Sanity shed, interior
Sanity shed, exterior
Sanity shed, brick exterior

The pandemic has caused hundreds of millions of people to spend almost every waking hour at home. As this relates to earning a paycheck, this phenomenon has even earned its own acronym: WFH. 

At first glance, “working from home” seems like an excellent idea. There is no commute to work, no distractions from co-workers, no “work clothes” to buy and no rushing home to cook dinner. The problem with this new normal is that it can cause everyone in the family to become a little stir-crazy. This slang term, first noted in 1908, means “to become restless or frantic due to confinement.” This “home confinement” has led many families to look beyond their four walls and build a backyard “getaway.” It is known by designers and those who WFH as a “sanity shed.”

Are you ready for your own sanity shed? Acme Brick, Tile and Stone has just about everything you need. Just click here for some great ideas!

A Soft Separation from Work and Family Life

More and more people are looking for some daily “sanity” in their lives and they are finding it in a little shed in the backyard. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Between June and Sept. 1, 2020, searches for sheds doubled on Wayfair.com, compared with the same period in 2019. Custom garden-house builder Hillbrook Collections reported orders up by 60 percent in 2020, compared with 2019. And in the last six months, NEO Builders in Los Angeles saw 250 percent more interest in their “accessory dwelling units,” or ADUs, habitable backyard buildings. 

In this same piece, Daniel H. Pink, who studies human behavior in business, noted, “In the U.S. after WWII, work and family became distinctly different domains. Now tech and, in part, Covid are remerging those worlds. But I think people don’t want them together 24 hours a day. So, they’re looking for a soft separation between their work life and family life.” An unconnected space helps ensure quiet and tucks away the nagging ephemera of office life—to-do lists, computers, cords—when you’re off the clock.”

Of course, some of these sanity sheds are also being used for an “out-of-the-home” office. This serves a similar purpose of delineating work from home and helps reduce the monotony of being within the same four walls, 24 hours a day.

Whether the sanity shed is used for meditation, writing poetry, painting landscapes, building model airplanes, tying fly fishing lures, or having a quiet place to talk after work, this space has become a popular add-on to the residence. Having a design that is mutually complementary is an aesthetic consideration because this addition can enhance or detract from the home’s resale value. This is where the experts at Acme Brick Tile & Stone can help. 

There are many options for building a sanity shed for either work or sanctuary. Here are six ideas to consider.

Brick Is Better

Many sanity sheds are manufactured in factories and then delivered and installed in the backyards of customers. They range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the size and materials used in manufacturing.

However, many homeowners have concluded that brick is better for sanity sheds. They have hired a licensed contractor, who is knowledgeable of the local building codes (which vary, sometimes dramatically from city to city), to build a custom shed to match the style of the main home’s exterior. If this exterior happens to be constructed of brick, Acme Brick is frequently able to match the color and style of the brick found in the residence. When made from brick, the space will have a warm appearance, require little maintenance and likely increase the value of the property.

The Great Look of thinBRIK 

It is possible to have a pre-constructed sanity shed that has the appearance of brick without complete brick construction. Because of its lighter weight, the Acme thinBRIK is designed to be installed with much less foundation. As such, it offers an excellent alternative for the exterior of a sanity shed when the primary residence is constructed of traditional brick.

Metal Magic

Alternately, any prefab sanity shed can look like a million bucks when MAC Metal siding is installed on the exterior walls. This is particularly true when the residence is a modern design. While vinyl siding can become brittle over time, especially in below freezing conditions, and wood and fiber cement siding will require painting and caulking every 5-7 years, MAC Metal siding is maintenance free and has an outstanding warranty of 40 years. It is extremely durable. Plus, this cladding is not affected by moisture, which precludes the mold, rotting, and mildew problems that can occur with wood and vinyl siding in damp climates.

Walk on the Mild Side

Nothing ruins the “serenity vibe” of a sanity shed quicker than a bare-bones wooden or metal floor. These industrial floors might work for a shed for the lawnmower, but not for these escape spaces. Quality flooring changes everything!

Fortunately, Acme Brick, Tile & Stone has a wide selection of tile flooring, natural hardwood, and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring options that will enhance every style. They are also tough enough to withstand years of use.

Shed the Cold

Is there anything more peaceful on a cold, rainy day than sitting by a fire? A small fireplace or interior fire feature can transform these spaces into warm, inviting rooms. A Mason-Lite or Isokern-Earthcore fireplace from Acme Brick, Tile and Stone can change the ambiance of the shed from crazy to cozy. 

Warm Up the Walk 

Since many sanity sheds will be located near the back patio, a little heat might be in order for those spring and winter walks to the office. The Bromic patio heaters have been used by restaurants and outdoor entertainment areas of homes for many years. In colder climates, they are an excellent addition to this structure and promise year-around warmth.

Stop the Insanity!

Whether it’s used for deadlines or decompression, a sanity shed is another way to deal with crazy times of working and playing from home. Even when normalcy returns, that little hideaway in the backyard will always be a place for the great escape.

Show everyone that YOU are the sharpest tool in the shed! Click here for more information on making your sanity shed a reality!