Before and After: An Eyesore Storage Shed Gets a Charming Cottagey Makeover for $250

If you’re short on space, you pretty much have two options: You can maximize the space you have, or you can make more space.

Deb Foglia of Seeking Lavender Lane knew that when it came to her home’s small one-car garage, she was going to have to make more space to be able to store gardening supplies and other home improvement tools. She and her husband Dan decided they’d add a shed to their yard space, but brand-new options cost thousands. Scouring Facebook Marketplace for used options netted them a deal on a used shed, which they hired a company to move to their property (worth the cost to make things easier, Deb says).

The problem with the 12-foot-by-20-foot shed? “It was in good condition but it was just… uh… ugly,” Deb says. It was all vinyl siding in a dingy blue, and there was some damage to the front of the shed that made it a bit of an eyesore.

Dan helped remove the front damaged panels, which he knew he’d need to replace. The sides were in decent condition, so they kept that siding in place. What they did add, though, was a cutout to feature a new charming diamond-patterned window (the hardest part of the project, Deb says).

When all the siding was on, the couple re-painted it in a crisp white. They used a paint sprayer to make quick work of the task (and get an extra-smooth finish).

The “after,” with vertical wood paneling on front, a freshly painted pair of black doors, and window boxes made from repurposed wire baskets, oozes cottage charm. The cost for renovating the shed was only $250, and the work makes the entire structure look brand-new.

Even though the shed is just for storage, it’s no longer an eyesore in the yard — it’s a design feature. “My favorite part of the “after” is definitely the side window!” Deb says. “I love that the whole shed looks clean and up-to-date with the vertical planking and white paint color. It’s amazing how simply painting an item or a room can completely transform the look and feel.”

Inspired? Submit your own redo here.