Turning a Storage Shed into a Sleeping Shed on a Budget
Okay, so it’s not quite a lake house, but Jake’s parents do have a sweet little spot in a lakeside community where they love to host friends and family. But until recently, they didn’t actually have a comfortable guest space; and after ooone too many nights on the concrete slab pull-out couch, Jake and I declared we were turnin’ their storage shed into a sleeping shed! (In the jankyest & most inexpensive way possible, of course. 😉)
In their community, every lot comes with a small shed. Since their shed’s interior had been finished by the previous owners, all we had to do was find suitable furniture to turn this underutilized space into a beach-side retreat!
YES, a fresh coat of paint would have great. We could have done white to relate to the furniture and bedding, or we could have pulled a bolder colour from the rug (because you always need an inspiration piece from which to choose your paint colours! Read a great explanation on that here.) BUT we only had half a day to pull this room together, so we made do with what we had and it was still a great improvement!
Before
Here are a few rather bad ‘before’ photos. The shed is so small (only about 10’ x 7’) it’s hard to photograph, but you get the gist. Besides a bunch of random storage items (removed for the photos), there was only this pull-out couch in there. When dealing with small spaces, people sometimes make the mistake of assuming transforming furniture is always better. However, if a small space will only ever be used for one purpose, it’s best to simply outfit it with the furniture it needs — in this case — a REAL BED!
The Process
Storage Bed
The best thing you can bring into a small bedroom is a storage bed, so this is where we spent our money (unfortunately they’re a lot more expensive now than they were when we did this project). The one we used is by Prepac, but here’s another good option from Home Depot. If you already have a bedframe, you can use under-bed bags or bins to maximize your storage space!
Storage bed by Prepac.
Bedside Storage
Jake’s mom was hoping we could incorporate a set of old shelves she had lyin’ around, so we placed them throughout the shed, including beside the bed.
It’s never ideal to place a bed against a wall in a guest room, but since we had no other option here, we made the wall side as comfortable and functional as possible. These two narrow shelves provide a spot for the inside sleeper to place their phone, book, water, etc., and they can control their own lamp that we put on a dimmer (because virtually ALL lights should be on dimmers!).
Bedside storage shelves and lamp for inside sleeper.
Space for Luggage
A dresser would have been the traditional furniture choice here, but A) my parents had this old IKEA desk and chair lyin’ around that fit perfectly in the space, and B) Jake and I can seldom get away without working, so this option is great for guests who can’t shake the laptop!
The desktop is still an adequate surface for a couple weekend bags, and guests can store smaller items on the shelf above or in the baskets below.
The small desk was free, and it’s the perfect spot for guests to place their luggage and send a few emails.
Janky, as Promised
The issue with storage beds is that the drawers usually require floating bedside furniture so they can open. In this case, we simply cut away most of the desk’s gable and reattached it with a hinge so it can be swung out of the way to open the drawer. We were able to leave enough of the gable intact on the wall side to keep it stable while in the “swung up” position, and the desk’s other two gables carry most of the weight anyway, making this creative fix possible!
A few strategic cuts on the desk’s bedside gable allowed the storage drawer to open.
Vertical Storage
Vertical storage is a welcome addition to any space, and a total necessity in small spaces! I found this little pocket organizer on Amazon that fits perfectly between the window and door. It’s great for storing shoes, water bottles, product bottles and other small items.
We grabbed a set of hooks from the local hardware store so guests can hang bathing suits, sweaters, towels, hats, etc., and we had an extra IKEA mirror from our old apartment that fit perfectly on the other side of the window.
Take advantage of vertical storage space with pockets and hooks!
Drop Zone
Beside every entrance there should be a drop zone for keys, phones, wallets, sunglasses, and alllll the little pesky pocket items that need a home. We used the remaining two shelves to transform the lonely, awkward, mid-wall outlet into the perfect charging zone, topping it with a cute little key hook my in-laws already had.
NOTE: whenever you’re drilling into a wall near an outlet, turn off the room’s electrical supply and use a stud finder with electrical sensors to avoid any wire damage!
Every entryway needs a drop zone for phones, wallets, keys, etc.
A Note on Styling
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to style the shed, which is an important step and can often be done with things you already own. I’ll go through my in-laws’ accessories next time I visit and see what we can pull together!
For demonstration purposes, I photoshopped in a beautiful print by Nuuillustrations. Notice how the colours relate to the navys, pinks, and golds in the room’s furnishings. 👌 I also photoshopped in a shelf above the main window where we could place plants, books, and sentimental decorative items. Lastly, I swapped out the strange metal pendant for a woven one, which lends a softer coastal vibe, and coordinates with the woven edging on the throw pillows (which I already owned and wasn’t using!).
Jake and I found the pink salt lamp for a steal at a liquidation outlet. A bigger one would have been better, but we were makin’ do on a tight timeline and budget, and this little lamp still casts a lovely glow at night while coordinating beautifully with the clay tones in the rug (from Walmart). The discounted cotton sheets are also from the liquidation outlet, and we snagged the lovely cotton quilt on sale from Jysk. The matching accent lamps are from Walmart. (Note: it’s always worth checking thrift stores and secondhand markets for lamps, but we came up dry this time!)
Even when you’re working on a tight budget, you should always set some money aside for styling at the end. It’s those functional and decorative touches that give your room a special look and feel!
Behold, the power of styling:
So there you have it folks. If you have a vacation property with an accessory building that could be put to better use, I hope this post gives you a few ideas!
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Are you wondering how to update your bedroom for under $1000?This may sound like a lot of money, but new bedding alone can cost upwards of $200, most rugs are in the $300-$400 range, and the minute you say “window treatments,” well, that’s another few hundred right there. But with a little patience, persistence, luck, and creativity you can stretch your budget a long way and create a whole new feel!