Move Over, Fences: There's A Smarter Way To Combine Backyard Privacy & Storage

Improving privacy and storage are usually seen as two distinct goals. Fences, privacy screens, and hedges are some of the first options that come to mind to create more backyard privacy. For more storage, many people turn to outdoor sheds or deck boxes. But with a bit of creativity, you can use one structure to add both in your backyard.

Garden sheds are pretty substantial structures. Looking beyond their usual function, their size offers more than storage space. If you place it in the right spot, your shed can also offer extra privacy. It all comes down to positioning. To start, identify sightlines you want to block, like from a neighbor's window or the side street into your living space. Then consider if there's a practical spot to place a shed to obstruct these views.

This idea won't work for every backyard, but when it does, the shed functions like a privacy wall, offering two benefits in one structure. Arguably, it can also offer a third, providing a level of sound muffling from a loud neighbor or street. Some sheds are easier to build than a fence, too. However, there are some important factors to consider before you put this idea into action.

It's important to check local regulations before building a DIY garden shed or having one installed by a pro. Small sheds, often defined as under 100 to 200 square feet depending on the municipality, may not need a permit. However, they can still be subject to height, lot coverage, foundation type, and setback rules. Your homeowners' association may have rules regarding sheds as well. 

The two major factors that affect installing a shed for privacy are the height and setback rules. A tall shed adds more coverage, but municipalities can have a height cap. Setback rules determine how close a shed can be to the property line and often range between 5 and 15 feet. If you were planning to place a shed along a fence or hedge along the property perimeter, this rule might affect your plan.

With local rules and restrictions in mind, you're better-equipped to make a realistic shed plan. You can do more than just place a shed along the property line. Some other ideas for privacy placement include covering a gap between trees or an area of sparse hedging. A shed could also be used to create more coverage while waiting for newly-installed privacy plant solutions to fill out. You could even use a shed to add some height in an area where the fence is too low. If you'd like to add more foliage, the structure can provide a base to build a privacy trellis or pergola for vining plants.