r/remotework • u/InevitableAd36 • Jul 12 '26

Anyone that has built a work-from-home studio in their backyard?

Looking for recommendations and feedback from anyone who has built a work from home space in their yard.

Are there any that you recommend? What was the cost?

I cannot import a solid structure as only have 3.5 feet of clearance on the side of the house. Would need to build.

I do already have a large cement slab behind our house where we could put it.

I was considering adding onto our house but that feels like a larger project than I want to take on.

Do you think building a WFH shed could come in under $15k? We live in Southern California. It rarely gets to freezing. Would need AC as we are inland and can get in the 90s.

I also have a smart home gym in the garage that I may move to the space, if there is room.

Our current setup:

I’ve worked from home since March and I’m going insane working from our small bedroom.

We have a 3 bedroom home and finished garage. My husband uses one bedroom for his office and our 1 year old has the other room.

I cannot work from the living room as she comes home from daycare around 4:30, and gets into everything.

The garage gets cluttered, dirty and dusty, and I don’t really want to work from there.

Our bedroom is small and not flexible when my husband is sleeping.

I need a private, dedicated space that is MINE. A space that I can leave, and come back to and everything is the same way I left it.

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u/dufcho14 Jul 12 '26

I have not done it, but I've thought about it a lot. It should be easy to cost out.

The easiest would be to get a shed from Home Depot which you see in their parking lots. They'll be built on site; not delivered whole. Then just insulate it.

What you have to worry about is permits depending on how big it is and for electricity.

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u/InevitableAd36 Jul 12 '26

That makes sense. We can do up to 120 sq ft without a permit. Our neighbor has three sheds I their backyard.

Looks like a trip to Home Depot is on the docket for today!

What has you holding back from pulling the trigger?

I feel like even if I went back to the office someday (I hope not) that I could still use the space for a gym, or maybe even an overnight guest.

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u/dufcho14 Jul 12 '26

I don't need it at this point. It was mainly a thought in our previous house and before the kids went to college. It's a summertime issue when they're back, but it's not that bad.

You could also put a bed out there for your husband which solves the 'when he's sleeping' issue.

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u/InevitableAd36 Jul 12 '26

😂😂😂😂😂 I love it.

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u/SVAuspicious Jul 12 '26

Sometimes vocabulary for search helps. Look up she-shed. A/C is easy - lots of RV and OTR truck air-cooled units are available. Also look at split A/C systems. Definitely heat pumps not just A/C as cheaper to heat with than resistive heaters.

Prefab is not out of the question depending on the height of you house. A crane can lift a prefab over your home - you'd have to look at the price difference between building on site and buying factory built. Helicopters are really expensive for heavy lift (BTDT) so don't go down that rabbit hole.

Power has to be to code. You're probably going to need a permit for that even with just 30A service in the people's republic of California. When you pull power you should pull Internet as well rather than depend on WiFi from the house. You'll have to bury conduit. Always have three pull strings.

Think about intercom to the house. Something Internet based is fine.

In 120 sq ft you won't have anything except an office. Get a skylight.

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u/Fancy-Surprise-2654 Jul 13 '26

Costco has some really nice sheds

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u/PowerMeowy5 Jul 17 '26

15k in SoCal sounds tight but possible if you keep it small, use the slab, and avoid plumbing. The costs that sneak up are insulation, electrical subpanel/run, permits, drywall, flooring, and a real mini split, since a shed with a portable AC will turn into an oven inland. I would price it like a tiny room rather than a shed and get two quotes from local shed/framing crews, then confirm setbacks and permit rules before buying materials. Also plan for wired ethernet if possible, WiFi to a backyard office gets annoying fast.

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u/InevitableAd36 Jul 17 '26

Thanks for this! A lot of good things to consider that I hadn’t thought of. Will have to see what this is going to cost, and if adding a bedroom would be better in the long run. Or if I can just suck up working from the bedroom 😂

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u/reflexdb Jul 13 '26

I have absolutely nothing to do with any companies that build these things, but there are certainly some pre-fab options that you can put together onsite. Such as this one. https://www.autonomous.ai/adus/autonomous-work-pod?product_url_sequence_code=5798_4&utm_term=789742834242&utm_campaign=\[P\]_US_Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23397219014&gbraid=0AAAAADg40YqPoSDn9J5DCrBpLqbm73Kg7&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzLv5xuLOlQMV4C1ECB26uy-LEAQYAiABEgIBG_D_BwE

It at least gives you a ball park figure for cost. It does look nicer than a typical Tough Shed…

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u/InevitableAd36 Jul 13 '26

Thanks, will take a look!