She Shed Interior Ideas with Vintage Thrifted Decor

If you’ve ever dreamed of having your own cozy little garden escape- a place that’s part potting shed, part greenhouse, and part charming retreat- you are going to love today’s post! Come on in and take a look at my garden she shed!

My hubby and I built this she shed together using old reclaimed windows, and from the very beginning I knew the interior was going to be just as important as the outside. I’ll walk you through how I created a DIY potting bench, added clever storage using thrifted finds, and gave this small garden shed a cozy farmhouse-vintage feel — all without spending a fortune.

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​garden She shed interior ideas

The creative ideas are endless with the interior of a backyard garden shed. I’m just getting started with the ideas I have for this amazing wooden shed that my hubby and I built together using old windows.

​I will link the blog post and video that will show the whole process of this DIY greenhouse shed build later in this post.

Having a place to start seeds and plant my garden containers is important to me. I want to keep all of my supplies together. 

The more I garden, the more supplies and tools I need. This small garden shed and greenhouse is the perfect place to store those gardening supplies and tools.

​Before we see how this new shed was built, let’s look at some garden shed ideas for the interior. This small shed will be used for many tasks over the years but here are the ideas I have implemented so far.

how to create a DIY potting bench in your she shed

A DIY potting bench for the she shed would be a great addition to the work area. Since we were trying to spend as little money as possible, I came up with a creative way to build a dedicated space for planting.

I had a leftover tabletop in my stash that would work well. Also, I had an old galvanized tub that would be perfect to hold the potting soil and compost mixes for the plants.

I measured the inside of the galvanized tub and then used my jigsaw to cut an area in the tabletop to fit the tub. It’s not perfect but it will do just fine. The hole was a bit smaller than the wider top rim of the tub so that it would sit down in the opening without falling through.

Next, I needed legs for this potting bench. I had four coffee table legs left over from one of the many DIY projects we’ve completed around here. So hubby connected the flat ends together to make two long legs. He used wooden dowels and wood glue to secure them together.

We attached the legs to the tabletop using heavy-duty 4″ screws and wood glue. Next, I attached a ledger board to the underside back of the table top using wood screws and wood glue. This ledger board will be attached to the interior walls of the garden shed. Using the ledger board allowed me to only have two front legs.

The new table creates a great place to pot up new plants and containers. It’s also a great way to add soil to small potting trays for seed starting.

I’m calling this my dirt sink!

The bags of compost and garden soil can be stored underneath the potting bench.

garden shed shelving ideas using thrifted finds

We built this garden shed to be multi-purpose. It will be used as a small storage shed, a small greenhouse, and a potting shed. So I got creative with the interior- especially when it came to small shed storage ideas and garden shed shelving.

One of the first things I wanted to add was a long work surface. I had to come up with some creative gardenshed shelving ideas. Hubby had an antique piece of barn wood from an old workbench that he came across. It was the perfect length. He also had a pair of heavy-duty shelving brackets he built using 2″x4″s.

He attached the brackets to the back of the shed’s walls. Next, we secured the old piece of lumber to the brackets using screws. I didn’t glue the board down so that I have the option to move the shelving if it doesn’t work out on the back wall of the garden shed.

Above the large windows on the back wall of the greenhouse shed, I found another piece of lumber that wasn’t being used for another project. It was the perfect fit! 

​The brackets had been thrifted during one of my recent thrift shopping trips and would be perfect for this shelf. I painted them both in the same color to help them coordinate since they were different sizes from one another. The color is called Anchor from the Dixie Belle Silk paint line. It’s the best paint since it has a built-in primer and sealer.

The uppermost shelf and the area that I wallpapered (more on the wallpaper later in this post!) will be extra space for clay pot storage. I can see what I have on hand as well as it just looks so adorable!

I will be adding more shelving in the back area of the garden shed that will be used as a greenhouse. The roofing material is clear corrugated and will allow natural light to come in.

Also, I’m on the lookout for white wire shelving that can be cut to fit the width of the two back windows on either side of the garden shed. Several shelves will be a great place to place seed starting trays while the seedlings grow to the correct size for transplanting.

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vintage she shed decor ideas on a budget

There are so many ways to add a personal touch to this small space. Most of what I have used are old pieces I have found while thrift shopping, antique shopping, and going to auctions. Adding vintage she shed decor will add a personal touch of style to this little garden shed!

Earlier I mentioned that I wallpapered the back wall of the garden shed greenhouse section of the building. It’s not true wallpaper but drawer liner paper I found while out thrift shopping a few weeks ago.

I used this drawer liner paper like decoupage paper and applied it by first applying a coat of clear top coat called Gator Hide. It’s a heavy-duty clear coat that will hold up well in this garden shed. Then I applied the paper and cut off the excess. Once it was dry, I applied another coat of Gator Hide over top to seal it.

I wanted an area to hang baskets and such from the ceiling area. I found an antique balustrade at a local open flea market for $20. It needed some repair. I used wood glue and screws to shore it up then gave it a coat of a heavy-duty clear coat called Gator Hide. Two coats will keep the gorgeous vintage chippy paint and patina for years to come.

We attached the balustrade to the roof rafters along one side with heavy wood screws and a rope on the other. This is a great idea for hanging something heavy when it doesn’t fit the space perfectly.

This created a loft area that can store baskets and other supplies and still allow easy access. I can hang baskets from the vintage balustrade too! You will see some hanging hydrangeas that I tied together for drying during the fall season which is a great season to saves flower seeds.. 

