My Initial She Shed Vision, Ideas, and Plans
The She Shed Chronicles – Part 2
A few weeks ago, I shared my experience of Getting the Perfect Backyard She Shed. Today I want to share my initial she-shed vision, ideas, and plans.Â
As you know, plans and purposes change. When I got my she shed several years ago, I had plans for it to be my own little lady cave (as opposed to a man cave).😊 Things are changing now, but I want to share the initial she shed vision I had and how it came to be.
If you are planning to create your own private space somewhere, I hope this will give you some ideas and inspiration. When you start with a blank canvas and your own unique style, the options are endless!
Initial She Shed Purpose
There are so many purposes and uses for a she shed. You can make this type of private space into your:
- Garden Shed
- Home Office
- Art Studio
- Home Gym or Yoga Studio
- Reading Nook or Library for reading a good book on a rainy day
- Potting Shed
- Craft Room
- Personal Sanctuary
- Storage Shed
All of these are great ideas, but I had something completely different in mind – A Prayer Room with my own personal Parisian coffee shop inside.
She Shed Inspiration
When the kids were small, Jay and I returned to church and got involved as much as we could. One of those ways was in the prayer room. There was an outside room (very small space) attached to the gym and fellowship hall that they set up as a prayer warrior room.
I wasn’t much of a prayer warrior at the time, but I was learning and growing, so I signed up. The idea was to have enough people to pray around the clock in one hour increments. Since I worked and went to school during the day, I signed up for the 5 AM time slot.
​I can remember being nervous the first time I went. I have no idea why, because it was just the Lord and me in that little dedicated space – the rest of the world was still sleeping.
In this little space, they had provided:
- Bibles
- The Church Prayer List
- Hymnals
- Get Well Cards
- Pens, Pencils, and Post-It Notes
- Devotional Books
For me, this was not only a great way to serve, but it was also a great opportunity for me to grow in my fairly new Christian walk. This experience definitely impacted me in many ways.
These are some of my personal favorite Bible Study and Prayer time items now:
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More Inspiration for the She Shed
While I was contemplating getting a she shed, the movie “The War Room” came out in theaters. If you have never seen this movie, it is a must! Of course, get ready to either get a she shed or make yourself a “Prayer Closet.” You will definitely want one.
With the movie fresh on my mind and my previous experience in the church prayer ministry, I was ready to go. I actually waited until my milestone birthday the following year though.
Jay and I went to pick it out and make decisions. There are a wide range of customization options if you go this route, so be ready to make decisions.
I didn’t want too many square feet, because I wanted it to feel cozy, but it needed ample space to hold everything that I wanted to put in there. Jay actually talked me into the larger one because he knows my hoarding tendencies. I also wanted lots of natural light, so I ordered extra windows.
For the color I chose (shocker!!!) gray with black accents. Gray has always been one of my favorite colors; it was even in my wedding.
She Shed Theme
I have always loved coffee, dogs, and a Paris theme. I decided to set up my own coffee shop in my little backyard shed and fill it with Paris decor. The dogs would be my own babies as they visited me out there. They all really loved it!
(These pictures were taken in different stages of the wall construction.)
As you can tell, Gracie liked looking at her cute self in the mirror!
Initial She Shed Decor
Now for the fun part – decorating! It would be a while before I had electricity, insulation, and walls in this unique space. Even in the Texas heat, I thought it was the perfect spot for my own personal Bible Study and prayer time. Honestly though, in the summer, I had to go out early.😂
If you are putting a room together, you do not have to spend a lot to get it like you want it. My she shed was furnished with:
- Gifts
- Family Heirlooms
- Antiques from Flea Markets
- Garage Sale Items
- Estate Sales
- FaceBook Marketplace (One of my favorites)
She Shed Furnishings
Furniture
Comfortable seating is a must if you want cozy spaces. No one wants to be uncomfortable in their own personal space.
- Oversized Chair – free on FaceBook Marketplace
- Bistro Type Table and Chairs – This table held up many Bibles and prayer notebooks!
Other Pieces
- Buffet – This provided storage as well as set up the coffee bar.
- Blanket Ladder – To hold blankets for winter time in the she shed.
- Side Tables and Carts – These held coffee cups, lamps, and eventually a record player.
- Portable Fireplace – Without heat and air at the beginning of this journey, this little fireplace was a big help.
- Cabinet – I wouldn’t trade anything for this little cabinet that holds extra coffee cups. Jacob surprised me with it one day, just because he thought I would like it.
She Shed Accessories
I have included a few links for some of the items (or similar ones) I have in my little space. If you click any of the brown underlined words, it will take you to the item’s link. However, some of these things were gifts and cannot be found new.
- Chalkboard Sign
- Signs – I love my Coffee sign, but I also have many inspirational signs inside. I couldn’t find a coffee sign like I have, but look how adorable this neon coffee sign is!
- Pictures – When Family Christian Bookstore was going out of business in my hometown, I found this picture of Jesus having tea or coffee. It hung next to the table where I spent my time in the Word. I cannot tell you how neat it was to be reading about Him or talking to Him in prayer and look up and see that picture. It was as if He was having coffee with me as a friend!
- Coffee Maker and Keuring – You can’t really have a coffee shop without one!
- Pillows and Pillow Covers – Blankets – Tablecloths – These added an extra touch of comfort.
- Cuckoo Clock – The one I have was my grandmother’s (Ruby’s) clock. She gave it to Jay, and I ended up with it. Although it doesn’t work, I love it. One day I will be able to get it fixed.
- String Lights – I found little string and fairy lights that I have in certain areas around the room.
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Still to Come
Finishing out my backyard shed ended up being kind of a challenge. Jay and I put in some hard work, and we had a little help at times. I am very thankful for that! There were many things I wanted to do, but to have year-round use and be comfortable in Texas, I had to alter my plan. That is completely fine – remember, I said plans and purposes change, and that is exactly what they did. More to come soon!
I will share very soon about my new vision for this sweet little she shed. It is coming along nicely.
Having a quiet place to kind of get away from the noise is needed at times. Whether you plan for a she shed outside of your main house or set up a beautiful space in your closet, you can enjoy the personalized space. I highly encourage you to create your own little space you can call your own – almost any extra space will do.
If you already have a dedicated space, I would love to see pictures. Please share in the comments!
Related Posts
In the War Room
She Shed Plans by Finding Lovely
Until next week…
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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
I can’t wait to see your vision come to life, Susan! It’s so important to have a space of your own, especially during busy times of the year and when you feel like you just need a break from it all. I love that it’s grown and changed as your needs have too. It’s such a great reminder that our spaces change just like we do! Big hugs, CoCo
Oh my goodness, you are exactly right. I never thought about it like that. I am excited to get it finished, but I am enjoying the process.