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Improving your shed goes beyond how it looks from the outside. The inside matters just as much. It doesn’t have to cost much, and this guide shares straightforward ideas to improve the interior, whether it’s to add interior cladding for insulation, decorative or repair purposes. Ready?
1. Plywood
(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Plywood is a popular choice for lining shed walls. The material is strong enough to attach shelves, hooks, and other fittings to the walls. It comes in various thicknesses, from 3.6mm up to 18mm. For most sheds, 9mm is enough to do the job without going too thick.
2. Drywall
Drywall makes the inside walls look smooth. It’s easy to paint, add a textured look even, or put up wallpaper. It’s more fire-resistant than plywood, which is a bonus.
The big BUT is that it won’t work as intended if the interior doesn’t have a shed vapour barrier. This is because moisture can become trapped, causing the boards to swell or go mouldy.
3. OSB
OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is made of layers of chipped-up lower-grade wood. It has a flaky appearance and bumpy texture. If you don’t mind the textured appearance on the walls, this one’s for you.
It also works for underlayering carpets, tile, hardwood flooring, roofs and wall sheathing. OSB has similar properties to plywood but at a lower cost.
4. Beadboard
Beadboard is a wood panelling featuring long, continuous vertical grooves and raised beads. It’s made of fibre cement, giving you a natural wood panelling look.
The material also resists twisting and decaying and prevents wood-damaging insects from entering. A great alternative to add if the walls have experienced termite problems before.
It’s a bit pricier than wood, but it’s safer, long-lasting, and requires less maintenance.
5. Shiplap
Shiplap is widely used for constructing the exterior of garden buildings, including sheds. It’s known for its cut-out grooves and its easy-to-install properties.
The surface is planed smooth, allowing you to paint it straight away without sanding. Warping and rotting are potential drawbacks, though. Shiplap may not be the best if you live in a humid area.
6. MDF
MDF, or Medium-density Fibreboard, comes from pressed wood fibres. It’s easy to work with and makes the shed feel finished inside. The smooth edges make it easy to cut, even for detailed designs, which makes it a good choice for a DIY shed project.
One thing to note about MDF is that it’ll soak up a lot of water. This could potentially pose a challenge for use in a shed that may, at times, be damp. To avoid this, treat the board with a preserver, treatment, or wood stain shed.
7. Upcycled pallets
Pallets make a great cost-effective option for a shed interior wall. If you’re going for this approach, ensure the pallets are safe for indoor use.
There should be no markings, such as the MB (Methyl Bromide) stamp. Also, don’t use pallets with CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4, and CP5 markings, as they’re used in the chemical industry.
Instead, look for the IPPC marking. This mark ensures that the wood doesn’t have insects or any disease. Plus, HT (heat-treated) and KD (kiln-treated) are safe and aren’t harmful to your health.
Top tip: Don’t miss out on these projects with wood pallets for your next DIY task!
8. Fabric or drop cloths
Using fabric can be a good, cheap alternative to drywall. The perk of cloth, particularly for the ceiling, is that it looks gives the shed a bit of a tent-like feel. What’s more, it has a low price point and is easy to install. To be safe, use a fabric spray to make it fire-retardant.
9. Pegboards and slat walls
Pegboard is lightweight, cheap, and can be installed directly onto wall studs. It’s useful for keeping garden tools, equipment, or whatever you need to organise.
A slat wall system is similar to a pegboard. But they’re a bit more durable for hanging bulkier items like a hose pipe.
10. Tin or metal roofing
Metal roofing is lightweight, not a fire hazard, and easy to screw into studs. But the metal is sharp and hard to cut, so you wouldn’t want to expose the edges, especially if you need to trim the panels.
Sheets come in different colours, but we think that simple grey looks best. The downfall is that sound will echo in rooms with this lining.
11. Vinyl siding
Vinyl siding is perfect for DIY – it’s cheap and really easy to work with. Moreover, the pieces of siding interlock, which makes them secure and quick to install.
It’s best to attach to OSB or wood panels for stability. You can cut it with a saw, or even with tin snips. As long as the shed is structurally sound, you can cover it with vinyl siding.
12. Veneer plaster
Veneer plaster is a workable option and comes closest to traditional drywall. It doesn’t require as much skill or as many tools as hanging drywall does, but it’s a time-consuming option.
13. Lath & plaster
Like veneer plaster, you can combine laths and then coat them in plaster. Laths are narrow strips of wood installed horizontally between studs or ceiling joists.
It’s a mediaeval wattle and daub style, great for adding some texture to the wall. If you have non-flat walls, like a curved surface in the corner of the room, lath & plaster will do.
14. Wahoo walls
If you’re trying to cover a wall made of cinder block or concrete, go for Wahoo walls. It’s a basement wall finishing system that’s also ideal for sheds. It mimics the look of drywall and is moisture resistant. Plus, you don’t have to screw it into the wall; these panels click together.
15. Keep it bare
Consider whether interior walls are needed or not. If you’re just using your shed for storage, it’ll probably be fine without the extra insulation and cover.
But if you plan on spending more time in your shed, say, during winter, it’s better to have an interior wall and insulate it. This is also essential if you store sensitive items in cold temperatures.
In the long run, you may be able to save money compared to running an electric garden heater in an uninsulated shed.
Shed Interior Walls: Round-up
Lining the shed’s interior walls offers tons of benefits. For one, it helps improve the overall appearance inside and, at the same time, reduces heat loss. Installing shed interior walls is also straightforward, and you can even do it on your own.
Garden sheds don’t usually come with any material on the interior walls. The wooden framing for the structure features exterior cladding of T&G timber. This leaves the interior open and untreated. Speaking of treatments, BillyOh offers pressure-treated options for all types of outdoor buildings.
Check out this related post: Corner Shed Ideas to Make the Most of Your Garden
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