I had a buddy who "lived in a shed" in Australia. When I finally saw it it was the size of a two car garage, insulated, had electricity, etc.
Def not what I pictured when I think shed here in the US full of a lawnmower and old kids toys.
The best kind, apparently I've been missing out. My shed is a shithole but it doesn't need to be nice to keep my lawnmower and garden tools from getting rained on.
In camping situations, one way to make a tent instantly feel more homey is rugs. You are not looking for wall to wall coverage - just the areas you see and walk on. You can get small, colorful, cheap rugs from places like Marketplace, IKEA, or Five Below and you can layer/overlap them to get coverage where you need it. Leave your shoes on a mat by the door and walk around barefoot, defining the separation of inside and outside your home. If you have issues with water infiltration, when it is going to rain, you can roll up the rugs and store them off the ground.
Worked at a camp for a few summers.
Carpet and real furniture (even for just storage) (that you keep dry!) and taking your shoes off makes it a home. Watch your humidity levels for carpet or it will get moldy.
I dont have any useful suggestions. I lived in a large shed with my family for 6 months as a teen and it was the most miserable experience. no space, no privacy, dusty ugh, it was the worst
I’m kind of unclear on what a “shed” means. You have power right? Get a good air purifier! You could also attach some HEPA filters to a box fan. Either of those things would cut down on the dust.
Being able to feel clean, cozy, and leave things out without them getting super dusty is definitely a way to make it feel more homey.
Another idea- for the concrete floor, get some of those puzzle piece foam tiles and line the concrete with them. Put a rug over them if you’d like! It’ll feel good on your feet once you kick off your boots for the day. Bonus points for being able to take it all outside whenever you clean so you can just knock the dust off and put it back.
It all comes to budget and priorities, I'm afraid. My personal first priority would be dealing with the bugs first. There's plenty of products that one can use depending on the extend of the infestation and other things like whether there's small children or domestic animals around. I had good succcess with an anti-ant product that was on a syringe, to be injected directly in small points of entry/exit to the ant nest. I believe it was 30 dollars or so. There's anti-ant powder which might be less intense but is cheaper and can cover a big area.
I grew up in a very hot city (summer gets to 47 Celsius / 116 Fahrenheit). The only way to make it bearable was with good insluation and AC. Without that, reflective material on the ceiling would help, but only to a point. My advice would be to keep the shed closed during the day, and spending the time somewhere else. Try to open your mind - are there parks? lakes? malls?. Come back in the evening and open everything up so it cools down. I know it's not a "solution" but it's better than having a heatstroke.
Good luck and hopefully you will find a better place to live soon.
Having lived on a boat, I suggest:
* A small refrigerator and microwave, if you don't already have them
* Mirrors on the walls, the largest you can find at the local thrift store
* A portable stereo
* Put a carpet remnant over that concrete whenever your budget allows
* Perhaps try using a blue tarp to shade the roof in summer, it there's a way to hang it. Whatever you can do to decrease sun exposure and increase airflow will make it more comfortable
Each of these is about $50-100. Obviously you can't do them all at once, but every time you make an improvement, life gets better. Mood and outlook are more important than circumstances, for me that stereo was a big thing.
Home Goods usually has pretty good deals on their appliances, mirrors and similar things, ESPECIALLY if they are clearancing out something.
I got a 8'x3' mirror for $80, normally over $300 (their pricing, not the 'compare' which was closer to $500)!
Plants are great for making a home feel more homey, and things like herbs and vegetables are also edible.
As to the heat, air circulation is going to be your best friend. There are two major components. Try to get air coming in low and on the shadiest side of the shed. That's where the incoming air will be coolest. Then exhaust the air as high as possible on the hottest side. If you just position two holes in those locations, you will get natural convection to move through the house to create a breeze. If you can though, add an exhaust fan at the outlet location to move more air faster.
Depending upon what resources you have, you might even want to do some research on earth tubes and solar chimneys.
Also, if you haven't already checked out the group, look up off-grid cabins. They may have some economical ways for adding insulation or inexpensive betterments or dealing with bugs, etc.
I just saw this discussed on another sub! "Homely" has more than one meaning, but in the US, the primary meaning is "plain and unattractive." But in the UK (and presumably other commonwealth countries?) the primary meaning is "comfortable and home-like." Both meanings are technically correct in either country.
"Homey" meaning "like home" is apparently an Americanism.
Go to a fabric store and used furniture store. Get remnants of materials at a discount.
