How to turn a shed into a spare room

Space is hard to come by and building additions to the home can be expensive and in some places building codes can be a burden. But the ability to convert the home’s storage shed into an extra bedroom or granny apartment can be a good solution for college grads who don’t want to leave the house, or grannies who don’t want to go to a nursing home. but they cannot live alone.

These rooms are added to the main house, but have their own amenities such as a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and separate entrance. Although some would prefer a connecting door to the kitchen, most of the time, the entrance is separate. It can be connected to the main house or detached as a garden suite.

First of all, make a budget plan and then check out the shed. Make sure the structure of the shed is still strong and secure enough to make it a spare room. It should be wide enough to accommodate some furniture, such as a bed, dresser, cabinets, table and chairs, or some appliances, such as a TV. Try to check for potential mold, foundation, or ventilation issues and address them first. Disinfect and clean areas affected by mold.

Also check local building codes or zoning regulations before beginning construction work. Then decide how the furniture will be placed and add electrical outlets where they are easily accessible. After submitting the necessary authorizations, install electrical wiring for lights and outlets. The room must have at least one window to ventilate and allow the entry of natural light from outside.

Then paint the walls or build a drywall to build a clean interior. Don’t use gray tones as this will give you a shed or garage feel. Instead, use bright colors to bring a little life to the room. If necessary, install insulation to keep the interior temperature constant. Install a dehumidifier to prevent mold growth, as this could deteriorate the walls in the future and make the room smell bad. Use a waterproof paint to prevent any deterioration in cases where water can seep in.

Afterwards, check the floors. Get rid of any dirty foundations or broken hardwood floors, as they could present problems down the road. Make sure they are free of damage, especially water damage, as it could weaken the foundation. Snap into tile or hardwood according to manufacturer’s instructions. If hardwood floors are used, consider laying down a rug to prevent premature wear to the wood. Seal all gaps in the roof to prevent water leaks in the event of rain or snow.

If the joists or walls need to be refinished, precast concrete walls or custom framing are available from construction stores.

Then, finally, decorate it according to your taste or that of the person who will live inside. Provide the bed, dressers, mirrors, bedside tables. Then put up some curtains or drapes and fancy lighting. Decorate the walls with framed pictures. Anyone who sleeps in it will never know that it used to be a shed and the old lawn mower used to stay there.