Cost-Effective Ways to Upgrade Your Shed

If your backyard shed has seen better days, you might be thinking of giving it a refresh in the new year. From minor improvements to major overhauls, there are plenty of ways to give your shed new life while sticking to a budget. Below, we’ll cover some cost-effective ways to upgrade your shed this year to enhance its style and functionality while also saving money.

Make Essential Repairs

A good place to start is to make some of the minor shed repairs that you’ve been putting off. Maybe you need to replace some missing shingles, replace a broken latch on the doors, or fix a broken window. Use this as an opportunity to give your shed the TLC it’s been missing. 

Many of these repairs you’ll be able to handle on your own without hiring a professional, and they shouldn’t be too expensive to fix. 

Give it a New Paint Job

One way to give an old shed a facelift and add some curb appeal is to refresh the paint job. You should only need a gallon or so of paint to cover the entire exterior, which you can get for under $100. 

You’ll be surprised how much of a difference a new paint job can make. Even if you paint it in the same color as before, a fresh coat of paint can make the shed look like new, enhancing the overall appearance of your property. 

Add Built-in Storage

Many people use their sheds as storage space, so adding practical storage solutions like shelves, bins, hooks, and pegboards can make your space much more functional and well-organized. 

Rather than stacking boxes haphazardly on top of each other, built-in storage solutions make it much easier to access the items you need. Plus, a nicely organized shed looks nicer, too. 

This is a relatively simple upgrade you can make on a spare weekend and won’t break the bank to DIY. Especially if you already have some spare lumber or hardware sitting around, you may be able to build your own storage solutions without purchasing a ton of supplies. 

Install Lighting

One way to make your shed more functional is to install lighting in the interior. This will make it easier for you to maneuver and access the contents of the shed after dark. If your shed doesn’t have any windows, it can also make it more convenient to use during the daytime. 

Battery-powered motion sensor lights are a good option if you haven’t yet run electricity to the shed. You can typically find these online or at your local hardware store for under $100. 

If you have a little extra room in your budget, adding electricity can be a worthwhile upgrade that lets you plug in tools, charge batteries, and install basic light fixtures to enhance the usability of the space. 

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Written by Bailey Schramm