Page 12 - REN July-Aug 2021

5 Amazing Shed

Transformation Ideas

Image via Rob Cardillo – This Old House
Courtesy Marcus Kaulback Realtor.ca
or many Canadians sheds are often seen as dingy storage
spaces for seasonal equipment and oversized junk. Conversely,
Fin Australia and New Zealand, sheds are passionately
celebrated in documentaries, books, and magazines as places of
invention, retreat, and productivity.

However, it looks like some Canadians are coming around,
and realizing their sheds’ potential as stunning and functional
extensions of their homes. From home office setups to backyard
gyms, here are five amazing shed transformation ideas that go
against the grain.

Join the tiny house revolution!
If the explosion of #TinyHouse Instagram accounts and YouTube
channels is any indicator, the growing appeal of living in more
compact, efficient, and even portable “tiny homes” is reaching a
fever pitch. According to SEMrush’s 2020 Canada Real Estate Trends
report, average searches for “tiny homes for sale” have soared
throughout the East Coast.

Redeveloping your backyard shed or garage into a separate
structure (built to code, of course) can also provide a new source
of income as a rental unit. In cities like Toronto, where the
housing market temperature continues to rise, some residents are
renovating their backyard sheds and garages into self-contained
dwellings made accessible through the city’s intricate network of laneways, and renting or selling them as smaller
one-person units.

As with any property renovation in Canada, whether in an urban or rural community, you’ll want to ensure your tiny
house project meets standards and regulations. Make sure to assess your renovation plans against local zoning laws,
bylaws, and building codes before you break ground. Or better yet, ask your REALTOR® for their insight.
Stretch out with a new gym or yoga studio

With gyms and fitness centres closed and Canadians staying home
more than, it’s no surprise personal fitness equipment has seen a
sharp increase in sales since the beginning of the pandemic.
But in an already-crowded house with each room playing a specific
role—“Honey, the dining room is for potatoes, not pilates!”—
what better way to stretch out and use all your available space
than by setting up a gym or yoga studio in your shed?

You can easily store your weights and machines in the shed when
not in use, and bring them outside when the weather allows for
a full-on outdoor iron-pumping session. Or, if zen is more your
speed, clear out enough space for a yoga mat, plants, diffusers,
and a Bluetooth speaker, and watch the stress melt away.