How To Build A She Shed?

11 September 2025

Everybody deserves to have a place to escape. If you don't have your own sweet spot, maybe you need a she shed? She sheds are the perfect solution if you're looking for extra space for a home office, a guest house, a hobby space, or even a private reading nook. The opportunities of having a she shed are endless! If building a she shed sounds good to you, then keep reading, as we will advise you on how to get one of your very own!

Step 1: Define your she shed goals

What do you want to get out of your she shed — that's the first question you've got to ask. The answer will plot the course for your entire design, so be specific about your wants and needs. She sheds can be used in many ways. You could make it your little getaway for some quiet time, a place to do art, read, or hang out with your friends away from the house.

Identifying what you want your she shed to look like and its function will give you direction as you design it. Here are some popular she shed ideas to get you started:

Popular she shed ideas:

• Reading nook

• Home office

• Art or craft studio

• Yoga or meditation space

• Garden retreat

• Wine shed or mini bar

• Beauty room

• Guest room

• Sewing room

• Music room

Step 2: Design your dream she shed layout

Now that you have a rough idea of what you'd like to use your shed for, we need to look at some other practicalities. This includes things like: how much space you have available, the layout of your shed, council regulations that you must follow, and whether there are any other uses you would like for the shed.

What to consider:

• Shed size: Do you need a single bay shed, double, or something bigger?

• Roof style: What style roof pitch would you like? A flat roof is simple and classic, while a gabled roof looks elegant and provides you with more ceiling space

• Number and placement of roller doors, French doors, PA doors, and windows

• Ventilation, maybe an AC, and insulation for year-round comfort

Try Our Shed Designer Tool

If you have a design in mind, use our shed designer app to customise your shed's size, colours, roof pitch, and extras so you can visualise your dream shed. Once that's done, send it to us, and we'll send you a quote.

Step 3: Sort council approvals (or let us handle it)

You'll need to get council approval and permits for your she shed, especially if it is quite big and you plan to use it often. If you choose our full-service build option, then you don't need to worry about doing this yourself; we'll handle all of it.

Step 4: Get your site shed ready

Once we have council approvals sorted, it's time to prepare the site where your shed will be built. Generally, this involves ensuring the ground is level or laying a concrete slab as the foundation for the shed. We can do all of this for you as well, ensuring that your shed is done right from the ground up!

Step 5: Choose to build your own she shed - or let us do it

You're welcome to build your own she shed using one of our shed kits. We can provide you with the construction materials, but you will need to follow the instructions to erect the shed. Or, we could do it for you from start to finish, saving you the trouble of doing it yourself.

Step 6: Fit your she shed out to suit your lifestyle & needs

Once the structure is up, the fun begins! You get to fit out your shed's interior and exterior to suit your lifestyle and needs. Starting with your shed's exterior, choose from one of our COLORBOND® steel colours to create the foundation for the perfect aesthetic. Then, consider what you'd like the exterior to look like. Does it need some light, power outlets, or maybe a nice outdoor patio that you can sit on during the summer?

Step 7: Fit out the inside of your she shed

Now moving to the interior, look at some designs to get some inspiration. Before you start making the shed cozy, you need to think of insulation, power points, ventilation, ample windows or skylights so you have natural light, and anything else that would make using the she shed more convenient for you.

When it comes to the trade tasks, we can handle getting plumbers and electricians as part of our full-service build package.

She Shed Shed Must-Haves

What separates a she shed from just a shed or even a man cave? It's what goes into it. If you want to make your she shed unique and your own personal space, here are some essentials you may want to have in it:

• Comfy chair or daybed

• Desk or work table

• Shelving and storage units

• Soft lighting or fairy lights

• Power points and charging stations

• Rugs, cushions, and throws

• Mirrors or vanity setup

• Plants or greenery

• Bluetooth speaker or sound system

• Curtains or blinds for privacy

Step 8: Move in and make it yours

When we're done with your shed build and you're happy that everything is in order, it's time for us to hand over the keys to you and allow you to start making your she shed.

DIY She Shed vs full-service build

Tackling your she-shed build yourself has its pros and cons. For one, you'll be rewarded for all your hard work when you're done. But remember that when you do it yourself, it's not just the building you'd have to do. We can help you design the shed, but you would have to get council approval for it, prep the site, lay the concrete slab, erect the shed, and bring in the trades to do the fit-outs yourself.

A full-service build would cover all bases of the project. We'd handle the design and engineering, obtain council approval for the build, prepare the site and lay a slab, erect the shed, and bring in respected tradesmen for the fit-outs. Whether you choose the DIY route or go with us, we'd be happy to help you.

Start designing your She Shed

Do you already have a design in mind for your dream she shed? Don't let it slip, use our free shed designer app and get it on paper now. When you're done, send it to us and we'll use your design to right up a quote for you.

FAQs about building a She Shed

How much does it cost to build a She Shed in Australia?

Building a she shed will vary in cost because all our sheds are fully custom-built. Generally, the cost of a she shed will come down to its size, complexity, and the materials we use for it. Design your shed with our free shed design app and send it to us so we can provide you with a quote.

Do I need council approval to build a She Shed?

Yes, in most cases, you would need to get council approval to build a she shed, whether it's in your backyard or alone on a property. We can handle this for you, allowing you to focus on designing your dream she shed!

Can I customise the design of my She Shed?

Definitely! With our free shed design app, you can completely customise your shed, making it suit your lifestyle and needs. And if you're worried about making a mistake, our design team will help you.

Can you build the She Shed for me?

Yes, we can build your shed for you. Our full-service build policy includes every part of the process, from the quote and design to the construction and finishing of your shed. We can do it all.

Can I build the She Shed myself?

If you'd prefer to DIY your she shed, we can provide you with our shed kits with all the materials you would need and an instruction manual for you to follow.

What is a good-sized shed for a She Shed?

She sheds differ in size depending on what they are used for. We can build you a single bay, double bay, triple bay shed or make it a custom size to fit your available space.