Throughout the years, the gents have been obsessed with creating their “man caves.” Almost every house with a male living under the roof has this specialized room for their game nights, sports viewing, and more. As Paula Aymer from Tufts University describes it, man caves are “last bastions of masculinity.” It’s the space where no females will get upset with the decor and other interior design things.
But wait up, if there’s a man cave for dudes, what is the room equivalent for the dudettes? Is there a room where the ladies can relax, do their hobbies, and enjoy interior decoration as the gents do with their man cave? The answer is “yes,” and it also has a catchy name: the She Shed. But unlike a man cave (where the “cave” is not a cave”), the She Shed is actually built outside of the main building. She sheds made with actual backyard sheds.
It’s official: the She Shed is the next big thing when it comes to home improvement. If you’re still not keeping up with this trend, you better get started. In this article, we will feature the 15 must-have items for every She Shed.
Things You Can Do With Your She Shed
More and more ladies are building their own She Sheds. After all, relaxing and having alone time for hobbies is equally deserved by both genders. If you’re not yet convinced of building your own shed, here are the fun activities you can enjoy during your free time.
Unleash Your Creativity
One of the best things about the She Shed is that you can take different kinds of hobbies without anybody complaining. Do you want to try that piano lesson you’ve been putting off for years? How about learning how to paint or write a poem? If you’re an active one, how about dancing or yoga? You can do all of these on your She Shed, and no one is going to stop you from doing so.
Go On A Binge-Watch Spree On Netflix
After a long week, you’re finally free to do whatever you want for entertainment. How about catching up with your favorite series? You can relax and binge watch tons of episodes on Netflix or other streaming sites without anyone having a say on what’s playing. It’s your “me” time, and you can spend it relaxing on your She Shed. Isn’t this an excellent idea?
Just A Place To Relax And Talk With Friends
All social aspects of man caves can also be done on she sheds. Call your friends and start new “girly” projects, such as making DIYs, trying out dresses, and even gardening. Yes, you heard it right, gardening. Since the shed is located away from the main house, you can do outdoor activities too. Whether you want to chill, have some fun, or both, she shed space can accommodate you and your friends.
Improve Your Decoration Game
Last but not least, and probably one of the most exciting aspects of this concept: interior designing. Since she shed is like a secondary room, you can create your own theme and decorate everything. Additionally, you can create your “theme of the month” or recreate your favorite theme from a book, movie, or a tv show. It’s all up to you and your own imagination.
She sheds are not only for decorations, creativity, and aesthetic appeal. To be considered as a perfect female retreat room, the shed should also be functional and comfortable to use. If you’re clueless on what items to add to your shed, we got a list that can help you decide. Here are the 15 items perfect for your she shed.
15 Must-Have Items For Your She Shed
1. Comfy Pillows And Blankets
First and foremost, the primary purpose of she shed is for relaxation and resting. In order to do that, you need the two perfect combinations in each relaxation room: comfy pillows and blankets. At the end of the day, we just want to rest our backs and get some beauty rest.
For starters, the Utopia Bedding Throw Pillow is a comfy yet affordable set of pillows worth including in your she shed. During the colder season, you can use the Bedsure Fleece blanket to warm you up. Throw in a bit of decadent coffee in the mix, and it’s the perfect hygge starter pack.
2. Letterboard Decor
Do you love an inspirational quote? What about song lyrics or a memorable line that you read from a book? If you want to add some inspirational elements to your she shed, an uplifting quote is a great idea. The only problem is, how would you print and display it and still work in your theme?
You might want to try using a letterboard decor. Letterboards are often used for rustic-themed interiors because it uses wood frames for aesthetic and structural support, like the Felt Letter Board, which is an affordable 10x10inch board. But if you have the time, resources, and skills, you can DIY your own letterboard decor and save some bucks.
3. Fancy Lights
One of the best items to add inside your shed is a fancy light. Who isn’t a fan of sparkling light as decor? It’s a great addition if you want a functional and cheap light source. Fortunately, there are products that don’t require tedious installation to function as it should.
One such example is the Daybetter LED strips, which can be used on a lot of things. Since it is LED, you can cut the strips and apply the cuts to other locations. If you want convenience, you can use the included remote to set the lights according to your needs.
4. Work Table
Whether you’re working on a computer or giving a go with a DIY project, these endeavors need a reliable work table. Fit the best table for your theme and get yourself motivated every time you do some projects. Most manufacturers offer different designs and would sometimes throw free shipping for your purchases.
You might have to choose a smaller one depending on the size of your shed. In that case, a simple yet fully functional product to consider is the Cubi Cubi computer desk. The framework is made with sturdy metal, which is enough for writing tasks, sketching, office works, artworks, and other small DIY projects.
5. Side Table
With the work table checked out of the list, it seems like your shed table checklist is complete. Unfortunately, the worktable is not the only one on the list: you also need a side table for your shed office. You might be asking, “if there is a main table, why do you even need a side table?” Is it just an unnecessary purchase?
This question can be answered with one word: snacks. There’s no doubt that a lot of us work with snacks at bay if we need more brainpower and focus. In this situation, having a small side table is very useful. You can put every food item in this furniture to avoid food and coffee spills in your workspace.
Trust me, spilling coffee on your keyboard or paper is one of the most annoying things in the world. Do yourself a favor and get one, such as the Furinno Turn-n-Tube Haydn table. You’ll be saving yourself from unwanted cleanups.