1. Put canopy-type fabric between yourself and the ceiling. Use the fabric to create rooms and/or privacy. Make it so the fabric can be taken down easily to wash due to dust.
2. Put up “walls” with remnant drywall, paint bright colours (hardware stores often sell mistake-color paint at a discount) in between your “walls” and the shed walls put insect baits
3. Look for contact paper bargains to cover bare parts of the shed.
Given everyone's idea of what's affordable is different, I'm just going to list ideas.
Rugs, even on the scratchy carpet.
Portable air conditioner (if there are windows the hose will reach)
Ceiling tiles
Spackle any gaps in the wall joins
Skirting board or crown moulding
Hang pictures (filling nail holes after is easy, as is filling any paint tears from command strips)
Get some nice lamps, look at thrift stores
Throw pillows
Throw blankets
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above).
You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM.
As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture.
It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into.
The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents.
Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
Unfortunately, because it's a shed, bugs are likely going to be a constant issue. While keeping food out of it is probably your best option, they're still going to get in as it's a shed. You could spray some things on the outside of the shed to try and prevent some entrance. There are non-toxic options as well, but it's still going to be an issue.
maybe some rugs, or even adding in some cheap laminate flooring to at least get you off a concrete pad. If the size is small even something rolled out or stick on could make a difference visual.
As for air, is an AC unit an option?
I'm not sure what you mean by shed but I lived in a very old, small house with a spouse and two kids, that was smaller than some cabins I've stayed in, so I can understand cramped quarters.
Use area rugs on the scratchy carpet and concrete. Look at acoustic ceiling tiles to cover the foil, or pin [fabric tapestries](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=fabric+tapestry&crid=PG8MXVC6M01J&sprefix=fabric+tapestry%2Caps%2C193&ref=nb_sb_noss_1) onto the ceiling, so they billow down a little. My daughter did this when staying temporarily in our unfinished basement and it completely changed it into a cozy living space.
If it's not possible to add or fix the insulation, then in winter you want to seal the windows with plastic to prevent drafts. In the summer, increase your ventilation. Get air moving directly from one open window or door straight though and out the other side with fans sucking air in at one end and pushing air out the other. I've even sprayed the roof and walls of my house down with water in a few desperate attempts to escape the heat.
Blocking the sun with an awning or attaching heavy drapes on the south side of your shed may help. If you have some kind of yard space consider a large screened tent to hang out in when the shed gets too hot. Find ways to do your cooking outside. Also: library memberships are inexpensive and a quiet place to read and cool off for a while.
Finding furniture that doubles as storage helps with clutter. Dining sets with storage benches, and making under-bed storage by adding lifts to the bed legs. Having weather and pest-proof plastic totes to store anything you only need occasionally so you can store them outside helps too.
Also, don't feel bad about asking neighborhood groups on Facebook or other social media if people have any of the items you are looking for to give away, before you go out and buy anything. Also check out garage and yard sales. Most people have no issue donating something they aren't using anymore, if someone else is in need.
Rigid insulation panels between the studs would help with temps. Maybe you could find a cheap window A/C too. For bugs, spray all around the exterior with a barrier type pest control and make sure the doors and windows are sealed as best you can.
Go to a fabric store and used furniture store. Get remnants of materials at a discount.
1. Put canopy-type fabric between yourself and the ceiling. Use the fabric to create rooms and/or privacy. Make it so the fabric can be taken down easily to wash due to dust.
2. Put up “walls” with remnant drywall, paint bright colours (hardware stores often sell mistake-color paint at a discount) in between your “walls” and the shed walls put insect baits
3. Look for contact paper bargains to cover bare parts of the shed.
Can you caulk really well to stop some of the bugs from getting in? You could get some of that foam insulation board to put around the walls and then do drywall or some other kind of paneling, but that might be cost prohibitive. Would likely help with the heat. Can you do an attic fan kind of thing to vent out hot air?
For the carpet and concrete, lots of fun rugs? Maybe a couple large jute rugs with other colorful rugs on top. You could also do a cozy boho kind of theme and drape gauzy fabric across the ceiling and add some string lights to shrine through. Sort of like this: https://addisonswonderland.com/how-to-create-a-canopy-ceiling/
Probably just buy plasterboard and throw it up. Cheapest option to make it feel more like a house.
If really cheap buy offcuts off marketplace and learn to tape and fill.
