Finding the right size for your garden shed is one of the most important decisions when planning. It should offer enough space for everything you want to store, but also be perfectly integrated into your garden. In this article, you'll learn what to consider when choosing the optimal size for your garden shed.
1. What do you want to use your garden house for?
The first step is to consider exactly what you want to use your garden shed for. A garden shed doesn't have to be used solely as storage space for garden tools.
To give you an initial idea, here are a few examples of how garden sheds are used and what a reasonable size might be:
*Placeholder until areas of application are there* You can see exactly what the different possibilities for using a garden house can look like in real life in this article [Possible uses of Urban One].
Of course, every household has different numbers and sizes of items and different ideas about how the garden shed should be used. Therefore, the question of size is still very individual.
But you can quickly find the right size in two simple steps:
- Make a list of everything you want to put in your garden shed. This could be appliances, a workbench, a sofa, or your car's winter tires.
- Now sketch out how you want to arrange things. What will you put where, what will you hang on the wall?
This will quickly give you an idea of the size of your garden shed. Also plan for doors and windows during this step, as these areas may not be fully or completely used for storage.
A sketch will also make all the further steps in your garden house planning easier.
2. How much space do you have in your garden?
Not only your intended use for the garden shed determines its size, but also the actual space in your garden. First, consider where you want to place your garden shed. Again, consider its intended use.
If you're using it as a party room or home office, it's best placed near the house. If you're using it as a traditional storage space for garden tools, it's best placed where you'll actually use them. Once you've found the right spot, take your sketch and measure to see if your sketched garden shed would actually fit there.
You should pay attention to the following points:
- If you want to place the garden house on the boundary: Are there building regulations regarding whether and how far the garden house must be from the boundary?
- If you have a sloping boundary: Consider whether you are looking for a garden house that also offers sloping wall lines (e.g. our Urban One) to make ideal use of the space
- Plan doors and door positions so that you always have easy access to your garden shed. Especially if you haven't yet designed your garden or are planning to redesign it.
- When it comes to windows, pay attention to sunlight and shadows. Other buildings, trees, or the wrong side can cause an incorrectly positioned window to provide little to no light.
- How would you like to plan the space around your garden shed? Perhaps for seating, firewood, or garbage bins. If necessary, include a roof for this.
3. Building regulations and building permits
Depending on the federal state and municipality, there are different regulations for garden sheds. Generally, there's always a certain area or volume that doesn't require a permit for a garden shed. Ideally, your garden shed won't be larger than this area, as you won't need a building permit.
If you do decide to make it larger, that doesn't mean it's impossible. However, you will need to submit a planning application to get the size approved. The location of the garden shed may also sometimes be specified, for example, due to underground power lines, marshland, or other circumstances.
*placeholder*You can find everything about building permits for garden sheds in this article.
The first and easiest way is to look up the building regulations applicable in your area online. If you can't find what you're looking for there or are unsure, you can always ask your local building authority.
Finding the right size for your garden shed is a very individual matter and depends on factors such as intended use, garden size, and building regulations. So, think carefully in advance about what you want to use your garden shed for, where you want to place it in your garden, and what legal requirements apply to your area.
If you want to plan a custom-made garden house, you can easily do so using our Urban One 3D configurator .
If you have any questions about garden shed size or any other questions, feel free to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. Simply select how you would like to be contacted and advised by us.