Author: ravenel

Just because something bears a name, that name doesn’t necessarily define it! When it comes to utility sheds, they can serve all sorts of purposes. Instead of building a garage to house all of your stuff or clearing it out for entertaining, a utility shed can be your go-to for extra space and to enjoy your backyard spaces more. These are just a few of the more creative plans that you can use this summer and beyond.

A Haven from the Sun

It was just three short decades ago that tanning was all the rage. Sadly, we know better nowadays. If you are tired of sitting in the hot sun, slathered in sunscreen, why not make your utility shed the perfect place for your summer siesta? Throw an afternoon soiree in the garden without having to really sit in the garden. Mix up some cocktails while you are at it and have a sun-day fun-day any day. Hey, it’s summer – live it up before the cold weather returns!

Workout Hideout

If you can’t find a way to carve out a place inside the house for your workout, a utility shed is an excellent double for a weight room. All you need is a little space for weights, a mat, and to hang a mirror on the wall, and you have your private place to clear your head and find your chi. Yoga is best done in the serenity of your own space, so be the zen master of your utility shed domain. Add some candles, incense, and leave the chaos of your house behind!

Garden Shed

If you are a gardener, a utility shed is a perfect place to pot your plants and create your growing magic. You don’t have to worry about where to store everything or piece it all together. Just hang some hooks, fill the space with all that you need to fertilize and nourish, and it can be your own secret garden shed. Being out in the hot summer sun can dissuade even the greenest thumb, but making a place to be more comfortable will help you create the garden you desire without punishment.

A Perfect Reading Nook

For the novelist or reader of novels, a utility shed can be a perfect space to sit and reflect on your favorite works of art. With the kids home from school for the summer, finding a place to decompress and focus can be problematic. Set up a reading chair or an office so that you can get some peace away from the home for a bit. You deserve to hide out once in a while, so find your own private Idaho in a space that is designed for whatever you want to get done!

Not everything is defined by what we choose to call it. A utility shed doesn’t have to be all about utility. It is the perfect way to find some reading time away from the chaos of your home, be inspired to let the inner gardener out, or find your chi away from the bustle of your home. At Portable Buildings by Ravenel, we would love to design your perfect place amongst the summer noise. Contact us today and let’s get started creating a utility shed that you can really use!

As we head into spring and summer, we will all be searching for a cool place to hang out – both figuratively and literally. The good news is that COVID tensions are easing, which means that once again we can all gather without fear. Although the great outdoors served us well over the past three years for social distancing, a shed is a much better venue to entertain when the temperatures outside soar. That is, if you take these four steps to make it a cool hangout den!

Add a Bar

When it comes to partying, it usually takes just one thing, and voila! Ditch the dirt and outdoor equipment and either purchase an inexpensive bar online or build one yourself. Not only do you need a place to throw together a margarita; people need an area to belly up to. It takes very little space to create an intimate concoction-maker, so get on it! Ladies and gentlemen, start your shakers!

Wine, Anyone?

If you are more of a wine connoisseur, consider adding a couple of seats for you and your besties to hang out and share a glass of vino. You can discuss world hunger and how to solve peace around the planet, or you can just laugh about what stupid things you got into during the day. The point is to be away from little ears and enjoy some time reconnecting with adults your own age!

A Place to Work Out

We know, the bar probably sounds better, but what if you combine what you love to do with what you should do? There are all sorts of breweries combining yoga with brew, so why can’t you? Add a simple tap, get some mats, and either put in an air conditioner to cool things down or do it hot and sweaty. The point is to add some yin and yang to really get in the mood, work through some breathing exercises, and release some tension. Easy enough, right?

Be Crafty

Scrapbooking might not be as cool as it used to be, but what is cool is preserving your memories. One day your kids will stop thinking about how dorky it was and how dorky you are and appreciate what you did to commemorate all of their memorable moments. All you need is a work table, some supplies, and you and your besties can get busy gluing, pasting, or whatever it is that you do!

As the hot weather makes its way to Charleston, now is an excellent time to take things indoors. If you are running out of entertaining space, hijack the shed and make it your new cool place to hang out, both in temperature and because you are so cool! Contact Portable Buildings of Ravenel today to design your new place to congregate!

Just because it is called a shed doesn’t mean that you don’t want it to be pretty. Your garden shed likely sits in clear view of your home or patio, and although it is there to house your landscape equipment and things that might not be fun to look at, you want the shed itself to be attractive. Here are five ways to spruce up your portable storage shed to make it more appealing in your great outdoors.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Storage sheds often come in neutral and bland colors. If you have a more whimsical backyard, get a little crazy with the paint. Adding a splash of color that mimics the beautiful flowers of your landscaping is a great way to camouflage the fact that it serves a utilitarian function. Go a little crazy and enjoy doing something out of the ordinary!

Add Flower Boxes

If you want to cheer up the front of your storage shed, you can add window boxes to plant colorful flowers. Even if you don’t technically have windows, that doesn’t mean you can put faux ones on. Flower boxes are great year-round for color in the spring and Christmas lights in the winter. You can really do it up all year long with Halloween colors, St. Patty’s Day green, and Valentine’s Day red. Make it your holiday decor shed!

Landscape Around it

Instead of having just a plain old shed, why not adorn it with landscaping shrubbery and perennials that bloom all year long. If you strategically place flower beds, you will pretty much hide the shed altogether. When you’re planning your flower beds, choose landscaping materials so that something is growing and in bloom throughout the year, and consider things like differing heights to add a little texture and keep things interesting.

Hanging Lights

Sometimes you want to highlight the shed instead of distracting from it. If you use your shed for more than just garden equipment, then add some hanging lights and make it a new “hangout” place. Adding LED lights and some front porch furniture will create an entirely new entertaining space for guests. And why not convert the interior of your shed so that it has a refrigerator full of spirits and a microwave to heat appetizers? You can turn your garden shed into a tiki bar for the summer months.

Privacy Screen

If you want to make your shed all but disappear, consider putting up some privacy screens with flowering vines. Also, you can add some vintage weathered signs over the privacy fence to make it more like a hanging wall of art. The key is to distract – but since it still has to be there, make it interesting on the outside.

Sheds are a great way to house things that you don’t want to see, but that doesn’t mean that you necessarily want them to be ugly. These are just five ways that you can spruce up your shed, make it a new entertaining space, or brighten it up with a new whimsical feel. At Portable Buildings of Ravenel, we offer a variety of portable sheds to suit your needs and we are all about custom, so let us help make your backyard beautiful with one of our buildings!