Does the idea of alternative housing intrigue you? It’s not for everyone, but there are some undeniable benefits to switching out the more traditional brick house for living in a shed. Shed design has come a long way, and we’re seeing more modern and intriguing shed home designs popping up all over that make living in a shed a desirable option.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of convincing reasons to help you realise your dream of living in a shed home is utterly doable in Australia.
1. It can be super affordable
Buying a home seems like a pipe dream for many people, thanks to the hefty prices of most properties in Australia. Building a shed home can be an affordable alternative that gives you all the same luxuries as owning a home; it’s built with different materials. The materials are cheaper to buy or build than your typical brick-and-mortar home, and the maintenance costs are typically lower, too.
2. You can customise it how you want
Of course, you can customise a traditional home too, but because building a shed home is generally less expensive than the conventional home, you’ll have more money to work with when making your home look how you want. When you think of a shed, don’t just think of a boring rectangular structure because nowadays, you can completely customise it to how you want it to look. Many companies even offer apps that allow you to design your own shed so you can fully envision what your dream home will look like.
3. It’s a relatively quick build
Another great aspect of building a shed home is that from design to construction, it doesn’t take that much time, given that everything goes according to plan. Shed builds usually come with pre-built parts, like the wall panels, especially if you purchase a shed kit.
The parts used to build a shed are also generally easier to put together. For instance, if the frame is made of steel, it must be fastened. On the other hand, brick and mortar require time to set and dry before you can continue building.
4. Owning land is more attainable
Brick-and-mortar construction can be complicated and costly. When you build a residential shed, the plans are more straightforward, and the cost is less, allowing you to save time on the plans to build the shed and the cost of developing it, too. As a result, this time and money can go into finding suitable land to build your shed. The additional finances available can be used to purchase a better plot of land, making owning land more attainable for those on a budget.
5. You can be more eco-friendly
Building a residential shed can also help you prioritise being eco-friendly. From the materials you order to the features you rebuild your shed with, you can purchase sustainably resourced materials and create built-in areas for recycling. In addition, you can install gas-operated equipment into your home, like a gas hob and solar panels, to reduce your use of electricity, leading us to our next point.
6. Lower utility costs
Shed homes can often be smaller and more compact, making managing utilities like electricity, water, and heating easier and generally lowering utility bills. For larger shed homes, adding windows and doors can incorporate a lot of natural light into the design. Like the point above, you can integrate solar power and rainwater collection systems into your shed home, too, making living more affordable in the long run.
7. Easier to renovate
Let’s pretend for a second that you have a brick-and-mortar house and want to expand it to add two more rooms. To do this, you’d need to get the appropriate approvals, knock out a wall or two, build a foundation, and construct the additional structures. This process can be lengthy, expensive, and inconvenient.
Renovations are much easier with a shed home. Depending on the size of the home, one would simply need to remove the wall panel and add extensions. This process is also much faster, limiting the inconvenience and providing more space sooner.
Final Thoughts
For some, brick-and-mortar is the way to go! But for those looking for a more modern alternative to housing, building a shed house is your option. From being more cost-effective and more accessible to allow you to customise it how you like, shed homes are the future of housing solutions.