6. Snack Organizer
Speaking of snacks, these flavorful little comfort food needs some organization too. If you want to avoid minor frustrations (cluttered snack packages, disorganized office table, etc.), consider using a snack organizer. This will not only make your shed look cleaner, it will also save you time in checking the current snack inventory.
Snack organizers like this one pack all snacks into two tiers: chips and bars. Get your favorite bag of chips without shuffling other packages. Grab a quick snack with your bar snacks while knowing how many bars are left. Not to mention that it looks good on a table or on the counter, and it saves space for other things.
7. Quick Coffee Maker
There’s something about coffee that gets us all addicted. Most people consume coffee before starting their day or before going to work. It gives focus and keeps people awake while working or studying. You might want to have a sip of coffee while you’re working on your shed. But let’s admit it, when you’re at she shed, going inside of the main house is a bother.
That’s why having a quick coffee maker in the she shed is a great idea. When the urge to make a coffee gets you, there is no need to walk back inside your main house and use your main coffee brewer. Don’t forget to make refills for your she shed coffee supply if you’re staying at the location frequently.
8. She Shed Journal
Sometimes, while you’re relaxing or working on something, an idea spark can happen. Most people need to write their ideas down to remember it later. Hence, it’s always a great idea if you keep a “She Shed” idea journal lying around. Although there are digital counterparts for journals that are free to use, nothing beats the experience of writing your ideas down and working on them.
What makes journals a good addition to your she shed is that you can use it even without electricity. It is portable and affordable, like the Paperage Lined Journal Notebook at $10. Although journaling is a rarity these days, the experience is worth it if you love the feel of writing with pen and paper.
9. Bean Bag Chairs
Couches are great, but these items are a pain in the neck to move. Even the smallest ones can make you feel like you’ve aged for a couple of years if you tried to lift them. When it comes to furniture, there is always a better and more comfortable alternative. And one of the alternatives perfect for a she shed is a soft and comfy bean bag chairs.
You can buy bean bags based on your current budget, as it comes with different sizes. For a simple yet comfortable traditional bean bag, you can try this Chill Sack Bean Bag. Take note: there are bean bag chairs designed for children’s use which is a lot cheaper but might not support your weight. Just look out for “for children” descriptions, as these bean bags chairs appear just like traditional bean bag chairs online.
10. Scented Candles
Besides music, one thing that can set the mood for relaxation is scented candles. Using scented candles have a good effect when you’re trying to relax and just enjoy your alone time. With its natural fragrant, you can also rest assured that your little haven will smell good while you’re there. Depending on your usage, a candle can last for a long time. For example, a medium-sized candle from the Chesapeake Bay can last for 50 hours and is priced at $10.99.
If you don’t want candles, there are still a few ways to set the scent of your she shed. One of the things you can use is a potpourri, which is a mixture of dried fragrant plants. Both scented candles and potpourri are known for being good at
11. Small Fridge
This item might be one of the most expensive items on this list. But if you’re serious about making your own perfect she shed, a small fridge is totally necessary. It is essential if you don’t want to go back and forth from your home and to the shed. Sure, you can bring your food and drinks before entering your shed. However, it can be easily frustrating if you need to pause your Netflix binge if you ran out of snacks or cold drinks.
A small fridge of about 2.5 cubic feet capacity can be bought online for under $200. There are even more compact options if you can spend a little bit more on this item. It’s also ideal if you want to have cool water at all times while working on your projects. Just don’t forget to stock up every once in a while to keep it loaded with food at all times.
12. Compact Storage
Let’s admit it; a room loses its theme charm if there’s a lot of objects cluttering around. Instead of getting a relaxing rest, it can easily turn into cleaning mode, and that’s not definitely the purpose of a she shed. If you want more control with your shed storage, you would love having storage bins around.
Foldable storage bins like this one from DECOMOMO is one of the best solutions for organizing stuff in a themed room. These bins are sturdy yet collapsable and washable. You don’t need to make an effort to hide the items when not in use. Just tuck them in a corner until these items are needed once again.
Another storage option to consider are plastic storage baskets. These items are readily available and usable when needed. You can easily store the baskets under a bed or stack them up in an unused corner. Plastic storage baskets can be a better option if you need to store items like tools or packaged liquid products.
13. Removable Wallpaper
Are you one of those decor enthusiasts that want to experiment on different interior designs and style every once in a while? Creating a new theme often means changing your wallpaper and buying a new one. What if you want an easier way to design your room without scrapping your wall each time you want to renovate?
Perhaps, the best option is going to the peel and stick route. Peelable wallpapers are now easily available in the market, like the HaokHome 96020-1. These items are available with different patterns and will stick on different kinds of surfaces (walls, cabinets, drawers, and more).
Take note: before applying peelable wallpapers, make sure that the surface is cleaned and clear of dust and bumps for a better and lasting result.
14. Power Strips
We all have experienced that moment when you need a power strip, but you don’t have one. It’s really true that mildly infuriating things are a bigger pain in the neck. If you’re using several machines at once, a reliable power strip is a great addition to any room, not only for she sheds. Power strips can be bought online for as low as $23.
15. Lovely Doormat
And last but not least, a simple and welcoming doormat is a necessary addition. In most houses, the doormat can tell a lot of things about your she shed. It’s a great way to tell your guests or visiting family members how awesome your she shed is without even seeing all the good stuff.
There are also pet-friendly options available online, which is a better option if you have pets at home. As much as possible, you would want to pet-proof your mats, especially if your pet is a mischievous type and will start chewing on everything.