What Is a She Shed? (And How To Make One)

Learn all about she sheds

The man cave has been a part of western culture for the last few decades. Men of all walks of life have sought refuge from the stresses of their everyday existence deep in the “caves” they have built for themselves.

However, the term man cave is very much a misnomer. Caves are dark, damp, musty holes, yet the man caves of today are anything but. Whether they are built into garages, attics, or any other room in the home, they stand at the vanguard of 21st-century technology, comfort, and relaxation. 

Recently, near the end of the 2010s, a decade that has been characterized by a strong push towards gender equality, a new trend has entered the cultural landscape: The She Shed! 

What is a she shed?

A she shed is the female equivalent to the man cave. It is a place for women to retreat from the world, a refuge from the stressors of life. She Sheds are a sanctuary from which women may relax and nourish their mind, body, and spirit. 

She Sheds, like the mancave, is a poor descriptor of what it actually represents.

Ladies Need a She Shed More Than Guys Need Their Caves

From a cultural standpoint, being a woman is one of the most demanding and taxing experiences on this planet.

Women are expected to have and raise families, tend to households, have careers, and look good in the process. Moreover, when one responsibility takes away from another, women pay a very high price.

Men count on a plethora of socially acceptable outlets for frustration, disappointment, unhappiness, disgruntlement, annoyance, irritation, anger, and dismay. Women, on the other hand, aren’t so lucky.

Women in the 21st century often feel that they must sacrifice one aspect of their lives to excel at another; because being a wife, a mother, a housewife, and a career woman is difficult, each in its own right.

So, when asked to be all of those things at the same time, something usually gives, and it is typically their emotional well-being.

As a result, they find very little time for personal interests.

But a She Shed can solve all of that in one fell swoop!

She Sheds

If It Looks Like A Shed!

Your typical backyard sheds do not convey even the smallest sense of femininity or relaxation. In fact, most women initially balk at the idea of turning a dirty, dingy shed into their sanctuary.

To be fair, in most cases, turning a backyard shed into a full-blown She Shed does take a bit of work and ingenuity.

While Mancaves are a space typically designed around a huge TV, ideas for She Sheds can be built with perfect style around anything their owner likes.

  • If reading is her thing, a She Shed it can be a cozy nook for curling up with a great book and a hot cup of tea.
  • Love arts and crafts? Create a she shed with a crafting table as the centerpiece.
  • For those who love gardening, a She Shed can be built around a potting station.
She Sheds

How To Build a She Shed?

Converting an outdoor shed into a place of leisure is the same regardless of sex. If you have an existing shed, you are halfway there. If not, you first need to worry about leveling the ground and erecting the structure.

Don’t forget you are going to want electricity or at least a way for natural light to get in. It is going to need to be insulated and weatherproof.

Check out our guide to building a man cave (or she-shed) in the backyard.

Does A She Shed Have To Be A Shed?

IMO the  “she shed” is probably a marketing idea made up by some team of advertisers in order to sell something and cash in a female version of the mancave trend. If you are a woman, there is no reason you have to isolate your self to the backyard.

If you are looking to create the perfect space, you can claim a room in your home in any of the same places a man might. You just don’t get a fancy name like “she shed”. Perhaps we should change that. Here are a few ideas.

  • The Girl Garage
  • The Lady Lounge
  • The Dame Den
  • The Kitchen

Many cultures around the world make use of women-only spaces where they are free to be themselves without fear of harassment or judgment. A She Shed is just such an idea, but with a 21st-century twist.

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