This 8×12 (96 sq/ft) backyard bedroom adds a private room to a home in New Westminster, BC, without an addition or a renovation. It is a modern shed with a single-slope roof, blue lap siding, a full-glass door and a row of high windows. It sits at the edge of the garden, a few steps from the back deck.
About this backyard bedroom
When a family outgrows the house, adding a bedroom inside is usually expensive and slow. A small building in the yard can do the same job for much less, and it gives the person living in it a quiet space of their own.
This one was bought as a kit and put together by the homeowner, with help from friends for the heavy lifting, over two weekends. The kit arrives with every piece numbered. The door and windows come already set in the wall panels and the siding is painted before it ships, so the work on site is mostly lifting and fastening.
Photo album
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What makes it work as a bedroom
- Daylight and privacy. A row of high windows under the roof lets light in while keeping the room private. Two side windows open for fresh air.
- Year-round comfort. A small electric sub-panel and a wall heater make it usable in winter.
- Easy to keep clean. Laminate flooring, painted walls and a wood ceiling.
- A real entrance. A full-glass door with an outdoor light, opening onto the deck.
- Room for the basics. 96 sq/ft fits a single bed, a dresser or cabinet and a small desk.
| Location | New Westminster, BC |
|---|---|
| Size | 8×12 (96 sq/ft) |
| Style | Modern shed with a single-slope roof |
| Siding | Hardie lap siding, painted blue |
| Overhangs | 3 in. all around |
| Door | 36 in. full-glass fiberglass door |
| Windows | Two 30 in. x 30 in. windows plus a row of high windows |
| Floor | Laminate |
| Electrical | 8-breaker sub-panel |
| Heat | 2,500 W electric wall heater |
| How it was built | Kit, assembled by the homeowner |
Planning a backyard bedroom
- Check the rules first. Many cities treat a room someone sleeps in differently from a storage shed. Ask your city before you build.
- Plan the power. Heat and lights need a proper electrical feed from the house, done by a licensed electrician.
- Insulate it. A room used for sleeping needs insulated walls, floor and roof.
- Think about the walk. A deck or path from the house makes trips back and forth easy in the rain.
Frequently asked questions
Can you build a backyard bedroom from a kit?
Yes. This one was a kit with numbered parts, pre-installed windows and door, and pre-painted siding. A handy homeowner with a few helpers put it up over two weekends. The electrical work still needs a licensed electrician.
Is an 8×12 building big enough for a bedroom?
For one person, yes. At 96 sq/ft (about 8.9 m²) it fits a single bed, storage and a small desk.
Do you need a permit for a backyard bedroom?
It depends on the city and on how the building is used. Sleeping space often has stricter rules than storage. See the New Westminster shed rules and confirm with the building department.
Does it have heat?
Yes. It has a 2,500 W electric wall heater, fed from an 8-breaker sub-panel.