The Pinterest-Approved Way To Add Gorgeous Curb Appeal To The Shed In Your Yard
We all know what it's like to have a shed in your yard that you plan to clean out ... one day. Cleaning a storage shed generally doesn't top anyone's to-do list, and if it does, chances are you'll clean out the inside before the outside. But when you've invested a lot of money and time into making the exterior of your home look beautiful, you can ruin all that curb appeal with an eyesore like a rusted, decrepit outbuilding. In some cases, sheds may be highly visible and thus even more damaging to the aesthetics of a house.
But when it comes to rehabbing, there's an intimidation factor. How do you beautify it? Do you have to sink more time and money into upgrading your shed? Not necessarily. According to Pinterest, there's a cheap way to easily boost curb appeal — and it has everything to do with adding window boxes. You can't go wrong with flowers and greenery, which can help breathe fresh life into a tired space. While full-on landscaping may feel daunting, window boxes are gardens in miniature — requiring far less work and delivering all the aesthetic beauty. If you're still feeling intimidated, consider that DIY blogger Joyful Derivatives created cedar window boxes in just a few hours, and for only $15. As an added plus, once you've built your window boxes, you'll be able to change out your flowers seasonally (or as often as you please) to constantly revamp your look.
How to DIY window boxes
Before starting construction, measure your shed window to ensure the window box is the same length. Use a cop saw to cut your back, front, and bottom cedar boards accordingly, trimming the bottom board by 1" with a table saw. To cut the sides and middle support, measure and mark another piece of wood at the same width as the top board. The bottom will be that same width minus 1". Use this cut piece as a template and saw two more equally sized pieces. Two of these will be your sides. For the middle piece, saw .5" off the bottom and two inches off the top. Once all the pieces are cut, attach by gluing the wood sections and nailing them securely.
You can also create a frame for the box by sawing two 1.5" cedar wood strips. Measure the box you've built and cut your 1.5" strips to the same width, leaving an extra .5" inch on the ends. Additionally, cut two strips that measure the length, plus an extra .5". Install as your frame, leaving a .25" overhang. Lastly, use a drill bit to make one hole every six inches in the bottom board for water drainage.
You may want to paint your window box. If so, remember to apply primer first, particularly a tinted primer if you're opting for a dark paint color. Apply your paint, wait for it to dry, and then sand down the box with sandpaper for a polished finish.
Ideas for your window box
Once the window box is attached to the shed, then comes the fun part of filling it with gorgeous blooms! DIY blogger Joyful Derivatives started by lining their window box with plastic, adding a thin layer of gravel at the very bottom, and filling it with potting soil. It may be helpful to keep a few expert tips in mind when deciding which flowers to plant together in the window box. As designer Kelly Megeath explained, consider whether your window box is in full shade, partial shade, or full sun, and pick flowers that will thrive accordingly. "Also, there are plants that are drought tolerant and plants that want more water; you can't combine those two types in one window box," she added.
Some great varieties that are known to typically do well in window boxes include zinnias, geraniums, trailing verbena, and lantana. Both zinnias and geraniums don't require much water or maintenance; they also will fill up space nicely, with geraniums growing tall and giving a sense of texture to any window box. Likewise, verbena is known to spill over the edges of planters and window boxes, creating a drapey effect. A drought-tolerant plant, verbena will pair nicely with zinnias and geraniums, and prefers full sun. Lantanas are another variety that spread out in window boxes and manifest that same dreamy hanging feeling as verbena; however, they require a bit more water, so you might consider this flower for a separate window box.