She sheds of sanctuary

From the Resene colour inspiration – latest looks gallery

A space for women to immerse themselves in activities that bring them joy...

Women are told from a young age to let the boys have their fun, to make way for men to take over the dens, garages and basements of the world with their bar signs and beanbag chairs. Enter the ‘she shed’ – a space for women to immerse themselves in activities that bring them joy.

While the word ‘shed’ may bring to mind a shabby chic sort of space, there is no limit to how luxurious or humble your hideaway can be.

A statement floor in Resene Half Villa White with stripes in Resene Thunder Road, Resene Jailbreak, Resene Memory Lane, Resene Unwind and Resene Rococo sets the stage for a creative crafter in this she shed while pops of colour, a mix of patterns and a hint of glitter add to the relaxed vibe of a laidback and leisurely hobby space.

The table is painted Resene Rice Cake with legs and polka dots in Resene Noir, providing enough space for the crafter to spread out their supplies. The large vase housing sprigs of eucalyptus is in Resene Noir with spots in Resene Rice Cake and Resene Rose Gold metallic paint and the striped vase in Resene Rice Cake with Resene Peace and Resene Rose Gold metallic paint add a bit of sparkle. A vintage stool was reinvigorated with a fresh coat of Resene Rice Cake while a monstera plant in a basket painted Resene Safehaven brings literal freshness into the space. To mix things up, the chair has been painted Resene Liberty.

A statement floor in Resene Half Villa White with stripes in Resene Thunder Road, Resene Jailbreak, Resene Memory Lane, Resene Unwind and Resene Rococo sets the stage for a creative crafter in this she shed while pops of colour, a mix of patterns and a hint of glitter add to the relaxed vibe of a laidback and leisurely hobby space.

The table is painted Resene Rice Cake with legs and polka dots in Resene Noir, providing enough space for the crafter to spread out their supplies. The large vase housing sprigs of eucalyptus is in Resene Noir with spots in Resene Rice Cake and Resene Rose Gold metallic paint and the striped vase in Resene Rice Cake with Resene Peace and Resene Rose Gold metallic paint add a bit of sparkle. A vintage stool was reinvigorated with a fresh coat of Resene Rice Cake while a monstera plant in a basket painted Resene Safehaven brings literal freshness into the space. To mix things up, the chair has been painted Resene Liberty.

The timber pegboard is painted Resene Half Villa White so that it blends in with the Resene Half Villa White walls while the shelves and pegs are in Resene Noir to contrast sharply. The hand-painted ‘frame’ surrounding it is a fun and quirky idea for bringing attention to elements in a space. While pin straight lines bring a sense of formality that wouldn’t be appropriate for a whimsical space like this, the looseness of the hand-painted lines add to the casual vibe. You can take this idea even further by creating the illusion of elaborate panelling around the whole room, only with laid-back freeform lines. Or, try hanging artwork in a gallery-style format with simple frames – or no frames at all – and paint elegant scrolled versions around them, each in a different Resene colour or all the same.

Crafter’s bits and bobs are best stored in ways where they can be easily seen so that you can always find what you’re looking for. Incorporating a painted pegboard to hold spools of ribbon and hang up small shelves house glass mason jars of smaller supplies. Ours are painted Resene Irresistible and Resene Ethereal.

Colour coding can be a key to help identify where different types of tools and craft provisions can be found. Paint storage boxes in an inspiring spectrum of colours using Resene Chalkboard Paint or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. These finishes work as a chalkboard, so they can be written on with chalk and wiped clean with a damp cloth. Or, get really crafty and paint a symbol on each that hints at its contents.

In a hobby space like this where you’ll need to see what you’re doing, proper lighting is crucial. Paint a pendant lamp in a coordinating colour and hang it above your work station to provide overhead lighting and bring in a multi-directional task lamp so that you can point even more lumens right at whatever you’re working on.

Styling by Annick Larkin. Photography by Melanie Jenkins. 2019