What Type of Garden Shed is Right for You?
6 Garden Structures to Consider!
I built a “She Shed” in my backyard a few years ago, & honestly: it was a GREAT decision. Though my Tuff Shed cost several thousand dollars, it gave me: privacy from my neighbors, an additional bed/room for guests (& for me!), a windbreak for my trees, & a lovely place to read a book or hang with friends, out in the garden. Since I’ve had it built though: I realize there are SO many other types of garden structures I could have built! And some would have been WAY cheaper!! In this post, I’ll help you figure out: “What Type of Garden Shed is Right for You?“
Pergola PLUS a greenhouse + garden room?! Ummm YES please!! Photo: Wayfair.
In full transparency: by the time I insulated my “She Shed,” added French doors, installed flooring, etc. ~ it cost over $10,000! Thankfully, many of the structures you’ll find in this article cost MUCH less than that!!
Prices range anywhere from $200 to $5,000+ for an actual structure/garden room.
🌿 In a Rush? Find Your Perfect Garden Structure:
- 🧘 If you want a private place to relax, read, or even host guests (mine has a bed!) → Choose a SHE SHED
- 🌱 If you want to grow flowers, herbs or vegetables → Choose a GREENHOUSE
- 🍹 If you frequently entertain friends outdoors → Choose an OUTDOOR BAR
- 🌿 If you want an outdoor dining or lounging area → Choose a PERGOLA
- 🧸 If you want a fun backyard space for the kids (away from the house) → Choose a PLAYHOUSE
- ✨ If you want a gorgeous combination of gardening + entertaining → Choose a PERGOLA + GREENHOUSE
Not sure which one is right for you? Keep reading—I’ll break down the best uses of each garden structure, along with some of my favorite options.
What’s the Right Type of Shed for Your Garden?
A Backyard Structure Can Become:
- A quiet reading retreat
- A home office
- An extra room for guests
- A gardening workspace
- An outdoor entertaining area
- A kids’ play space
- An outdoor bar
- Or even a beautiful extension of the home!
It can also combine two or more of these things! For instance, my “She Shed” is a wonderful place to read, an outdoor garden room, AND a place for guests to spend the night ~ since it has a queen bed in it! So it serves many functions.
Not sure whether you need a She Shed, greenhouse, pergola, or outdoor bar? The right choice depends less on how the structure looks, and more on how you plan to use it. This article will help you choose the perfect garden structure for your space, budget, and lifestyle!
The main question to ask is: What are the top 2-3 things you want to use this room/structure FOR? I will give you some ideas below….
My “She Shed” is a great place to read (it has lots of books in it!), AND is an extra room for guests!
🌸 I Want a Private Escape/Outdoor Room → She Shed
Perfect for Someone Who Wants:
- A reading room
- An extra guest room
- Craft room/art studio
- Yoga space
- Writing retreat
- Garden office
- A quiet place to relax, in the garden
Joanna Gaines’ “She Shed” was the initial inspiration for creating my own! Photo: HGTV.
Ready to create your own backyard retreat? These beautiful she sheds turn an unused corner of your garden into a space you’ll actually want to spend time in…
- This 9 X 9 ft. Penthouse Cedar Shed has a gorgeous octagonal-shape, French doors, an adorable shingled-roof, & several windows. Perfect if you want an outdoor garden room that is absolutely stunning!
- This 10 X 10 ft. Sunroom + Attached Shed is great if you live in a warmer climate, prefer a more modern-looking structure, & want a sunroom to relax in!
- And I LOVE this 8 X 12 ft. Cedar Sunshed Garden Shed ~ it has a strip of skylights on one side…perfect for growing plants in a sunny spot! There’s also room to add a comfy reading chair, small bed, or a spot for garden tools, etc.
Prices on these sheds range from $1,100-7,000.
I would have considered buying this adorable shed ~ I love the skylights! Photo: Wayfair.
Two More of My Favorite Options:
9X9 Cedar Shed
Modern Sunroom + Shed
What Type of Shed is Right for Your Garden?
🌿 I Want to Grow Things → Greenhouse
- Choose a simple potting station if…
You have limited space and mainly want to grow herbs, flowers, and seedlings. - Choose a small, walk-in greenhouse if…
You want to spend significant time gardening and need room for shelves, plants and supplies. This small white one from Wayfair is adorable & has adjustable roof vents! - Choose a larger greenhouse with room for furniture if…
You want somewhere to pot, organize, store garden equipment ~ AND read + entertain! To make it more like an outdoor garden room. This greenhouse/sunroom from Wayfair is INCREDIBLE!! See photo below…
This isn’t just a greenhouse: it’s more like an outdoor sunroom! Click on photo to see pricing info.
