Creative Uses for Your Outdoor Shed

Many homeowners look to their backyard sheds solely as a storage space to house tools, gardening instruments, old appliances and products that are no longer in use. However, a shed can be a valuable and useful piece of real estate and a creative extension of one's home if individuals take the time to fix it up.

So before hauling old boxes and clothing bags into a shed and forgetting about them, consider other ways to make it a functional space.

Home office

Working at home can be distracting when there are chores to be done or children have friends over. However, converting an outdoor shed into a quaint office space can give individuals the quiet and privacy they need to work, research, read and complete projects, according to the Seattle magazine, Sunset. Many sheds are already equipped with lights and outlets, so adding tables, filing cabinets and office decor is the only task left for workers who want to create a space that is all their own.

Children's playroom

Homeowners who lack the space to accommodate piles of toys, children's books and activity stations should consider using their shed as an outdoor playhouse. Painting the shed bright colors, hanging fun pictures, setting up a small snack bar and refrigerator and moving toys to the shed can create an exciting tree house effect for young children. This can also be a great place to host birthday parties, camping trips, play dates and children's sleepovers.

Studio

A shed can make a great space for indulging in hobbies, such as painting, sketching, jewelry-making and other activities. Because the space is detached from the house, it can bring a calming and more serene effect on homeowners and help them avoid indoor distractions. In addition to a space for hobbies, sheds can make good exercise rooms. They generally provide enough space for one or two large machines, such as treadmills, spinning bikes or elliptical, as well as enough room for a weight or yoga station.

Spare bedroom

Homeowners with a large shed may consider converting it into a small bedroom space, especially if it's already equipped with windows and outlets. This can be a good place for guests or adult children to stay when homeowners lack the indoor space.

See original article at

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/real_estate/learn/creative_uses_for_your_outdoor_shed?topContentLast=MostRecent&title=Home+Owner+Resources&daysBackLast=30&lastLinkFlag=CATEGORY&contentIdLast=272050

Photo Credit: Benjamin Chun  Creative Commons License

Bathroom remodeling and adding value

According to Remodeling Magazine, remodeling a bathroom may recover as much as 64 percent of the cost when a home is sold. This could make a bathroom remodel a strong investment, as home improvements go. Despite this, it can be hard to determine how much a remodeling project adds to the home's overall sale price so homeowners should keep in mind a specific budget before beginning a project.  Other factors could affect the homes sale price, and some buyers will care more than others about specific home improvements.

A home improvement project is a complex undertaking, and requires solid financial and design planning in advance to ensure it goes smoothly. If current homeowners are planning to sell soon, they may be better off selling the home in its current condition rather than improving it, unless there is some problem requiring repair. It may not be worth implementing upgrades if there will not be time to enjoy them.

Some useful renovations

If owners do decide to go forward with projects, one improvement possibility is to add storage space, according to HouseLogic. Bathrooms are often crowded, leaving little room for spare towels and the many products commonly used there. A bathroom with ample storage can represent a major convenience, so adding shelf units or hanging some items on the walls can make a surprising difference.

An easily overlooked upgrade might be to improve the ventilation. Air movement can govern the bathroom temperature, humidity and fogging of mirrors, and poor air flow could damage cabinets or encourage the growth of mold.

Improving bathrooms

Improving ventilation, storage space, lighting and other aspects of the room can draw interest from home buyers in addition to making the home more comfortable for its current residents. A warmer or more comfortable room may stick in buyers' minds, justifying the price point home sellers know their properties warrant.

There are benefits beyond improving home price, as well. Bathrooms are among the most important rooms in a home, where people regularly need to spend a certain amount of time. Like kitchens, they typically receive a great deal of attention from potential buyers. A comfortable, clean bathroom may be among the deciding factors when home buyers commit to a purchase.

Both rooms tend to have more fixed features, such as counters, sinks and

cabinets, than living spaces and bedrooms. As a result, there is less

flexibility. New owners can arrange their furniture however they like, but it may be impossible to alter a bathroom or kitchen significantly without remodeling or renovation.

For original article visit http://www.coldwellbanker.com/real_estate/learn/bathroom_remodeling_and_adding_value?topContentLast=MostRecent&title=Home+Owner+Resources&daysBackLast=30&lastLinkFlag=CATEGORY&contentIdLast=272050

Photo Credit PoshSurfside.com Creative Commons License