If you have a shed at the end of your garden which is muddy, rusting and full of disused gardening tools, you’re missing a trick. This humble building could become the retreat of your dreams, as outdoor paint company, Cuprinol, sets out to prove with its ‘Shed of the Year’ competition, now in its 17th year.
The competition celebrates those who’ve been inspired to have fun with their garden shed - whether that means turning it into a pub, an art studio, or in the case of last year’s winner, a potting shed made entirely from second hand materials.
There are eight categories, and this year's winner will receive the largest prize to date - £1,000 in cash and £250 worth of Cuprinol products. If you’re a minimalist, the ‘Simple but Effective’ category may be the one for you - a lick of paint and some gentle lighting can transform a once dingy space into a place to be inspired (or maybe just take a nap). Those who are feeling a little braver might prefer to go for the gold in the ‘Most Colourful Shed’ division: there are few things primary colours and big, bold patterns can’t cheer up.
Green-fingered entrants will have their eye on the ‘Nature’s Haven’ category, perhaps opting to transform their shed into a miniature greenhouse or nursery.
Let’s not forget that we are in the UK and it would be remiss to leave out one of the most popular categories: ‘Pub or Entertainment’, which gained popularity during lockdowns when a trip to the pub was a no-go and resourceful shed-owners created the next best thing.
The lockdowns also provided an opportunity for many of us to explore different crafts, and what better workspace than one just a few steps away from your house? Why not follow the example of the 2021 winner, Danielle Zarb-Cousin, who built a mint green ‘writing haven’ in her parent’s garden, complete with a bar. Most sheds have plenty of space for an easel, or a pottery wheel, so really there are no excuses.
The winners for each category are determined by public vote, with the ‘Shed of the Year’ crown being given to one of these eight, as decided by the competition’s founder and ‘Head Sheddie’, Andrew Wilcox.
So, throw away the trowel and other gardening paraphernalia you’re unlikely to use, get rid of the bicycle stand that’s been gathering dust for years (you didn’t use it in lockdown, you’re not going to use it now), and pick up the paint brushes. It’s time to get creative with your shed.
To enter Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2023, visit www.readersheds.co.uk. Entries for this year’s competition will close at midnight on Wednesday 31st May 2023.
For inspiration, advice and information on products to help preserve, colour and protect sheds and brighten gardens, visit www.cuprinol.co.uk/project/sheds.
