep the temperature much more regulated and easy to heat and cool.
We recommend electrical for home offices because it adds so many capabilities for you. With electricity, you can add lights, heater for winter, AC for summer, coffee maker, as well as the standard computer and printer.
We recommend adding a small six space electrical panel to your shed with a 60 amp line to it if you would like to have all the above mentioned features. If you prefer not to have an electrical panel, you could run three circuits instead.
If you are looking for a more basic setup that does not include AC or heat, you would be fine with one circuit to your building.
Does A Home Office Shed Help The Value Of My Home?
Yes. Sheds, whether as a home office or as a storage space, add tremendous value to your property if you sell your home, especially if it was finished out as an office. A shed is definitely something worth adding to your backyard.
