Reclaiming My She Shed After Years of Daycare Life
(Shedna Mae Makeover, Part One)
I am almost embarrassingly excited about this she shed makeover.
After years of dreaming about having a creative space again, I’m finally reclaiming it — and every time I step inside, I feel this ridiculous little spark of happiness. I keep catching myself just standing there, smiling at a wall. A wall! But it feels like something in me is waking back up.
If you’d like a little background on my she-shed history, you can read the post I wrote about decorating my original she shed (Shedna) on a budget. That little space meant a lot to me.
Fast forward several years — we moved, Shedna was left behind, and now I’m creating my new creative sanctuary: Shedna Mae.
This shed is different. It was already here when we moved in — insulated, wired, and with lights — which was a huge blessing. I didn’t build it from scratch. What it needed was fresh paint, a little trim repair, and a lot of love. Everything I’m doing now is about making the most of what was already here.
When we first moved into our new home, I did start turning our 10 x 16 lofted barn shed into a she shed… and then life happened. I opened my home daycare, and before long the shed was overflowing with toys, books, and daycare supplies.
While I’ve loved my years running a daycare, I’ve also always needed a creative outlet. DIY projects have been my way to reset — a quiet kind of restoration after busy days. Many of those projects were tucked into the shed alongside the daycare supplies, waiting patiently. Now I’m organizing them and giving them space again, ready for their next chapter when I retire.
Letting Go to Make Room for Something New
I’ll be closing my daycare this spring, and I’m slowly letting those things go. It’s bittersweet. I am a little sentimental about some of the items because of the memories attached to them, but there’s no reason to keep them, so to the thrift store they go.
Every box that leaves makes the shed feel lighter. I can actually see the space again. And with every cleared corner, my excitement grows. It’s like the shed is slowly giving itself back to me.
I’m looking forward to retirement — to having time to work on projects at a relaxed pace instead of squeezing everything into rushed weekends. Shedna Mae will be getting a complete makeover, inside and out. I have plans for organization, cozy details, and little finishing touches that will make the space both functional and joyful.
A Fresh Start with Paint and Possibility
Sorting through toys and books can get overwhelming, so when I need a break, I switch gears and work on something pretty. Recently, I decided to paint the pegboard that hangs above what will be my main work area.
The pegboard was grey and chippy. I’m repainting it Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore. It’s taking several light coats to cover the grey without clogging the holes, but it’s already transforming the wall. My goal is to keep my most-used tools and supplies visible and easy to reach. The section closest to the door will hold garden items, and the right side will be dedicated to tools. I have some ideas that are going to make this wall both useful and beautiful — I’ll share those in my next post.
The Little Desk that Started It All
Last summer I found a small oak desk on Facebook Marketplace for $25 and knew it belonged in the shed. It’s worn but solid, and I’m excited to give it a makeover. Tucked beneath the painted pegboard wall, I think it’s going to be absolutely adorable.
This is just the beginning of Shedna Mae’s transformation, and I’m honestly having so much fun already. I keep walking out there just to peek in and imagine what’s next. It feels like the start of something really good — like I’m making space not just in the shed, but in my life again..
In Part Two, I’ll be finishing the pegboard wall — transforming plain hooks with Rub-n-Buff and adding old-school labels that make the workspace both organized and beautiful.
Until next time, happy creating! 💗
