When Lisa Weaver needed a home office, she didn’t have an obvious space in her house, but her garden shed offered a solution. With some on-trend accessories and clever storage solutions, she turned the shed into a stylish and practical working space.
The shed was weather-proofed, insulated, and hooked up with wifi and electricity, a process that took about three months to complete. Lisa then started planning the space, wanting a practical area for design and work, as well as a cozy space for meetings or breaks.
Lisa knew she needed a space that would work for both her and her husband, so she included two desks and a comfy area to relax. She also added a fridge, perfect for summer months, and wanted to keep the space light and bright with color added through accessories.
She used magazine cut-outs and made her own moodboards to play around with layouts and color schemes. The room lent itself to a long desk, but Lisa couldn’t find what she was looking for, so she designed her own and had a local carpenter make it from MDF and an old kitchen worktop.
She kept the walls white but introduced color through accessories, prints, and an upcycled sideboard she painted. She used Kilner jars and old glass bottles for storage, updating them with spray paint or pretty string.
The shed has been a lifesaver, especially during lockdown when working from home became the norm. Her favorite part of the space is the desk she designed, which includes A2 paper storage.
Related: Brewers Reveal Budget-Friendly Interior Trends for 2026
This has worked out well, as her drawing boards would normally take up a standard-sized desk, and now she can do other things on the desk at the same time. The space is calming and feels like a little retreat away from daily worries.
Lisa feels like she’s actually leaving the house to go to work, which has been beneficial. She’s made use of the unit’s shelves to store her magazines, files, and swatches, keeping it stylish with faux plants and decorative touches.
She advises getting organized. She was able to use old kitchen worktops as the desk surface.
She thinks the space worked well because she kept it practical but also stylish. Even when working at the kitchen table, it’s essential to feel inspired and comfy, so she suggests grabbing a cushion and throw for your chair and some pretty stationery to keep you motivated.
Little did we know that while we were coming to the end of the makeover, there would be a lockdown and working from home would become the norm, so the shed has been a lifesaver.
This experience has shown her the importance of having a dedicated workspace, and she hopes that her story can inspire others to create their own, much like Jo Thompson has inspired others with her work in garden design.
