Garden Shed Makeover

4 Materials
$300
8 Hours
Easy

Our garden shed was in dire need of a makeover. Do you have one that needs a little love too? I can't believe I waited this long to fix it up. The transformation is amazing!

When we first purchased our garden shed twenty years ago, we wanted it to match our home. At that time, our house was a cute yellow ranch with red trim. Truth be told, I've never loved the shed color and have no idea why we felt the need to match the house. File this one under "what were they thinking?"

Before the Garden Shed Makeover

Before the Garden Shed Refresh

For years, we joked that our shed resembled mustard and ketchup. It's not terrible and doesn't look awful, but my eye goes right to it when viewing this corner of the property. Some of the shed's trim was rotting, there was a ton of debris behind it, and quite frankly, it was time to make this corner of the yard look pretty.


My vegetable garden is housed directly in front of the garden shed. (That also needs to be rehabbed, but we'll save that project for another weekend.) I am out here all the time during the growing season and don't love the look anymore, so it was time for an update.


Since I started blogging, I am noticing certain exterior home details that distract from the gardens. The garden shed is one of those details that I avoid photographing because to me, it doesn't look good and clashes with my backyard beds.

Not loving it anymore, I decided to fix it up and paint it. For years, I've wanted to update it but sat on the idea because I didn't know what I wanted to do. Does that happen to you too?


After getting serious about updating it, I researched garden shed images on Pinterest and found some neutral inspo that I loved. So I ran with it and the transformation is incredible!

Fix any spots that are rotting
Step 1: Prepare the Shed for Painting


Supplies Needed to Paint the Garden Shed

  • Power Washer and Soap
  • Exterior Primer
  • Paint brushes, roller and rolling pan
  • Exterior paint for shed and trim (I used Benjamin Moore's Aura Exterior line in Matte finish. The shed is painted in Ashley Gray and the trim is painted in Tate Olive)
Powerwash the surface to remove dirt & debris



Prime new wood
Step 2: Prime new wood before painting


How to Paint the Garden Shed

  • Power wash the shed and allow to dry for 24 hours before painting
  • If necessary, repair any areas that are rotting.
  • Make sure the temps will not dip below 45 degrees before painting. Check weather to ensure it won't rain for 24 hours after painting so it has time to dry.
  • Apply exterior primer. Instead of priming the entire shed, I spot-primed the areas where we repaired the shed with new wood as well as the metal trim.
Step 3: Paint the Shed





  • Paint the shed with main color then allow to dry.
  • Apply a second coat. Allow to dry.
  • Paint the trim (2 coats if needed), then allow to dry.


Step 4: Add Accessories, like a wreath


After Painting the Shed

Isn't the result amazing? Why why why did I wait so long to do this! It looks so much better now. The gray looks like the bark on the trees in the woods behind it and the sage trim blends with the foliage. The shed looks more neutral now and will compliment the gardens as they fill in. You guys...I love it!!!


For more DIY tips, tricks and cool project ideas, click here.

Resources for this project:
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Stacy Ling | Bricks 'n Blooms
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 4 questions
  • Joni Sassone Joni Sassone on Jun 05, 2020

    Is the roof brown? That’s the only thing I’m not crazy about. But I do think window boxes would add length to the windows and help the windows not look so high. The window boxes would add some interest and balance the scale.

  • Eileen Eileen on Jun 15, 2020

    What paint did you use and what color

  • Deb50484047 Deb50484047 on Jun 06, 2022

    Yes paint the roof dark green and add window boxes

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2 of 29 comments
  • E95656 E95656 on Jun 05, 2022

    Love this ❤

  • Cajunfly4 Cajunfly4 on Jun 05, 2022

    This looks absolutely beautiful. Great choice of colors to blend into your landscape. The wreath is perfect. Great job and thanks for sharing.

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