🖼️
The project:
Behind our garage was a small, forgotten patch that was more "dumping ground" than garden. We needed a garden shed and a potting bench. So we built our whimsical garden hideaway using mostly free, recycled and discounted materials. Every little detail was chosen to turn an unused corner into a magical spot where gardening feels a little less like a chore and a little more like an adventure. Who says a garden shed can't have a bit of personality?
- Materials:
- Tools:
Ozito Mitre Saw
Ryobi Nail gun
Circular Saw
- Step 1:
Step 1 – Laying the Foundations for a Little Garden Magic
(Whimsy Tip: Every magical garden hideaway starts with one brave first step... and probably a YouTube tutorial.)
The before:
After clearing the area, it was time to build the deck. Neither of us had ever built anything like this before, so our construction plan was simple... Google it, watch a YouTube video, search Bunnins Workshop Community, scratch our heads, and hope for the best.
We used Deko Instant Concrete Foundation Blocks to support the base. Naturally, our shed isn't square, because apparently we like making life harder for ourselves! Getting everything right took a bit of trial, error and a few "that doesn't look right" moments.
Once the base was finally behaving, we built the timber frame and screwed the decking boards on top. We left small gaps between the boards so the sand and dirt could simply fall through instead of building up on the deck. The best part? Decking board came free from our local Buy Nothing group.
The deck with some props 😉
- Step 2:
tep 2 – Giving Our Little Hideaway Some Bones
(Whimsy Tip: If the timber has a mind of its own, just call it "rustic" and keep building.)
Next came the walls. We built the wall frames using leftover framing timber we found on Facebook Marketplace. There was probably a reason nobody wanted it... not every piece was exactly straight! Let's just say our "whimsical" theme wasn't entirely by choice at first.
The back wall was always going to be something special. We built in a window using our old shower screen from our bathroom renovation. It was too good to throw away, and now it lets plenty of light into the shed. Under the window sits a little potting table that has its own story. It was my childhood desk many, many years ago, and now it has a whole new life.
Next, we wrapped the wall frames in foil insulation. At this point, the shed looked less like a garden hideaway and more like a spaceship... perhaps a whimsical spaceship.
We clad the back wall with leftover decking boards and sealed any little gaps with outdoor silicone to help keep the weather out.
The two side walls sit against the fence and the garage, so we covered them with exterior cladding and painted them with outdoor paint.
We added the frames with 90degrees angle brackets to the deck. They are going nowhere….
For the front of the shed, though, we wanted something with a bit more character. We chose Western Red Cedar Bevel Siding from Bunnings, and suddenly our little spaceship started looking much more like the whimsical garden cottage we had imagined.
- Step 3:
Step 3: Topping it off
(Whimsy Tip: If water can't find a way in, you've done something right.)
With the walls standing, it was finally time to add the roof. We built a sloping roof, with the front of the shed higher than the back so rainwater could run off easily. (One thing we did know was that water belongs outside!)
For the roof, we chose polycarbonate roofing sheets. We carefully sealed and waterproofed everything because we'd rather water the plants than the inside of the shed.
Before adding the ceiling boards, we installed insulation to help keep the shed cooler during our hot Perth summers. It'll be much more comfortable while pottering around... and if a family of spiders decides to move in, they'll be living in luxury too.
With the roof finished, our whimsical little hideaway was finally starting to look like a real garden cottage instead of a collection of timber and good intentions.
- Step 4:
Step 4: Adding the Whimsy
(Whimsy Tip: The magic is usually hiding in the little details... and sometimes on the Bunnings clearance shelf.)
This was the step where our little garden cottage finally got its personality.
Just like the buildings in the movies, the front is mostly there to look pretty. We built a triangular gable above the front wall and clad it to give the shed that classic cottage look. Suddenly it wasn't just a shed anymore.
Adding two fence pickets to hide all imperfections. Of course, every whimsical cottage needs a weather vane. Ours is purely decorative because, let's be honest, the wind only seems to blow in one direction anyway!
For the Dutch door, we found a second-hand door on Facebook Marketplace. We removed the bottom glass panel, replaced it with weatherboards, then took a deep breath and cut the door in half. Thankfully it all went to plan, and after a fresh coat of white paint, it became one of our favourite features.
To finish the outside, I painted the shed using discounted paint from the Bunnings "mistake paint" rack. Someone else's colour regret turned out to be exactly what our little cottage needed.
Now it finally looked less like a DIY project and more like the whimsical garden hideaway we'd imagined from the beginning. Adding solar lights for late night gardening ;-)
- Step 5:
Step 5: Making it feel like home.
Whimsy Tip: The best garden sheds are organised... for at least the first week.
The inside was the most important part. We wanted it to feel like a cosy little garden cottage without spending a fortune.
Instead of buying expensive wall panels, we cut 3 mm MDF sheets into long strips and glued them onto the walls with Liquid Nails to create a shiplap look. It took a little longer, but the end result was worth it. Then everything got another coat of discounted Bunnings "mistake paint"—proof that bargain hunting can pay off.
An old piece of timber found a new purpose as a rack for our garden tools, while a cabinet keeps all the bits and pieces neatly tucked away. At last, everything has its own place, making the shed just as practical as it is pretty.
We might still swap the bags of sand and potting mix into matching storage tubs one day to make it look a little neater... but at the end of the day, this is a working shed. A little bit of dirt is part of its charm.
And prop again…
- Step 6:
Step 6 – Every Whimsical Cottage Needs a Garden
Whimsy Tip: The building project might be finished, but the gardening adventure is only just beginning.
What's a whimsical little garden cottage without a garden to match?
For the potting bench, we built two sturdy pillars using old paving bricks we had removed from another part of the garden. On top sits a large timber beam that had been lying on our property since we moved in. It finally found the perfect home.
A winding path of round stepping stones, surrounded by soft grass, now leads you to the cottage and makes it feel like a little hidden escape.
The garden itself is still growing, just like the project. We recently planted jasmine, which will one day cover the trellis above the potting bench with fragrant flowers. There are plenty more plants to come, and we can't wait to watch the cottage slowly disappear into its own little garden.
After all, the best gardens are never really finished.
