Ways to Customize Your Shed's Exterior

Sheds and other outdoor building structures serve as practical ways to add storage or create additional living and working space. In recent years, sheds have become a trending focus for homeowners looking to maximize their space or level-up their exteriors. If you’re looking to purchase a shed and need some inspiration, LP® SmartSide® engineered wood siding styles can help you achieve a variety of goals for your outdoor structure. To spark some inspiration, we spoke with David Parraguirre, also known as The Mexican Carpenter, about his customized shed build.

Choosing Color

Alternative-use sheds have risen in popularity in recent years because of their practicality and versatility. When he built his shed, Parraguirre decided to use it as a studio and office space. To match his aesthetic preferences, he chose LP SmartSide ExpertFinish® trim and siding in Abyss Black for a classic and sleek look.

Wondering what color to go with for your shed? LP SmartSide Trim & Siding comes in primed and ExpertFinish colors, our prefinished line, so you can select any color you’d like, from neutrals to more saturated shades. Match your shed to your home’s exterior for a uniform look or choose a complementary color to stand out. Whether you’re painting primed siding or opting for an ExpertFinish color, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding allows you to personalize your shed and make it your own.

Get Creative with Siding Styles

When you think of house siding, you likely think of lap siding, which is applied to the structure in horizontal, overlapping pieces. If you are looking to use your shed as a living space or hoping to match the aesthetic of your home, using lap siding in either smooth finish or cedar texture can achieve a style similar to a typical home. If your shed has windows, complete the look with window trim or a flowerbox to add charm. Other accessories such as outdoor lights can further enhance curb appeal, making your shed an inviting add-on to your home.

If you aren’t interested in connecting the look of your shed to your home, you may instead want an elevated workspace or simply a storage area that looks appealing and remains durable. Panel and vertical siding are two of the most commonly used exterior materials for sheds because of the clean, streamlined aesthetic they offer. Achieve a polished, clean board and batten style with smooth finish vertical siding or opt for a shiplap look with cedar texture panel. Take a look at our shed gallery to strike additional siding inspiration.

Add Texture and Dimension

When it comes to details, there are a variety of products beyond traditional lap siding that can help achieve a more unique structure. Consider adding LP® SmartSide® Cedar Texture Shakes. Add visual interest by creating a staggered edge like The Mexican Carpenter did for his build or opt for a straight edge to streamline your shed’s exterior.

“Get creative and use custom trim, fascia, soffit and one-piece corners to make your project stand out,” suggests Parraguirre. 

Parraguirre combined LP SmartSide trim, siding and accessories, including J-Blocks and Outside Corners, to customize his build. LP SmartSide trim is available in a variety of widths and thicknesses that allow you to customize your design. With its versatile options, you could create a farmhouse-style shed with LP SmartSide ExpertFinish trim in Snowscape White or something more modern such as ExpertFinish trim in Abyss Black paired with white panel siding. 

No matter your siding style or design objective, LP SmartSide products are a durable and stylish solution for shed upgrades. Start to imagine what your shed could look like with the Shed Visualizer.

Discover the full range of LP SmartSide materials curated for outdoor building structures.