Converting a garden shed into a spare bedroom

Moved to a new house, and the previous owner had a 100 sq ft shed in the backyard that he used as a woodshop. I decided to try my hand at general contracting and convert it into a spare bedroom. For myself. To sleep in.

Frame and install window

The shed had one small window that didn’t provide enough light or air, so I added an additional larger one.

Framing the new window opening The opening cut into the wall The new window installed

Run electrical

I installed four additional outlets and wiring for a ceiling fan. The entire shed is powered by its own 30 amp breaker.

Ceiling ventilation

I wanted to keep the vaulted ceiling, so I installed baffles, a ridge vent, and vents in the soffits to let air pass through after insulating and drywalling. I also dropped the ceiling studs down to fit additional insulation in the ceiling.

Baffles installed between the rafters The ridge cut open for the vent The finished ridge vent

Insulate walls and ceiling

Went with insulation batts for ease of installation and cost.

Drywalling

Humbling, frustrating, and dusty. Accidentally bought bathroom-specific sheetrock and had to load, unload, reload, and reunload this sheetrock to and from the car before buying the correct stuff.

Drywall going up More drywall going up
Wearing a dust mask Not wearing a dust mask

Paint, floors, baseboards, and trim

Picked light colors for these to try to make the space seem larger. Vinyl flooring because it’s in a shed in the backyard.

Shelving

I wanted a shelving system similar to the George Nelson Omni or the 606 Universal Shelving System by Dieter Rams. I got some rails and brackets from Home Depot and a sheet of 5/8″ plywood and made one for cheap; fit for a shed.

The bare wall before shelving Rails mounted to the wall A shelf on its brackets The finished shelving, loaded