Shedworking

Monday, August 03, 2026

The rise of the back garden business

New research commissioned by Dunster House reveals how UK entrepreneurs are transforming their homes and outdoor spaces into professional business hubs.

The interviews with 250 UK adults who run their business fully from their home, a small garden office or outdoor workspace, reveal that 46% say their enterprise is critically financially important and their primary source of income.

Combined with those who rely on it for significant additional earnings, nearly three-quarters (74%) describe their home business as either their main income source or a substantial financial contributor.

At the same time, 62% have invested money specifically into home or garden offices, or a home workspace to support their business, while 14% cited the prohibitive cost of commercial renting as a key reason for operating from home.

Nearly half of respondents (47%) started their business in pursuit of a better work-life balance, while 36% wanted to work from home by design, and a further 36% sought greater flexibility in how and when they worked.

Among 18 to 24-year-olds, 29% run online retail or e-commerce businesses compared with just 14% of those aged 55 and over. Among 25 to 34-year-olds, 12% run content creation or social media businesses, and a further 12% operate in fitness, yoga or personal training.

The most common workspace is the study or home office (20%), but a substantial proportion of entrepreneurs are running their businesses from wherever space allows: the living room (14%), a summer house or garden room (10%), a spare bedroom (10%), a workshop or studio (9%), a garage (6%), or even the kitchen or dining table (6%).

The survey finds that home business owners have invested an average of £5,170 into their workspace, with more than a third (36%) having invested at least £5,000.

When asked what they would invest in if money were no constraint, the answers point strongly towards workspace quality and professional infrastructure. Better broadband or Wi-Fi tops the list (34%), closely followed by improved heating or air conditioning (34%) and a fully insulated garden office (32%). Dedicated storage space (28%), a larger workshop (27%), soundproof studios (21%) and smart technology or security systems (21%) also feature prominently.

Pic courtesy Dunster House

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Monday's posts are sponsored by Smart Modular Buildings, the UK's best garden room company

Friday, July 31, 2026

Friday Finery: Yard of the Year (video)

There's nothing like Shed of the Year in other countries but in Alberta, Canada they do have a Yard of the Year competition run by CTV which has just announced its winner, one which contains several lovely sheds. Enjoy these two short videos below:

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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Bargain Booths garden studio for sale

If you're looking to buy a garden office or upgrade your current one, Booths Garden Studios has a used 20ft x 8ft QCB Garden Studio which will save you more than £8,000 compared to a new studio. It's on offer for £17,495 as opposed to £25,995 new and needs a footprint of 21ft 4in × 9ft 4in. It comes in Booth's most popular colours, anthracite windows, corners and fascia with merlin grey walls. The offer includes window blinds and outside lights. These tend to go fast so if you're interested contact Booths via the link above.

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Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master, bespoke garden rooms and offices designed, manufactured and installed throughout the UK

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Lancashire tabletop gaming shed wins 20th Shed of the Year Competition

A hobby shed has scooped the overall winner prize in the 20th annual Shed of the Year competition, this year sponsored by Tiger.

Chris Otterburn’s Otty’s Hobby Shed 2.0 was actually entered by his friend Dave who said: "Chris would never have entered it himself. He’d also never admit just how much work has gone into creating it or how much it means to all of us. It’s become somewhere we meet every week, enjoy our hobby, make endless cups of tea and remember our friend Scott.”

Built as a base for the group's wargaming activities, Chris's friends helped to build it while their number, Scott Forrest, was undergoing treatment for cancer. Sadly, Scott passed away before the shed was completed.

Features include an 18-foot gaming table, storage for battle boards and miniatures that the group has painted themselves (in a separate painting shed), a tea-making station and a memorial area for Scott.

“Winning Shed of the Year is an incredible honour," said Chris, "and means so much to everyone who’s been part of this journey. What started as a hobby project has become somewhere our friends can come together every week, enjoy our shared passion and remember Scott. It’s far more than just a shed, and knowing other people have connected with our story makes this award incredibly special.”

Andrew Wilcox, Founder and Head Judge of Shed of the Year, added: “The standard of entries this year has been exceptional and proves that in our twentieth year the sheddies of the UK are still creating stunning spaces and inspiring others.

“Otty’s Hobby Shed 2.0 perfectly captures what Shed of the Year is all about. It’s an outstanding build, but it was the story behind it that made it our overall winner. More than a garden building, it’s somewhere friendships are strengthened, memories are preserved and people come together to share the hobbies they love. It perfectly demonstrates how a shed can become a truly special sanctuary.”

Sam Jenkinson, Head of Marketing and Chief Sheddie at Tiger, said: “We’ve been amazed by the quality of entries during the competition’s 20th year, and it’s been a privilege to celebrate the incredible creativity and craftsmanship found in gardens across the UK. While every category had a unique story to tell, Otty’s Hobby Shed 2.0 truly captured the spirit of what makes this competition so special.”

The Shedworking staff were also delighted to see Clare Muir's marvellous pottery studio, Tea Shack (pictured below), win the Workshop/Studio category.

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Wednesday posts are sponsored by Booths Garden Studios, the UK's No.1 supplier of zero maintenance and portable garden studios

Monday, July 27, 2026

Garden offices bloom at RHS Sandringham Flower Show

There was a wonderful selection of garden offices and studios at this week's RHS Sandringham Flower Show.

Pictured above is The Rhythm of Rainwater designed by Anthony Purdy focusing on turning rain into a visual and musical experience while underlining the importance of rainwater harvesting. At its centre was this lovely bespoke artist’s studio for a songwriter to work surrounded by inspirational landscape.

Below is 100 Sweet Summers designed by Kitti Kovacs with an oak-framed cabin at its centre, decorated with recycled wine bottles collected from those shared with friends and family over the years.

Here's The Butterfly Sanctuary Garden designed by Amanda Thomas which features a garden room with decking...

... and here's the RHS Pollywiggle Garden, a wildlife-friendly garden (pollywiggle is another word for tadpole in Norfolk) with a garden room as a key section. Designed by Joe and Laura Carey.

And finally The Thomas Gainsborough Garden which launches the 300th birthday celebrations of the artist with an artist's garden studio at its heart, designed by Frederic Whyte.