How to live comfortably and warm in the winter months in an old shed

SammyG
by SammyG
  13 answers
  • 2dogal 2dogal on Nov 24, 2017

    I had a friend do that while building his house himself. He build a sleeping platform up high to give him more room. He insulated it with rolled batting and drywalled it in - including the ceiling. There was electricity to the shed so he used an enclosed oil heater ( the ones that look like old fashioned radiators) to heat it. He had a shelf with a small sink and electric burners. Shelving for his personal things. Oh, and an outhouse.

  • Bijous Bijous on Nov 24, 2017

    Stack up wood and/or dirt around the shed, especially on the windward side. This works as a berm.

  • Kauai Breeze Kauai Breeze on Nov 25, 2017

    Cardboard makes great insulation. Also make your bed in a smaller box to help keep your body heat in. You can use the top as your kitchen counter.

  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Nov 25, 2017

    INSULATION IS KEY - a wood burner (installed by a professional) would also help.

  • Clair Clair on Nov 25, 2017

    Go to appliance stores. They have giant cardboard boxes from refrigerators, washers, dryer’s, etc. Layers and layers and layers of cardboard would help.

    Also- for cheap heat/ cooking: YouTube.

    type keywords into search: SHTF can heater.

    You can use a Campbell’s chunky soup can, or coffee can, rubbing alcohol and toilet paper.

  • Clair Clair on Nov 25, 2017

    Why isn’t there a +, or “like”??

    so many of these suggestions are fantastic

  • Ellis Ellis on Nov 26, 2017

    A top-quality, highly rated sleeping bag would be a necessity.

  • SammyG SammyG on Dec 26, 2017

    Thank ball so much. I'm getting kinda cluttered in there

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 04, 2021

    Hello Sammy,

    Insulation, Insulation, Insulation everywhere! Double Glaze the windows with Polythene. Layers of Clothes, Warm footwear. Thick curtains and a good Sleeping bag or two. Good luck!

  • Sharon Sharon on Jan 10, 2021

    Add some insulation..... in olden times,,, they used sawdust, long wild grasses or hay in-between the outside wall and inside wall, and ceiling, If no inside wall add cardboard/tarps/plastic to hold your filling.... but remember this can mean more flammable so no live flame/heater inside. A candle lantern is used in the North inside tents for warmth in winter..... mine was foldable and had mica panels, and held a simple single white candle and hung from ceiling.

    Raise your bedding off the floor, even a couple pallets would do.

    If your shed has a window, use one of those Dollar Tree clear plastic insulation kits, or pieces of bubble wrap work too.

    If you can round up some odd pieces of carpeting or area rugs for your floor that will help insulate the cold. If it has a dirt floor, put a tarp, plastic down first, then cardboard, then your carpet.

    Add a plastic flange (2-3") thats bendable around the edge of the 3 sides of your door to prevent air leaks when cold.

    If there is a space between floor and outside ground, I would block that area outside around the ground..... this can be mounded grass/hay/pallet wood, even snow.



  • 17335038 17335038 on Feb 03, 2021

    If there is electricity to the interior, then purchase an electric blanket, or at least an electric throw. It will help keep you warm at night or when sitting, during times when the exterior temperature is colder.


    New models have an 'automatic off' so that it shuts off after a certain length of time being on, or if it gets too hot. This will help prevent it from over-heating.