About a year ago, I quite my job to become a fulltime freelance writer. For the first few months, I set up my office at my dining room table, where I had always done the best work before. After awhile, I started to notice that my patterns were geared more towards writing, chores, chores, and then more writing. I knew that if I was going to be a serious freelance writer, I would have to hold better hours and be much more focused than I had been.
I looked around in my city for affordable office space. I found some business incubators, but the rent was still higher than I was willing to pay just yet. Finally, I decided that I would have to make my office at home.
I thought about renovating the basement, but it was still too close to the washer and dryer. I didn’t have enough space in my living room to coordin off an office. Finally, I decided that I would make use of my backyard!
Ever since I have owned my house, I haven’t used the backyard for anything. It’s essentially just a bunch of wasted space. One of my neighbors has a shed and I always wondered what he kept in it. The shed is really nice, though. It has four big windows and a sturdy door.
I went online and found a shed manufacturer that could send me a really nice shed with four big windows and a skylight. The price of the entire shed costs as much as an entire two months of rent at even the cheapest local office space. And, I figure, if worse comes to worse, having a shed in the backyard will at least increase the value of my house.
The shed arrived in about three weeks of the time I ordered it. During that time, I had to lay a solid cement foundation for the shed in my backyard. It was simple – I just mixed the cement and spread it out on the grass evenly.
Once the shed was installed, I planted plants around a nice walkway and installed window boxes. It was really very cute. From there, I started decorating the inside. I added carpet to the wooden floor and painted the walls bright colors.
When I stopped to think about it, I was using my shed for an office, but it could be a greenhouse, living room, playroom for the kids, painter’s studio and so much more. There’s really just so much that you can do with a really nice shed!
Because my shed did not have any electricity, I had an electrical contractor come out to my property and wire it up. Still, the total cost was under a few months rent at a formal office!
Now, when I say that I’m going to work, I really mean, I’m going to work. I’m so much more productive and focused when I write in my shed than when I used to write in my dining room. I recommend having a shed office or workspace to literally everyone I come in contact with. I love it!