Collection · 41 ideas
Small buildings with big jobs.
A second small building changes how a backyard works: a place for tools, a quiet office, a studio, a pool house with a shower and a fridge. These designs range from storage sheds that match the house to she sheds, backyard offices, guest cottages and cabanas built for entertaining.
Collections within sheds, studios & pool houses
Narrow it down
About backyard building design
What makes a great backyard building.
A second small building changes how a backyard works: a place for tools, a quiet office, a studio, a pool house with a shower and a fridge. These designs range from storage sheds that match the house to she sheds, backyard offices, guest cottages and cabanas built for entertaining.
Look at how each building sits — on a path, at the end of a view, tucked into planting — and at how its roof, siding and windows echo the main house. Save the ones whose scale suits your lot and your zoning.
What to look for as you browse
- Roof pitch, siding and windows that echo the main house
- The path, the light by the door and the planting around it
- Power, insulation and drainage if you will work or sleep in it
Good to know
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a shed?
Usually not below about 100–200 square feet with no plumbing or power, but rules vary by city. Anything you will work or sleep in, or connect to utilities, generally needs one.
What makes a pool house worth building?
A bathroom and a shower, so wet feet never enter the house, plus storage for pool gear and somewhere shaded to sit. A small kitchen or bar turns it into a summer living room.
How do I make a shed look good?
Match the house: same roof pitch, siding colour and window style. Add a path to the door, a light and some planting, and it stops looking like a box.
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