What do Matilda, Magic Tree House, and Anne of Green Gables all have in common? A backyard cottage or retreat that feels like a magical escape. Fellow book lovers who grew up reading these incredible stories, guess what? It doesn’t have to stay in the pages of a storybook: you can build a library shed in your backyard to disappear into your favorite novel in style.
Handy Home Olympia Do-it Yourself Shed
Instagram user @amystinylibrary shared her cottagecore escape in a dreamy reel. Her DIY project turned a shed into a reading room over the course of several months, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and fairy lights. A gallery wall, fluted cabinets, and a candle warmer added to the cozy atmosphere. The exterior was just as charming: windowed doors and sage green siding made for a beautiful addition to her backyard. We fell in love, and we immediately wanted to find a way to recreate the look ourselves.
If you don't have the DIY know-how or materials to build it from scratch the way Amy and her family did, we think Costco's shed kits can be a great way to get started. In particular, Costco's Pagoda and Solitude sheds are dead ringers if you want to recreate the look. Glass doors allow you to watch blossoms in the wind or snow fall while you read. The slanted roof and transom windows add some charm. There's wooden flooring included and plenty of sidewall space to store your favorite stories. They even come with electrical packages, so if you want, you can snuggle under a heated blanket while you read. So just run to the bookstore or library, and then rush home to enjoy your new finds.
Handy Home Products Palisade 12x8 Wooden Storage Shed with Floor Kit
Handy Home Products Astoria Do-It-Yourself Wooden Storage Shed
Handy Home Products Beachwood Do-it-Yourself Wooden Storage Shed
Handy Home Products Highland Modern Wooden Storage Shed
Whether you're getting lost in a romance novel during a flowery spring, or bundling up on a snowy winter day. Shop some of our favorite builds to make your library shed dreams come true. Don't forget to fill it with as many cuddly throw blankets, soft cordless lamps, and cozy pieces as possible. As for furniture, a bouclé coffee table and a plush accent chair—Amy snagged both from Drew Barrymore's Beautiful line—tie the whole space together.
Janae McKenzie is the Associate Shopping Editor at House Beautiful, where she regularly covers the best of the best in home brands. Since joining the House Beautiful team in 2023, Janae regularly creates seasonal gift guides in addition to reviewing and evaluating home decor, bespoke furniture, and accessories. Janae also routinely tests viral products, from luxury sheets to high-tech air purifiers, determining quality and guiding readers to the best purchases possible. Janae holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and began her career at Food Network shortly after graduation. She also covers relevant shopping deals and celebrity news in the home space, a skill she honed during her tenure as a news writer at Glamour. When she’s not writing or scoping out the next mattress to test, you can find her hunting for trinkets to add to her bookshelf or artfully arranging her Playbill collection.