I’m OBSESSED with this fabulous little white greenhouse!! At just 5 X 6 feet, it’s small enough for nearly any garden.
✨I Want an Outdoor Entertaining Space → Pergola
A Pergola is Great For:
- Outdoor dining + entertaining
- Lounge furniture
- Hot tubs
- Fire pits
- Outdoor kitchens
- Creating a defined “room” in the garden
Choose a pergola if you want a beautiful, open-air space (curtains or shades can help protect it from wind), a more modern look for your garden, & a nice, defined outdoor space.
Prices range from $500-1,500+.
This solid wood pergola from Wayfair creates a beautiful, defined outdoor space. And it’s only $600! Photo: Wayfair.
🍹 I Want to Entertain → Outdoor Bar
🍹 An Outdoor Bar Is Perfect If…
- You entertain frequently
- You have a pool
- You host frequent summer parties
- You want a dedicated drinks station
- You don’t want guests constantly going inside
Small Tiki Bar → Smaller gardens
Full Outdoor Bar/Kitchen → Serious entertainers
This cute tiki bar is small enough to fit in almost any garden! Photo: Wayfair.
This mid-sized bar cart is SO cute! Fits 4 bar stools, a TV, & is 6×7 feet. Photo: Wayfair.
🧸 I Want a Space for the Kids → Playhouse
Before Buying a Playhouse, Consider:
✔ Age of your children
✔ Available backyard space
✔ Whether you want it to last for several years
✔ Can you turn it into something else when the kids grow up? i.e. a dog house, small bar, etc.
✔ Whether adults need to be able to enter/how tall does it need to be
Is your kid’s playhouse able to be turned into something else when they grow up? Photo: Wayfair.
🌿 The Best of Both Worlds: Pergola + Greenhouse
If you can’t decide between a garden retreat and a greenhouse, you don’t have to choose. This is the option I’d personally choose if I was re-designing an area of my yard: it gives you SO many options!!
A Pergola/Greenhouse Combo Can Create:
- A gardening area
- Outdoor dining area that feels like it’s “in the garden”
- An entertaining space
- A plant-filled retreat
- A beautiful focal point for the garden
- Something for YOU (plants), & something for guests (outdoor dining)
Literally: OBSESSED with this!! Photo: Wayfair.
- This Cedar Wood Greenhouse + Pergola combo is the next thing I’m DREAMING about adding to my garden: its dual purpose of entertaining + garden room + plant-filled space is just about perfect. And if I can get wisteria to climb over mine look in the photo….amazing!!
- Another option that’s less about entertaining, more about plants: is this Walk-in Greenhouse + Pergola. Its levered-windows are so cute, & give you so many options for where to put extra plants!
Pergola + Greenhouse!
Walk-in Greenhouse!
💰 Choose Your Garden Structure by Budget:
- 💵 Under $500 → Choose a KID’S PLAYHOUSE
Great if you want to add something fun or functional to your yard without making a huge investment. - 💵💵 $600–$2,000 → Choose a PERGOLA or OUTDOOR BAR
A great middle-ground option for creating an outdoor dining, lounging or entertaining space. - 💵💵💵 $800–$2,200 → Choose a GREENHOUSE
Ideal if you’re serious about gardening and want a dedicated space for growing plants, flowers and vegetables. - 💵💵💵 $1,500–$2,000+ → Choose a PERGOLA + GREENHOUSE
Perfect if you want a beautiful, multi-purpose space that combines gardening with outdoor living. - 💎 $5,000–$10,000+ → Choose a SHE SHED
The splurge-worthy option for creating a true backyard retreat, office, studio, ADU, or private escape.
Many greenhouses are less expensive than you might think…and Wayfair can send someone out to put it together ~ a HUGE plus!
Read More Articles on She Sheds:
- 26 AMAZING Ideas to Give You “She Shed” Inspo!
- What Flooring is Best for Your “She Shed?”
- How to Create an Easy, Inexpensive Foundation for Your “She Shed”
- How to Install Wood Flooring for Your Shed!
Having a “She Shed” or a gorgeous garden structure is something you will treasure! Photo: House Beautiful
I hope this article has helped you figure out which type of garden structure is right for your yard + budget! If you want to see an itemized breakdown of what it actually cost for me to build my “She Shed” ~ read the article below!
The good news is: most of the structures in this article COST LESS than mine did!
xoxo Noelia
Read Next: How Much Does a She Shed Cost?
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