Garden Shed Makeover
Looking for ways to update your garden shed? Try painting it! Wait until you see how a can of paint can completely transform an eyesore garden shed.
(This post is Part I of a two year makeover. For Part II, see the bottom of the post).
When we first purchased our garden shed twenty years ago, we wanted it to match our home.
At that time, our house was a cute yellow ranch with red trim.
Truth be told, I’ve never loved the shed color and have no idea why we felt the need to match the house.
File this one under “what were they thinking?”
Before the Garden Shed Refresh
For years, we joked that our shed resembled mustard and ketchup.
It’s not terrible and doesn’t look awful, but my eye goes right to it when viewing this corner of the property.
Some of the shed’s trim was rotting, there was a ton of debris behind it, and quite frankly, it was time to make this corner of the yard look pretty.
My vegetable garden is housed directly in front of the garden shed. (That also needs to be rehabbed, but we’ll save that project for another weekend.)
I am out here all the time during the growing season and don’t love the look anymore, so it was time for an update.
Since I started blogging, I am noticing certain exterior home details that distract from the gardens.
The garden shed is one of those details that I avoid photographing because to me, it doesn’t look good and clashes with my backyard beds.
Not loving it anymore, I decided to fix it up and paint it.
For years, I’ve wanted to update it but sat on the idea because I didn’t know what I wanted to do.
Does that happen to you too?
After getting serious about updating it, I researched garden shed images on Pinterest and found some neutral inspo that I loved.
So I ran with it and the transformation is incredible!
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Supplies Needed to Paint the Garden Shed
- Power Washer and Soap
- Exterior Primer
- Paint brushes, roller and rolling pan
- Exterior paint for shed and trim (I used Benjamin Moore’s Aura Exterior line in Matte finish. The shed is painted in Ashley Gray and the trim is painted in Tate Olive)
How to Paint the Garden Shed
- Power wash the shed and allow to dry for 24 hours before painting
- If necessary, repair any areas that are rotting.
- Make sure the temps will not dip below 45 degrees before painting. Check weather to ensure it won’t rain for 24 hours after painting so it has time to dry.
- Apply exterior primer. Instead of priming the entire shed, I spot-primed the areas where we replaced the wood and metal trim.
- Paint the shed with main color then allow to dry.
- Apply a second coat. Allow to dry.
- Paint the trim (2 coats if needed), then allow to dry.
After Painting the Shed
Isn’t the result amazing?
Why why why did I wait so long to do this!
It looks so much better now.
The gray looks like the bark on the trees in the woods behind it and the sage trim blends with the foliage.
The shed looks more neutral now and will compliment the gardens as they fill in.
You guys…I love it!!!
I can’t believe how much better it looks.
Can you?
The vegetable garden is still falling apart but that is a project for another day!
When we cleaned out around the shed, we discovered a bunch of landscaping rocks that we’ve been storing from my mother’s former home.
I don’t have enough to make a real stepping stone path, but would love to add more.
Doesn’t it add a little more character to the garden?
I’m also loving the wreath on the door of the shed that I bought from Hobby Lobby.
They have some beautiful wreaths, don’t they?
Hobby Lobby was having a sale on faux florals, so I snagged this one for 50% off.
Totally worth it.
For more home and garden inspiration, see Front Door Refresh, Spring Garden Flowers That Bring Joy and How to Divide Hydrangeas.
One Year After Giving the Garden Shed a Makeover
Wait until you see the changes I made in 2021 to make this garden shed the gorgeous cottage garden it is today.
CLICK HERE to see how it’s changed!
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