A Splash of Colour & A Shedload of Imagination: Celebrating Shed of the Year 2026
Looking for garden shed paint ideas? See the Colourful and Unexpected & Unique winners from Shed of the Year 2026, sponsored by Protek.
Who said a shed had to be brown?
This year marked the 20th anniversary of Shed of the Year, sponsored by Tiger Sheds, and once again the entries proved that the humble garden shed can be pretty much anything you want it to be.
From colourful retreats and creative studios to museums, workshops and even part of an old fishing trawler, the shortlisted sheds were packed with personality, ingenuity and some seriously inspiring ideas.
At Protek, we were delighted to be part of this year’s celebrations, sponsoring two categories particularly close to our hearts – Colourful and Unexpected & Unique.
We love seeing how paint and colour can completely transform an outdoor space, and this year’s entries certainly didn’t disappoint.
A serious splash of colour
We might be slightly biased, but the Colourful category was always going to be a favourite.
The finalists showed just how much personality you can add with paint. There was the pretty lilac and blue Nikki Nailed It Studio, the wonderfully hand-painted woodland scene of Can’t See the SHED for the TREES!, and the brilliantly pink Bakehouse 72 – a tiny shed with a very useful second life selling home-baked treats.
But the public’s favourite was Namastay, Chrissie Bond’s joyful yoga-inspired retreat in Clacton-on-Sea.
Vibrant turquoise and orange sit alongside hand-painted mandalas, Tree of Life artwork and peacocks. It’s a brilliant example of how paint can take a simple garden building and turn it into something completely personal.
Rather than trying to make her beach hut disappear, Chrissie has done the opposite – and we love it.
Expect the Unexpected
If Colourful was about being brave with paint, Unexpected & Unique was about being brave with ideas.
Among the entries were a railway-inspired creation packed with memorabilia and a garden shed transformed into a fascinating wartime museum.
A railway-themed shed and Bomber Command museum showed there really are no rules in this category.
Taking the title was The Wheelhouse, created by Richard Banks and Abi Chesterton in Shropshire.
It started life aboard the Silver Fern, a fishing trawler built in 1973. After being rescued from a dockside in Cumbria, it travelled more than 150 miles before being painstakingly restored over three years. Rotten timber was repaired, the roof rebuilt and the interior transformed into a cosy retreat – while retaining original maritime details including a working ship’s wheel.
Now that is a garden makeover.
So much more than a shed
And the creativity certainly didn’t stop with our two sponsored categories.
Winners across the competition included The Hide Studio, The Green House and Tea Shack – showing just how differently people are using their outdoor buildings.
But the overall Shed of the Year 2026 crown went to Otty’s Hobby Shed 2.0, created by Chris Otterburn and friends in Lancashire.
Built around their shared love of tabletop wargaming, it features an enormous 18-foot gaming table, storage for battle boards and miniatures and, importantly, a dedicated tea-making station.
More importantly, Otty’s is a place built around friendship and shared memories – a lovely reminder that sometimes what makes an outdoor space special isn’t simply how it looks, but what happens inside it.
And we were rather pleased to spot a few familiar Protek tins making an appearance too!
“We were delighted to sponsor two categories in this year's Shed of the Year Awards. Our categories – Colourful and Unexpected & Unique – were a real feast for the eyes, showcasing an incredible range of creativity and imagination. “It’s always inspiring to see the innovative ways people use paint and colour to transform their outdoor spaces. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners – every entry was a fantastic celebration of creativity.”
Feeling inspired?
Whether it’s a completely new colour, some hand-painted details, a restoration project or an idea that’s totally off the wall, perhaps it’s time to look at your own shed with fresh eyes.
With Shed of the Year returning in 2027, grab a paintbrush, get creative and see where your imagination takes you.
Next year, it could be your shed everyone is talking about.
