Backyard cabin fever

Tips on building a flatpack shed in your backyard

Backyard cabins and sheds are a rapidly growing trend across both suburban and rural Australia. Whether it's for art studios, home offices or spare accommodation, that little bit of dedicated space, nearby but separated from the house itself, can dramatically benefit the way we live.

To get you started on the right foot, here's my checklist of five key points to consider when thinking about building a flatpack shed in your own backyard.

1. WHO'S GOING TO BUILD IT?

 Because it's a pre-engineered flatpack design, you don't have to hire a qualified builder to assemble it for you, which is a great money saver. You can hire a handyman to take care of it if desired, but if you have a DIY-handy friend or relative capable of building a deck or a sturdy wooden fence, they should be more than able to assemble a SheShed kitset with you. (For safety and efficiency, we always recommend having at least two people who can work together.)

2. WHAT SIZE OF SHED DO YOU NEED?