This is good advice as long as the shed is weatherproofed. If not, damp plasterboard holds water and will grow mold. This is both unsafe and unpleasant.
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above).
You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM.
As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture.
It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into.
The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents.
Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above).
You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM.
As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture.
It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into.
The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents.
Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
I’ve lived in a horse barn before: we made a really nice apartment in it. Your first priority would be insulation and flooring. You said you can remove the wall panels.
So pick one area (wall, room, anything… just start) and remove the wall panel. Take care of bugs. Attach a roll of insulation and put drywall or plank or anything you want on top of it.
For flooring you can get cheap flooring and lay down underlayment (will increase your comfort walking on it and insulation) and then lay the flooring on top of it. Cheap vinyl would be relatively easy to cut to shape in the edges with a knife (saw would be easier) and they can be floating with snap in joints so easy to place. Carpet is also fairly easy to install if you can get a roll big enough
You have so many lovely things you can do!!!
Check out craiglist and nextdoor and facebook marketplace for supplies - You can get gypsum wallboard to put over the foil roof lining. Then paint!
Personally - I prefer to get the free supplies - although some things are worth paying for. Just make certain you pay less than they cost new.
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above).
You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM.
As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture.
It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into.
The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents.
Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
At least a thick tarp for the roof. See if there are scrap carpet for cheap… even on Facebook marketplace. Go by a college and check the dumpsters. Students throw away good stuff.
A shed where I live is generally too small for a car to go in, is one room and generally does not have water, heat, electricity so would not be very livable. Since your place is big enough for more than 1 room maybe it is more like a big garage or barn size?
I would put my money into sealing/caulking around walls and windows, insulating walls and ceiling first. Put up some ceiling tiles. Get some kind of different floor covering. A vent fan or air conditioning unit or ceiling fans could help.
White is pretty stark for the walls. A yellow, beige or light tan could go with any furnishings and look more homey. If you can not change the flooring maybe put softer rugs down. Put up art or photos on walls. Add plants- maybe artificial plants if you are worried bugs would move into the pots. Add things like pillows and throws to the sofa to add more color and textures. Add some different lighting with lamps or light strings if your only lights are kind of harsh overhead lights.
In the US a "shed" is a wooden or metal structure in your backyard where you keep tools and vehicles and projects. It can be as small as a couple square meters up to the size of a car. Any bigger than that and we'd consider it a garage. Sheds don't have insulation, they often don't have electricity, they definitely don't have plumbing, and they're not fit for habitation.
What does "shed" mean where you're from?
It’s metal on the outside, it was originally used as an old pottery workshop, so maybe workshop or small garage is a better name for it. It does have power, and running water, though no toilet.
I must see pictures of this shed.
OP is in New Zealand, I think his definition of "shed" is different than what most of us are thinking. More likely a barn.
Ah. I was imagining some tools and a lawnmower suite.
I was imagining Bubbles' shed in Sunnyvale, which was really nice!
Deeeeeecent
I had a buddy who "lived in a shed" in Australia. When I finally saw it it was the size of a two car garage, insulated, had electricity, etc. Def not what I pictured when I think shed here in the US full of a lawnmower and old kids toys.
Sounds like the US version of an ADU or mother in law suite.
Yeah I was like “wtf kind of shed has a goddamn lounge??”
The best kind, apparently I've been missing out. My shed is a shithole but it doesn't need to be nice to keep my lawnmower and garden tools from getting rained on.
In camping situations, one way to make a tent instantly feel more homey is rugs. You are not looking for wall to wall coverage - just the areas you see and walk on. You can get small, colorful, cheap rugs from places like Marketplace, IKEA, or Five Below and you can layer/overlap them to get coverage where you need it. Leave your shoes on a mat by the door and walk around barefoot, defining the separation of inside and outside your home. If you have issues with water infiltration, when it is going to rain, you can roll up the rugs and store them off the ground.
Worked at a camp for a few summers. Carpet and real furniture (even for just storage) (that you keep dry!) and taking your shoes off makes it a home. Watch your humidity levels for carpet or it will get moldy.
