The Hot New Trend Home-Based Businesses Are Loving

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With a growing number of Americans working from home, “shedquarters” are a new home design trend that lets you work right from the convenience of your backyard.

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According to Global Workplace Analytics’ research, 50 percent of the U.S. workforce holds a job that’s at least partially compatible with telework, and another 80-90 percent of folks saying they’d like to work from home at least part time. Coupled with that, a recovering economy means independent businesses and start-ups are popping up with higher frequency, making it likely that we’ll see more and more shedquarters dotting the country’s backyards.

A shedquarter is appealing because they are space-efficient, highly customizable, easy to install and potentially costs less than carving out a whole new room in your house. Many modern design companies and DIY builders are creating these cozy outdoor extensions for a range of uses, including a home office, artist’s studio, a guest room—and, yes, storage space. Take a tour of some of our favorite shedquarters.

1. Sett Studio

The Austin-based designers create sustainable, pre-fabricated and site-built homes.

“Built with Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs), [the studios] deliver maximum energy efficiency, minimal material waste, minimize labor costs and provide a beautiful and purposeful space that will add flexibility to your current living and/or working space,” the company says.

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2. Modern-Shed

Lighter Side of Real Estate notes that the Seattle-based company creates flat-packed, pre-fabricated structures with a basic 8×10-foot shed starting at $6,900. Modern-Shed uses eco-friendly building materials such as denim insulation which contains 85 percent post-industrial recycled fibers; a GreenGrid roof, which is a modular vegetative roof system that reduces energy costs, regulates structure temperature and helps manage rainwater runoff; they also partner with a solar panel company for their off-grid customers.

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