Another personal touch I’ve added to this shed design is the flooring. We used pea gravel for the floor for a budget-friendly option. I’m so glad we did! Now I can use step stones and pavers as I come across them in the pea gravel! It was easy to move some of the pea gravel and add the pavers. I love the idea of a mismatched floor as time goes on!

small shed storage ideas that actually work

Storage is always a design aspect I consider. You will see that I have used old wooden crates, several baskets, vintage hooks, reclaimed picket fence pieces for hanging, and an old-fashioned black paper roller.

Some of these decorative items were borrowed from our main house. I shopped our home for pieces I wasn’t using to save money. Using pieces already on hand saves money when creating small shed storage.

I also shopped my garage workshop for vintage pieces like galvanized watering cans, an old stool, a rusty metal step ladder, a copper pitcher, and small brushes. Many of these items are decorative and purposeful.

she shed interior supplies & materials list:

Here’s a roundup of the supplies I used to pull this garden shed interior together. I’ve linked what I can for you!

Paint & Finishing Products

• Dixie Belle Silk Chalk Paint in Anchor(for painting the shelf brackets)
• Dixie Belle Gator Hide Top Coat(used as a sealer on the wallpaper/drawer liner and balustrade)
• Synthetic Paintbrushes

Potting Bench Build

• Salvaged tabletop (check thrift stores, garage sales, or your own stash!)
• Repurposed coffee table legs (joined with wooden dowels and wood glue)
• Galvanized metal tub (for the built-in “dirt sink”)
• Heavy-duty 4″ wood screws Wood glue Ledger board (attached to wall to support table with only 2 legs)
• Jigsaw (for cutting the tub opening)

Shelving

• Reclaimed barn wood (hubby sourced this — check salvage yards or Facebook Marketplace!)
• DIY 2×4 shelf brackets
• Thrifted decorative corbel brackets (painted in Anchor to coordinate)

Decor & Storage

• Antique balustrade (used as a ceiling-hung basket rod — found at a local flea market for $20!)
• Vintage hooks for tool hanging
• Reclaimed picket fence pieces (used as a tool display panel)
• Old wooden crates and wire baskets
• Galvanized watering cans, copper pitcher (shopped from home and garage workshop)
• Drawer liner paper (used as DIY wallpaper — thrifted!)
• Old chalkboard (for tracking garden to-do’s)

Flooring

• Pea gravel (budget-friendly base — and you can add stepping stones over time!)
• Stepping stones and pavers (add as you find them — I love the mismatched look!)

Lighting and Extras

• Hanging light fixture (see photos — adds so much warmth to the space)
• Rope (used to hang one end of the balustrade from rafters)

​A water source inside a garden shed is a good idea. Since part of this structure will be used as a greenhouse, a hose and water spigot will be handy.

I cut the base of a pedestal table leftover from another project similar to the dining table we turned into a coffee table so that it would hold the hose. A hook holds the sprayer just above the homemade hose holder.

Behind the antique door is the perfect little area to store small bags of fertilizer, bug spray and this old chalkboard. The chalkboard can be used to track the gardening projects I have planned. The cubbies between the 2×4 structures hold the small bags perfectly!

other ways to use your garden she shed

One of the things I love most about a garden she shed is that it can be what you need it to be! Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

• Home Office – If you work from home, a shed office is a total game-changer. Step outside, close the door behind you, and suddenly you have a distraction-free workspace that actually feels separate from the rest of the house. Add a desk, good lighting, and a few plants, and you’re in business, literally!
• Craft Room or Sewing Studio – A she shed is a dreamy spot for crafters. Store your Supplies, set up your cutting table or sewing machine, and finally have a dedicated creative space where you can leacve a project mid-way and come back to it exactly as you left it. No more packing things up at the kitchen table!
• Art Studio – Natural ligh is everything for an artist, and a shed with big windows (like mine!) is ideal. Set up an easel, store your paints and brushes, and enjoy a space that’s all about creativity and color.
• Cozy Reading Nook or Devotional Space – Sometimes you just need a quest corner of the world. A comforable chari, a small lamp, a stack of books or yourjournal – a she shed can be the most peaceful little retreat right in your own backyard.
• See Starting and Greenhouse Space- This is the main purpose of my shed! Having a dedicated spot to start seeds in the spring, tend to seedlings, and store all my gardening supplies has been such a blessing. No more trays crowding the windowsills inside the house!
• Home Gym – Roll out the yoga mat, hang some resistance bands, add a small speaker, and you’ve got your own personal fitness retreat. Working out in a private little space feels so much more motivating than a cluttered corner of the basement.
• Soap Making Studio- Did you know a garden shed makes the perfect little soap-making studio? Having a dedicated space to mix, pour, and cure your homemade soaps is perfect! No more taking over the kitchen! A potting shed is ideal because cleanup is easy and the ventilation is great. I’m actually planning to start making soap out in my shed, and I already have a beginner soap-making recipe on the blog that would be the perfect recipe to start!
• Photography Studio or Backdrop Space – A charming she shed with beautiful vintage details makes a gorgeous backdrop for product photography, portraits, or content creation. The natural light coming through old windows? How perfect is that! I’d love to hear how YOU would use a she shed- drop your ideas in the comments below!

Let me know more of your ideas down in the comments section at the end of this post!

shed interior designs

Here are some additional views from inside this adorable garden shed. Please feel free to pin any of the images in this post and share this post with your friends!

work in progress

This new garden shed is a work in progress and I’m excited to share my ideas for this space with you over the coming seasons. I’ll be decorating this little space for the fall as well as adding Christmas decorations to this she shed when the time comes so stay tuned!

If you have ideas to share with me about storage solutions and decorating ideas, please let me know! We live in a world where we can share information and inspiration with one another so easily!

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