I dont have any useful suggestions. I lived in a large shed with my family for 6 months as a teen and it was the most miserable experience. no space, no privacy, dusty ugh, it was the worst
Oh hell, the dust! Builds up quick and really cakes up
I’m kind of unclear on what a “shed” means. You have power right? Get a good air purifier! You could also attach some HEPA filters to a box fan. Either of those things would cut down on the dust. Being able to feel clean, cozy, and leave things out without them getting super dusty is definitely a way to make it feel more homey. Another idea- for the concrete floor, get some of those puzzle piece foam tiles and line the concrete with them. Put a rug over them if you’d like! It’ll feel good on your feet once you kick off your boots for the day. Bonus points for being able to take it all outside whenever you clean so you can just knock the dust off and put it back.
It was a whole ordeal just trying to keep my clothes for work clean lol. I dont envy you one bit
You were a trend-setter, ahead of your time
It all comes to budget and priorities, I'm afraid. My personal first priority would be dealing with the bugs first. There's plenty of products that one can use depending on the extend of the infestation and other things like whether there's small children or domestic animals around. I had good succcess with an anti-ant product that was on a syringe, to be injected directly in small points of entry/exit to the ant nest. I believe it was 30 dollars or so. There's anti-ant powder which might be less intense but is cheaper and can cover a big area. I grew up in a very hot city (summer gets to 47 Celsius / 116 Fahrenheit). The only way to make it bearable was with good insluation and AC. Without that, reflective material on the ceiling would help, but only to a point. My advice would be to keep the shed closed during the day, and spending the time somewhere else. Try to open your mind - are there parks? lakes? malls?. Come back in the evening and open everything up so it cools down. I know it's not a "solution" but it's better than having a heatstroke. Good luck and hopefully you will find a better place to live soon.
Having lived on a boat, I suggest: * A small refrigerator and microwave, if you don't already have them * Mirrors on the walls, the largest you can find at the local thrift store * A portable stereo * Put a carpet remnant over that concrete whenever your budget allows * Perhaps try using a blue tarp to shade the roof in summer, it there's a way to hang it. Whatever you can do to decrease sun exposure and increase airflow will make it more comfortable Each of these is about $50-100. Obviously you can't do them all at once, but every time you make an improvement, life gets better. Mood and outlook are more important than circumstances, for me that stereo was a big thing.
Home Goods usually has pretty good deals on their appliances, mirrors and similar things, ESPECIALLY if they are clearancing out something. I got a 8'x3' mirror for $80, normally over $300 (their pricing, not the 'compare' which was closer to $500)!
Plants are great for making a home feel more homey, and things like herbs and vegetables are also edible. As to the heat, air circulation is going to be your best friend. There are two major components. Try to get air coming in low and on the shadiest side of the shed. That's where the incoming air will be coolest. Then exhaust the air as high as possible on the hottest side. If you just position two holes in those locations, you will get natural convection to move through the house to create a breeze. If you can though, add an exhaust fan at the outlet location to move more air faster. Depending upon what resources you have, you might even want to do some research on earth tubes and solar chimneys. Also, if you haven't already checked out the group, look up off-grid cabins. They may have some economical ways for adding insulation or inexpensive betterments or dealing with bugs, etc.
Do you live on Julian's rented trailer park lot?
It's all water on the fridge.
Worst case Ontario
Getting two birds stoned at once
Is it golfing flames?
Kitty Playland
Super Cats Cat Show
The word Homely actually means unattractive. Maybe you mean homey?
Oh yes, I mean homey. As it is right now a bit homely haha
Homely as a hedge rail?
I just saw this discussed on another sub! "Homely" has more than one meaning, but in the US, the primary meaning is "plain and unattractive." But in the UK (and presumably other commonwealth countries?) the primary meaning is "comfortable and home-like." Both meanings are technically correct in either country. "Homey" meaning "like home" is apparently an Americanism.
Go to a fabric store and used furniture store. Get remnants of materials at a discount. 1. Put canopy-type fabric between yourself and the ceiling. Use the fabric to create rooms and/or privacy. Make it so the fabric can be taken down easily to wash due to dust. 2. Put up “walls” with remnant drywall, paint bright colours (hardware stores often sell mistake-color paint at a discount) in between your “walls” and the shed walls put insect baits 3. Look for contact paper bargains to cover bare parts of the shed.
