8 Ideas for Summerhouses with Side Storage
If you can’t choose between a summerhouse or a storage shed, why not combine each design for the best of both worlds?
Summerhouses with side sheds offer a practical place to store tools and garden supplies while still allowing you to enjoy a beautiful garden lounge.
With the array of opportunities these sheds open up, there are various directions you could take with the design and purpose of your garden shed. Today, Atlas Sheds will explore how summerhouses with side storage are a game changer for your home.
And just to help you get the ball rolling, we’ve included some great ideas for making the most of the extra space.
Summerhouses with side storage: why they’re worth it
Listen, when it comes to gardens, you either go all out with making it look pretty and functional, or you add one garden chair and call it a day.
But it doesn’t take much to completely transform your garden; adding a summerhouse with a side shed can transform it from boring to beautiful in a matter of hours with one simple purchase. So, what exactly can one of these sheds do for you?
A stylish outdoor retreat
Do you dream of soaking up the sun in a cosy lounge area, surrounded by the chirping of birds? A summerhouse adds a stunning, modern touch to your garden and is the perfect spot to relax.
Saves space
Instead of cramping your garden with a separate storage shed and summerhouse, this keeps everything in one place.
Organisation is the key to keeping your shed clean, tidy, and free of dust and pests.
Entertaining without the clutter
Having a separate area to store any tools means you can enjoy a garden shed that’s solely for social gatherings or dedicated to hobbies. Plus, you’ve got more room to decorate it with soft furnishings!
Cost-effective
Buying one shed built for multiple purposes rather than two separate sheds can also save you a lot of money.
Low maintenance and durable
Atlas Sheds' garden sheds are designed with high-quality timber and tongue-and-groove cladding. This means you can enjoy your summerhouse for years to come with little upkeep.
Increases property appeal
If you’re a homeowner looking to sell in the next few years, a summerhouse with side storage can boost the appeal of your garden. This will serve as a great selling point, adding extra value to your home.
Browse our studio plus sheds for more like this.
8 uses for your summerhouse with side storage
Now that we’ve addressed why you need a summerhouse for your garden, let’s have a look at the different ways you can get the most out of your new feature.
1. The outdoor dining spot
With spring and summer just around the corner, everyone will be cracking out their BBQs and hosting garden parties at the first sign of sun.
Why not create the ideal outdoor dining area to soak up the sun and enjoy a nice meal with family or friends? You can add a large dining table, comfortable chairs, and a patio area for grilling your food on the BBQ.
With the added side shed, you can store any dishes, cups, and cutlery for use during the summer. Use this extra space as a pantry for preserving garden produce, such as home-grown vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
2. The creative studio
Are you ready to get your craft on? As we all know, creating art, whether that’s painting, woodworking, or jewellery making, can be a messy business.
Save your couch or carpet from being littered with paint by turning your summerhouse into a creative studio (adding a protective sheet across the floor of a wooden shed is much easier than your living room).
You can include a desk for crafts, adjustable easels, or a sewing machine; no matter your hobby, a summerhouse provides plenty of space. The side shed can store paints, fabric, spare canvases, etc. Plus, the large windows bring in extra light to help with focus and improve visibility.
3. The green thumb's paradise
A summerhouse with side storage is ideal for avid gardeners; it gives you the chance to display your plant seeds and tidy away any garden equipment.
The large windows and bi-fold doors will help seedlings thrive, creating a bright, uplifting environment. You can add in wooden shelves, tables, and hanging planters to grow and display a range of indoor plants, creating your own green sanctuary.
Add a unique touch by incorporating a bookshelf filled with gardening books and journals. You can also dedicate a small table for growing cuttings in water, complete with mason jars and propagation vases. Now all you need is a comfy garden chair to admire your handiwork.
4. The children’s entertainment area
If your home is overrun with children’s toys and games, use your summerhouse as a play area.
This will not only save space indoors, but it’ll also make your home much quieter and more relaxed when they’re off playing. You can add some of their favourite toys to the shed, alongside beanbags, game consoles, and a dress-up station.
Despite being called a ‘summer’ house, this entertainment area allows your children to play in the garden even when it's pouring rain. To make it more fun, choose a theme, like a castle or a pirate ship, and turn the inside of your shed into its own make-belief world.
If they’ve got too many toys to set out, use the storage section to store away any items they aren’t as interested in. As your child grows, your summerhouse can evolve with them.
- Toddler stage– Soft mats, sensory toys, and interactive wall panels.
- Early years– Dress-up stations, play kitchens, and simple puzzles.
- Primary school age– DIY science experiments, role-playing games, and reading corners.
- Teenage years– Hangout space with a Bluetooth speaker, games console, and comfy seating.
5. The book club
Have you wanted to start your own book club for a while but don’t have enough room at home to host it?
No problem! A summerhouse and storage shed provides you with the perfect opportunity to create your own book discussion area. You can add bookshelves, a table and chairs, and a snack cart for when you get peckish during your meetings.
The storage area is the perfect place to create a mini library (for those who have more books than shelves). You can also use it to store book memorabilia, extra blankets, and stationary for annotations.
6. The wellness and spa room
Whether you have a busy homelife or stressful job, a place dedicated to relaxing and indulging in yourself is ideal for your garden summerhouse.
The large windows allow plenty of light to shine through, creating the perfect serene environment for meditating, yoga, or self-care.
To maintain a relaxed state of mind, you'll want to minimise clutter, so store large items like yoga mats, blocks, and massage chairs in the storage section.
Create a hydration station for herbal teas and add drawers for towels, essential oils, skincare, and crystals. Add a soft rug for a cosy touch, and use racks to hang up any robes or small exercise equipment.
7. The dancers dream
If you’re a dancer or ballerina, create your own mini studio in your backyard to dance the days away in your own creative space.
It’s time to upgrade from using the kitchen as your stage and bumping into cupboards and kitchen islands; a summerhouse provides plenty of space to practice your pirouettes, work on some new choreography, or practice your tap dancing skills without disrupting the whole house.
You could add a portable ballet bar or install one onto the wall, hang up some mirrors, and place down a dance floor to protect your ankles (and shed) from damage. Use the extra storage space for any stretching equipment or dancewear.
8. The mini gym
If you struggle to travel to the gym every day, whether because of time or motivation issues, a garden gym is bound to solve all of your problems.
Transforming your summerhouse into a bright and spacious home gym will motivate you to work out and save you money on gym memberships. Add rubber flooring to absorb impact from weights and mirrors so you can check your form.
Then, you can add any workout equipment you prefer; use the extra storage space to tidy away jump ropes, resistance bands, blocks, yoga mats, etc. For more ideas, read our guide on transforming your shed into a gym.
Get Your Studio Plus Shed Today!
Your dream summerhouse awaits you, so don’t put it off any longer!
At Atlas Sheds, we’re here to help you get your garden spring ready and make the most of all the extra space. Our durable, stylish, and sustainable studio plus sheds provide the perfect way to make the most of the space in your garden and design your own workout space, hobby zone, or booknook.
With fast delivery and no hidden costs, our summerhouses completely redefine what it means to have a garden that you love.