A garden shed is a versatile addition to any outdoor space, offering valuable storage and even serving as a workshop, home office, or gym. With so many options available, it’s important to choose one that suits your needs, budget, and garden style.
At The Outdoor House we provide a carefully selected range of high-quality sheds, including the exclusive Elmstead collection. Available with single or double doors, and with or without windows, our sheds cater to various needs and styles. This guide will help you choose the perfect garden shed with confidence.
1. Define Your Shed’s Purpose
Before selecting a shed, consider how you plan to use it:
- Storage – Ideal for keeping tools, garden furniture, and bikes secure.
- Workshop – A dedicated space for DIY and hobbies. Remember: a Workshop requires good lighting to be installed.
- Home Office - A quiet, separate space to work from home, away from household distractions.
- Gym or Fitness Space – A private area to set up exercise equipment and maintain your fitness routine.
The Elmstead range of Garden Sheds is available in a wide range of designs and configurations. View the full range at The Outdoor House to find your perfect choice.
2. What's the Best Material for my Garden Shed?
Garden Sheds come in three primary materials, each with unique benefits:
Wooden Sheds
✔️ Classic and customisable, blending beautifully into gardens.
✔️ Sturdy and long-lasting with proper maintenance.
✔️ Available in overlap, shiplap, and tongue & groove cladding.
Metal Sheds
✔️ Highly secure and resistant to rot, fire, and pests.
✔️ Low maintenance and extremely durable.
✔️ Ideal for tool storage and workshops.
Plastic Sheds
✔️ Maintenance-free, lightweight, and weatherproof.
✔️ Easy to assemble and resistant to rust and rot.
✔️ A modern, practical storage solution.
Explore the full Elmstead wooden shed range at The Outdoor House.
3. What Size Garden Shed Should I Choose?
Before purchasing, measure your available garden space and consider:
📏 Internal storage capacity – will it fit all your equipment? If you're torn between sizes, we would always recommend going for a larger size. It's better to have too much space than not enough and this also helps to futureproof your needs.
📏 External footprint – does it leave room for access and maintenance? We recommend leaving at least 50cm gap to allow access for annual maintenance.
At The Outdoor House, each shed listing includes detailed dimensions and images to help you find the right fit.
4. What Roof Style is Best for my Garden Shed?
Different roof styles affect both aesthetics and practicality.
- Apex Roof – Classic design with central height, ideal when you require extra headroom or would like to use the roof space as extra storage.
- Pent Roof – Sleek, modern look with a single slope for water drainage. Pent roofs are particularly suited for urban environments as they typically have a lower overall hight compared to an Apex roof style.
- Flat Roof – Space-saving option, best for compact gardens however, flat roofs can be prone to leaking and standing water. If choosing a flat roof style, we would recommend purchasing one which is of high quality and professionally installed.
Most Elmstead Garden Sheds are available in either Apex or Pent roof design, so you can be sure to find the perfect match for your outdoor space.
5. Understanding Cladding Types: Overlap Vs Shiplap Vs Tongue-and-Groove
Garden Sheds are typically manufactured using either Overlap, Shiplap or Tongue and Groove cladding. It is important to understand which option your garden building is manufactured from as this can have a major impact on its overall appearance, build quality, durability and water resistance.
- Overlap Cladding – Budget-friendly, allowing for natural wood movement. Overlap cladding is when one edge of each board overlaps the board below. This technique is typically used for garden fences as it's a quick and budget-friendly manufacturing method.
- Shiplap Cladding – Stronger construction with enhanced weatherproofing. Shiplap cladding is vastly superior to Overlap cladding in its ability to create a water-resistant barrier. Garden buildings manufactured from Shiplap cladding are typically of a higher quality.
- Tongue & Groove Cladding – Premium choice, offering superior protection and a stylish finish. Tongue and Groove cladding is the premium option available with most Garden Sheds. Thanks to its interlocking design, tongue and groove cladding provides a strong and secure structure, with excellent weather and rodent resistance.
All Elmstead garden sheds are manufactured using pressure-treated tongue and groove cladding to ensure less maintenance is required and it lasts for years to come. View the full range of Garden Sheds here.
6. How Secure is a Garden Shed?
Not all garden sheds offer equal security protection against intruders. If you are planning on storing valuable equipment inside, it is recommended to purchase a Security Shed; available in either Apex or Pent roof style. Security sheds offer the following features:
🔒 Lockable and reinforced doors for added protection.
🔒 Windowless or small window design to restrict thieves from entering
🔒 Reinforced hinges and strong materials for extra security.
Metal sheds offer the highest security, but our range of Elmstead wooden Security Sheds provide a perfect blend of aesthetics, practicality, affordability and security. Exclusively available from The Outdoor House, click here to view the full range.
7. How Much Should I Spend on a Garden Shed?
While cheap garden sheds might seem appealing, investing in one which is manufactured using high-quality materials and industry-leading manufacturing processes will be sure to save money in the long run. The Elmstead range provides:
✔️ Premium craftsmanship - Manufactured using industry-leading 12mm thick tongue and groove cladding and 18mm thick floor boards, your Elmstead garden building is designed to last for many years to come. Heavy-duty framing is also used throughout to provide extra structure stability.
✔️ Long-lasting materials - Manufactured using pressure-treated FSC-certified Scandinavian red-wood for a long-lasting and sustainable building. All building are manufactured using galvanised nails and hinges for added rust resistance and are screwed rather than stapled to provide a strong and stable overall building.
✔️Quick Delivery - All Elmstead garden buildings are available for quick delivery direct to your door. Order now at The Outdoor House.
Feature Comparison Chart
| Feature | Wooden Sheds | Metal Sheds | Plastic Sheds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durability | Strong but requires annual treatment | Highly durable and fire-resistant | Resistant to rot and rust, but may become brittle |
| Maintenance | Requires wood treatment | Low maintenance; occasional cleaning | Minimal upkeep needed |
| Security | Moderate; upgradeable with locks | Very secure; built-in protection | Moderate; lockable but lighter in structure |
| Aesthetics | Traditional, blends well into gardens | Industrial, modern look | Contemporary, available in neutral colours |
| Customisation | Easily painted, can add shelves & hooks | Limited modification options | Some models allow shelving installation |
| Assembly | Requires DIY skills or professional help | Requires more than one person to assemble | Simple snap-together installation |
Explore the full range of Garden Sheds and more at The Outdoor House.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right garden shed depends on your needs, space, budget, and material preference. Whether you need a secure storage solution, a practical workspace or simply somewhere to store the kid's unwanted toys, the exclusive Elmstead range at The Outdoor House has the perfect option.
Browse our collection today and invest in a high-quality garden shed that will stand the test of time!
View our full range here.