Given everyone's idea of what's affordable is different, I'm just going to list ideas. Rugs, even on the scratchy carpet. Portable air conditioner (if there are windows the hose will reach) Ceiling tiles Spackle any gaps in the wall joins Skirting board or crown moulding Hang pictures (filling nail holes after is easy, as is filling any paint tears from command strips) Get some nice lamps, look at thrift stores Throw pillows Throw blankets
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above). You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM. As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture. It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into. The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents. Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
Unfortunately, because it's a shed, bugs are likely going to be a constant issue. While keeping food out of it is probably your best option, they're still going to get in as it's a shed. You could spray some things on the outside of the shed to try and prevent some entrance. There are non-toxic options as well, but it's still going to be an issue. maybe some rugs, or even adding in some cheap laminate flooring to at least get you off a concrete pad. If the size is small even something rolled out or stick on could make a difference visual. As for air, is an AC unit an option?
I'm not sure what you mean by shed but I lived in a very old, small house with a spouse and two kids, that was smaller than some cabins I've stayed in, so I can understand cramped quarters. Use area rugs on the scratchy carpet and concrete. Look at acoustic ceiling tiles to cover the foil, or pin [fabric tapestries](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=fabric+tapestry&crid=PG8MXVC6M01J&sprefix=fabric+tapestry%2Caps%2C193&ref=nb_sb_noss_1) onto the ceiling, so they billow down a little. My daughter did this when staying temporarily in our unfinished basement and it completely changed it into a cozy living space. If it's not possible to add or fix the insulation, then in winter you want to seal the windows with plastic to prevent drafts. In the summer, increase your ventilation. Get air moving directly from one open window or door straight though and out the other side with fans sucking air in at one end and pushing air out the other. I've even sprayed the roof and walls of my house down with water in a few desperate attempts to escape the heat. Blocking the sun with an awning or attaching heavy drapes on the south side of your shed may help. If you have some kind of yard space consider a large screened tent to hang out in when the shed gets too hot. Find ways to do your cooking outside. Also: library memberships are inexpensive and a quiet place to read and cool off for a while. Finding furniture that doubles as storage helps with clutter. Dining sets with storage benches, and making under-bed storage by adding lifts to the bed legs. Having weather and pest-proof plastic totes to store anything you only need occasionally so you can store them outside helps too. Also, don't feel bad about asking neighborhood groups on Facebook or other social media if people have any of the items you are looking for to give away, before you go out and buy anything. Also check out garage and yard sales. Most people have no issue donating something they aren't using anymore, if someone else is in need.
Rigid insulation panels between the studs would help with temps. Maybe you could find a cheap window A/C too. For bugs, spray all around the exterior with a barrier type pest control and make sure the doors and windows are sealed as best you can.
I would just put boric acid, Ajax,around the shed and on the floor in the shed.
Mixing it with a little sugar helps too
Go to a fabric store and used furniture store. Get remnants of materials at a discount. 1. Put canopy-type fabric between yourself and the ceiling. Use the fabric to create rooms and/or privacy. Make it so the fabric can be taken down easily to wash due to dust. 2. Put up “walls” with remnant drywall, paint bright colours (hardware stores often sell mistake-color paint at a discount) in between your “walls” and the shed walls put insect baits 3. Look for contact paper bargains to cover bare parts of the shed.
Rugs? Floating flooring over the weird black carpet? Window films that reflect heat but not all light?
Can you caulk really well to stop some of the bugs from getting in? You could get some of that foam insulation board to put around the walls and then do drywall or some other kind of paneling, but that might be cost prohibitive. Would likely help with the heat. Can you do an attic fan kind of thing to vent out hot air? For the carpet and concrete, lots of fun rugs? Maybe a couple large jute rugs with other colorful rugs on top. You could also do a cozy boho kind of theme and drape gauzy fabric across the ceiling and add some string lights to shrine through. Sort of like this: https://addisonswonderland.com/how-to-create-a-canopy-ceiling/
Probably just buy plasterboard and throw it up. Cheapest option to make it feel more like a house. If really cheap buy offcuts off marketplace and learn to tape and fill.
This is good advice as long as the shed is weatherproofed. If not, damp plasterboard holds water and will grow mold. This is both unsafe and unpleasant.
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above). You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM. As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture. It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into. The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents. Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above). You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM. As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture. It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into. The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents. Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
I’ve lived in a horse barn before: we made a really nice apartment in it. Your first priority would be insulation and flooring. You said you can remove the wall panels. So pick one area (wall, room, anything… just start) and remove the wall panel. Take care of bugs. Attach a roll of insulation and put drywall or plank or anything you want on top of it. For flooring you can get cheap flooring and lay down underlayment (will increase your comfort walking on it and insulation) and then lay the flooring on top of it. Cheap vinyl would be relatively easy to cut to shape in the edges with a knife (saw would be easier) and they can be floating with snap in joints so easy to place. Carpet is also fairly easy to install if you can get a roll big enough
You have so many lovely things you can do!!! Check out craiglist and nextdoor and facebook marketplace for supplies - You can get gypsum wallboard to put over the foil roof lining. Then paint! Personally - I prefer to get the free supplies - although some things are worth paying for. Just make certain you pay less than they cost new.
