building a homeworking shed for under £1k

I built a homeworking shed for about £300- but then i realised it was really in the end too small. I also thought about people who wanted to get up and running NOW rather than muck around with old pallets and plywood. So this is the ONE K shed plan- which two of my friends have done.

1. Buy a flimsy 12 foot by 8 foot standard garden shed from Shedmaster, Gardenstore or similar brand who deliver. The bigger the better. Also check out free or used ones on ebay. The new ones range in price from around £600 for the cheapest which is what you want.

2. Lay out paving stones for where the floor will touch the ground. Erect shed with a pal- will take a day.

3. Look on gumtree and ebay for old sheets of one inch foil backed insulation. Or buy one inch polystyrene sheets from internet (2.5 inch kingspan insulation is even cosier, but it is not essential and costs more). Cover this with hardboard (or 3mm ply if you can find old sheets on ebay or gumtree. Insulate walls, roof and floor. Leaves holes for ventilation or install a cheap bathroom type open/shut fan.

4. Paint interior a cheerful shade. 

5. Run an outdoor extension cable through a drilled hole in the house wall to the shed. Do not faff with a buried armoured cable- instead run your cable above ground where it can't be cut by a lawnmower (along a fence for example).

6. Install woodburner if you find one cheap. Or simply use an electric-oil heater on a timer. Put the heater under your deak with a cloth hanging all around to trap the heat.

7. Use greenhouse glass to make simple double glazing (£4 a sheet).

8. Rig heavy curtain over the door to keep in heat.

9. Find old bookshelves on ebay, gumtree and facebook market place. I have even found them in the street or in skips.

10.Install daylight flourescent lighting to combat SAD. Also several powerful floor and desk lamps.

11. Ready to work!