Form with function: design tips for sheds and garages

From the Resene decorating blog

From bold colours to tough finishes, durability is just as important as style when it comes to making these hardworking spaces shine.

Sheds and garages are often an after-thought when it comes to design. They’re often the spaces that help your renovation projects in other areas of your property succeed, but as a result they can end up as muddled, messy and chaotic, making them no fun to be in and much less useful.

Paying some attention to your sheds and garages, no matter what you use them for, is important to help bring the rest of your home renovation or redecoration projects together and make your property look polished and finished.

From bold colours to tough finishes, durability is just as important as style when it comes to making these hardworking spaces shine but they can also be fun spaces in which to play with different, creative ideas that might not work in your main home.

Function first

As with other functional spaces like laundries or bathrooms, the first thing to consider when planning a shed or garage makeover is being clear about how the space is used; and how you want to use it going forward.

The function must come first. Is your space simply for vehicle storage? Are you renovating a garden storage shed into a creative garden studio? The use of your space, and in some cases, what it has been used for previously, will have a big impact on the preparation products and measures you’ll need to lay the foundations for a practical new look.

If you’re doing a full clear out and makeover of your shed – or coming up with a design for a brand new space, start by drawing a scale map of the floor space, so you can get a clear idea of what will fit where. Once you clear out the existing shed, you can tape out your plan on the floor with masking tape to make sure you’re not going to be tripping over things or running from one end of the space to the other to get what you need.

Think about how much storage you’ll need and try to come up with creative solutions, from box seating and hidden wall cavity cupboards, to using ceiling rafters, hooks and shelves. Having a storage plan before you start will help you keep your small shed space organised and usable.

Surface thoughts

Resene Paint Expert Jay Sharples says the surface preparation and finishing products you need for your shed will vary depending on how the space will be used. “You might be a hunter, an artist or a mechanic; they’re all going to have very different requirements for your surfaces.”

Jays tips for drive-on surfaces:

• For garage floors that will be driven on you need to do the best preparation and use specific products. Without these, the paint will start to pull from the surface when driven on.

• The best preparation is to diamond grind the surface; sanding the concrete to 180 grit texture.

• You then need to apply one coat of Resene ArmourBond followed by three coats of Resene Aquapoxy, in your chosen colour.

• For more system advice for drive-on surfaces, check in with your local Resene ColorShop.

For standard every day or weekend use of a shed that might include storage and some light workshop needs, you can use the same products you would use in the interior of your home, Jay says.

That includes paint products like Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen inside, Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen outside and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss on trims.

You could also use Resene hybrid products which combine the durability of traditional oil-based enamels with the environmental and user-friendly benefits of waterborne formulas. Paints such as Resene Waterborne Super Gloss use hybrid waterborne-alkyd resins, which give you a robust, flexible finish that works well in high-traffic or moisture-prone areas.

“What will differ in a garage or shed compared to your home interior is the primer or sealer you need to apply before painting. That will depend on the surface you’re painting,” Jay says.

Resene Quick Dry is a good standard primer for interior surfaces like plywood, but you may need to consider others for your shed such as Resene Sureseal if dampness is a concern or products like Resene Wood Primer or Resene Concrete Primer. The experts at your Resene ColorShop will be able to advise on the best primer for your shed surfaces.

“Basically, before painting the inside or outside of your garage or shed you need to consider many of the same things as any other space,” Jay says. “What type of building material is your shed made out of? Is it already painted? If so, has it been painted with a water-based or solvent-based paint? What finished look do you want? Will the area be driven on?”

With garages that are uninsulated or older, it makes sense to treat painting the interiors, much the same as you would for painting an exterior, to make sure you get the best finish, Jay says.

“You need to think about the weather, including the air temperature, humidity and air flow, as well as the time of day and year you are painting. Will the coatings have enough time to dry before the dew point hits?”

For shed surfaces like work benches it’s a good idea to opt for higher gloss paint finishes such as semi-gloss Resene Lustacryl or high gloss Resene Enamacryl that are robust and can be cleaned regularly without damaging the paint. For an added protective layer you can also topcoat them in Resene Qristal Clear polyurethane. Or if you prefer a more natural timber look, stain in Resene Colorwood to enhance or rejuvenate the timber colour then finish in Resene Qristal Clear polyurethane.

Creative flair to finish

• For a shed floor that hides the dirt, try a slightly mottled or washed paint effect using layers of Resene Concrete Stain in your chosen colour or a concrete-toned painted base layer like light grey Resene Half Silver Chalice, topped with a smudged or ragged topcoat in darker Resene Double Silver Chalice mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. This sponged look not only helps hide scuffing, but it can also add texture and warmth to a potting shed or art studio.

• A shed is a great place to make good use of repurposed and upcycled furniture and fittings to create a rustic but functional look. Old wooden doors can be sanded and painted to use as work benches and wooden crates, pallets and boxes can be painted or stained for storage shelves. Create vintage-style storage with repainted old metal filing cabinets or cupboards. Tackle rust with Resene ArmourX Rust-Arrest, then prime your metal surface with Resene ArmourX GP Metal Primer before applying your topcoats.

• Disguise a practical but unsightly shed in your garden by painting it to match the greens of your garden or staining it match the colour of your fence. Use the exterior walls to create a vertical garden using upcycled wooden pallets.

• An outdoor pergola can be a nice way to ‘cheat’ getting some additional shed space without the hassle and complexity of building a whole shed. A concrete or paved pad surrounded by four posts and a roof can be a hugely versatile space that adds functionality to your back garden. Add partial walls with wooden slats, stained with Resene Waterborne Woodsman in your chosen colour for some shelter. Add practical fold down work benches and box seats for storage.

Colours mentioned in this article

Products mentioned in this article

May 14, 2025

If you need help choosing colours and products to bring out the best in your shed, come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop, Ask a Resene Colour Expert free online, Ask a Resene Paint Expert free online or book a Resene Colour Consultation free in-store or virtually or a paid home visit in selected areas.

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