Bubbles has entered the chat.
The Shed & Breakfast
Gotta get some kitties, be sure to give ‘em some belly work.
Hello, while I have not lived in a shed I have spent much of my life in self-built communal warehouses and spent several years renting a small boat to live on (it leaked from above). You need to insulate the interior. Save money for materials, lumber, fiberglass, and drywall. All while taking shed ventilation into account you can build this out by simply referencing YouTube. Yes it means losing space. But you will not accomplish cooler summers without building walls inside that have insulation. The other options that might be infeasible are building an exterior around the outside, which I don’t know enough about to say if it’s possible. Or running AC constantly, putting white elastomeric roofing coating around the whole thing…that’s all I can imagine this early in the AM. As for making it feel more like a home, rugs and obviously personal touches are key. This is why the bohemian look is seen so often in settings like your living situation. It’s busy but extravagant feeling while distracting the eye from how small it is. Lots of hanging lanterns that won’t take up floor space, storage optimized to be hidden, elaborate hanging cloths, odds and ends of interest hanging on the walls, art, plants, colored glass, hard wood second hand furniture. It’s definitely a look, requires curation from flea markets and thrift stores over time and cannot be bought on amazon. It might not be what you’re into. The other option I can think of is minimalist-efficient. Optimize storage to keep things accessible but never cluttered, go white and light beige with a few pops of color from rugs and accents. Look up “tiny homes” “wagon mobile homes”, and the like, as well as topics like building out shipping containers which have similar insulation issues to your shed. These will help you get inspiration and ideas.
[Ask the expert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4natA-l2R1Q)
Bubbles?
Lighting. Also twinkle lights. And an a/c unit.
At least a thick tarp for the roof. See if there are scrap carpet for cheap… even on Facebook marketplace. Go by a college and check the dumpsters. Students throw away good stuff.
I think you know the answer.
I think my answer would want to be, move out, but I can’t really. Not yet anyway
*homey, homely means ugly.
A shed where I live is generally too small for a car to go in, is one room and generally does not have water, heat, electricity so would not be very livable. Since your place is big enough for more than 1 room maybe it is more like a big garage or barn size? I would put my money into sealing/caulking around walls and windows, insulating walls and ceiling first. Put up some ceiling tiles. Get some kind of different floor covering. A vent fan or air conditioning unit or ceiling fans could help. White is pretty stark for the walls. A yellow, beige or light tan could go with any furnishings and look more homey. If you can not change the flooring maybe put softer rugs down. Put up art or photos on walls. Add plants- maybe artificial plants if you are worried bugs would move into the pots. Add things like pillows and throws to the sofa to add more color and textures. Add some different lighting with lamps or light strings if your only lights are kind of harsh overhead lights.
Swamp cooler
I think a swamp cooler works well in dry climates, but not damp or humid ones. I used to have one... in California.
Tapestries on ceiling, rugs on floor,
For 40 bucks buy bulk mosquito netting to cover what you can with a stapler.
can't imagine what the shed looks like, need to see it.
lighting is important, warm lights like yellow can make a cozy and relaxed vibe.
You need insulation or you won't survive the summer.
In the US a "shed" is a wooden or metal structure in your backyard where you keep tools and vehicles and projects. It can be as small as a couple square meters up to the size of a car. Any bigger than that and we'd consider it a garage. Sheds don't have insulation, they often don't have electricity, they definitely don't have plumbing, and they're not fit for habitation. What does "shed" mean where you're from?
It’s metal on the outside, it was originally used as an old pottery workshop, so maybe workshop or small garage is a better name for it. It does have power, and running water, though no toilet.
On the internet, no one knows you’re a raccoon.
Do you repair shopping carts?
Move out of the shed
First, you gotta tell your kid to get off the shed. Since that won’t work, use “I’ll downsize your face with a SHOVEL, if you don’t get off the SHED!”
You've got to be shedding me
Homey, "homely" means ugly.
I’m in the US and the word “homely” means something different to us. [definition](https://g.co/kgs/BymRFPJ). I had to do a double take.