In this zen artist’s retreat, the timber walls have been stained in Resene Colorwood Ironbark and finished in Resene Aquaclear. The floor is in Resene Quarter Spanish White, the tall vase is in Resene Canterbury Clay, the jug vase is in Resene Putty and the footed bowl is in Resene Quarter Bokara Grey. The plant pot was given its texture by first painting it in Resene Double Pravda, followed by Resene FX Crackle effect and a topcoat of Resene Quarter Fossil. Rugs from Indie Home Collective and Città, bin from Paper Plane.

Creative types like painters, sculptors and other artists typically need some solitude and quiet – and plenty of storage space – in order to create magic. With enough floor space to roll out a mat, this zen retreat could also double as a yoga den.

The focus of this space should be to minimise distractions as much as possible. Choosing a natural and serene colour scheme can help. Consider installing a rack to hold finished artworks and drawers with plenty of dividers to keep supplies and tools organised. Create a separate compartment for each Resene testpot in the drawer where they are stored, painted with the same colour as what’s inside the testpot. That way, it’s easy to remember which colour hasn’t been put back where it belongs.

The green thumb’s refuge

Those with a green thumb would love a she shed like this one, decked out in verdant Resene hues. Wall in Resene Rivergum, table in Resene Palm Green, stool in Resene Bud, pegboard in Resene Nourish with tool outline in Resene Rivergum, doors and crates in Resene Rice Cake and plant pots in Resene Nourish, Resene Bud, Resene Palm Green, Resene Rivergum, Resene Secrets, Resene Peace, Resene Middle Earth, Resene Paddock, Resene Mangrove, Resene Spanish Green and Resene Celtic.

A place to get your hands dirty, this is a she shed for a woman with a penchant for all things green and growing; it’s a space to hang her hat – and her gardening tools.

To ensure there is a designated place for each shovel, spade and pitch fork, install a large pegboard and paint an outline around each tool. That way, you’ll instantly know if something is missing when you pack up for the day.

The crafter’s hideaway

A statement floor in Resene Half Villa White with stripes in Resene Thunder Road, Resene Jailbreak, Resene Memory Lane, Resene Unwind and Resene Rococo sets the stage for a creative crafter in this she shed. Walls and pegboard in Resene Half Villa White with shelves and pegs in Resene Noir, hand-painted frame (surrounding pegboard) in Resene Noir, table in Resene Rice Cake with legs and polka dots in Resene Noir, chair in Resene Liberty, mason jars in Resene Irresistible and Resene Ethereal, large vase (with eucalyptus) in Resene Noir with spots in Resene Rice Cake and Resene Rose Gold, striped vase in Resene Rice Cake with Resene Peace and Resene Rose Gold, stool in Resene Rice Cake, textured plant pot (on shelf) in Resene Noir and basket (with plant) in Resene Safehaven.

Crafter’s bits and bobs are best stored in ways where they can be easily seen so you can always find what you’re looking for. Paint up a pegboard to hold spools of ribbon and hang up small shelves to house glass jars of smaller supplies.

Colour coding can be a key to help identify where different types of tools can be found. Paint storage boxes in an inspiring spectrum of colours using Resene FX Chalkboard Paint or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. These finishes work as a chalkboard, so they can be written on with chalk and wiped clean with a damp cloth. Or, get really crafty and paint a symbol on each that hints at its contents.

Striped background in Resene Half Villa White and Resene Unwind with A4 drawdown paint swatches in (clockwise from top) Resene Rice Cake, Resene Thunder Road, Resene Rococo, Resene Memory Lane, Resene Jailbreak, Resene Unwind and Resene Rose Gold metallic. The large mason jar is painted Resene Irresistible and the box is in Resene Noir with Resene Rice Cake polka dots.

The biker’s haunt

For any biker chick, a space to fix up her favourite mode of transportation is a necessity.

Storage should be a priority for a space like this, but so should ease of clean up for those elements of grease and grime. If the bike has an engine, starting it inside the shed to check how the motor is running could cause blackened stains to appear on the wall behind where the bike sits. Paint that wall a darker colour, such as Resene Quarter Bokara Grey, and use a durable paint like Resene Enamacryl for a high gloss finish or Resene Lustacryl for a semi-gloss finish on surfaces that will need frequent wipe-downs.

The page-turner’s paradise

A tranquil place to read in peace would be pure bliss for any bookworm, especially if it includes ample shelving. Work with restful hues like soothing pinks, soft greens and blissful blues such as Resene Ethereal, Resene Peace and Resene Unwind and be sure there is adequate lighting by installing windows or electricity in the shed. Or, try an LED lamp or two powered by rechargeable batteries.

A cubby-style shelving system makes it easier to categorise books by topic, and keeps the contents from toppling over. You could even paint the edges of certain cubbies in a single contrasting colour so that you always know where you can find your favourites.

By starting with a calming colour palette, all you need to add is good lighting, a comfy chair, space to store your books and a place to rest your teacup and you’ll have a stylish she shed for finding solace. Wall in Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, shelf in Resene Rocky Mountain, rope side table and small plant pot in Resene Dreamtime and trivet in Resene Sixth Sense.

Take gender out of the equation

No matter how you identify, everyone needs their own special place to retreat to. Instead of a ‘she shed’, why not create a ‘we shed’? If you have trouble sharing with your partner, separate spaces could be partitioned with a sliding divider and each occupant could decorate their side of the screen with a colour, or even a mural, that speaks to their personal style.

Proper lighting and plenty of storage make Lisa Lewis’ crafty ‘she-shed’ a stand out. The walls, ceiling and trim are painted Resene Alabaster.

styling Gem Adams, Kate Alexander, Annick Larkin, Vanessa Nouwens?
images Melanie Jenkins, Bryce Carleton