Tips for Matching your Shed or Garage to the Style of your Home

Constructing a new outdoor structure requires a lot of thought and careful planning. If you are considering building a shed or a garage, you should consider it as a reflection of your personality and lifestyle. So, why not make the most out of it by ensuring that it has the same charm and character as your house. In this way, you will end up with a shed or garage that you are truly proud of.

Here are some tips for building aesthetically pleasing sheds that will complement your home:

Carefully Study the Architecture of your Home

Garden sheds or garages that do not match the design of their respective house look out of place. So, it is important that you choose a style that complements your home’s architecture. Keep in mind that your shed and your house will be seen side by side. As such, create a sense of visual cohesion or harmony between these two structures.

Do you have a modern home with flat roofing or is your house designed with traditional bricks with sloping roofs? Carefully study the outline and overall shape of your house and base your shed on its architecture. For instance, if you have a contemporary home, it would be ideal to have a shed with mono-pitched, skillion roof that slants at only one angle.

On the other hand, if you have a traditional brick and tile home, a classic gable roof would suit your shed. Such design particularly mimics the shape of roofs that have sections equalling slanting towards the centre peak.

Coordinate the Colours

If you want to make a unified and unique style for your residential structures, then you should paint your shed in the same colour as your home. There are suppliers that offer sheds that have been pre-primed. They are ready for painting in any colour you wish. Garden sheds with wood or engineered wood materials will stand well amidst the elements when they are painted with 100% acrylic latex paint.

Choose Materials that Complement your Home’s Façade

Perhaps, your house has a bay window or expansive glass windows. On the other hand, you might have an attic with a small window adorned with stained glass. The aforementioned are just some of the many stunning details that can dominate a home’s façade.

You can create the same effect with your garage or shed. There are shed suppliers who can add extra features like skylights, glass sliding doors or windows. As such, it is ideal to choose a shed builder who can customise your steel structure. With this option, you will have the freedom to get creative and choose a design that matches your house. Here are some design ideas that may work well with your shed:

Front Porch

There are many architectural styles that incorporate a front porch. These include rustic ranches, beach bungalows and Victorian houses. Porches are an efficient way to extend your living space. If you plan on using your shed as an outdoor lounge area or a playhouse for the kits, then a porch would offer the same benefits. While the kids play inside the shed, you can lounge and drink tea or coffee on the porch.

Awnings

Awnings are both practical and aesthetically pleasing especially when you install them above your door’s shed. They can protect you from the rain and sun while you are storing items in or moving them out. If you mount awnings over windows that face west, you can reduce solar gain by up to 77%.

Trim

If your house has trim frames, you will be delighted to know that you can also incorporate them to the corners, roof, sides, windows and doors of your shed. This design option will make your shed stand out and make a bold statement. Trim is especially effective when you paint the planks with a colour that beautifully contrasts with the siding. If you choose trim frames with cedar or smooth texture, you can get the wonderful appeal of craftsmanship for your shed.

Windows that Wow

If the façade of your house has shutters, then your shed would look bare if you wouldn’t have the same country cottage accent on its standard windows. The good news is you can duplicate this look for your shed. You will find shed shutters that are sold in pairs and they come in a range of sizes. Typically, they are manufactured using durable plastic. They are also easy to install. You can simply use screws to mount them on either side of your shed’s windows. You can also complete the look by installing decorative iron shutter dogs that are similar to the ones in your house.

Beautiful Hardware

The small details you add to your shed are also important. The hardware of your shed—the handles, hinges, latches and door locks—should provide security and at the same time, complement the style of your main house. If you’re aiming for a colonial look, then wrought iron would be a good choice. This is also ideal for carriage-style doors. There are also sleek stainless steel versions that go well with contemporary sheds.

Your shed or garage does not have to look plain and boring. If you want to have an outdoor structure that truly reflects your lifestyle and personality, then customising its design would be the best way to go. To ensure that you will have a shed that matches the style of your home, your best bet would be to consult a professional.