Behind the shed #88 – Vote for Cuprinol Shed of the year 2025
19th year of voting for those sheds and shouting notashed
Our always most tightly fought categories Workshops/Studio and Pub/Entertainment join some amazing entries in Budget, Cabin/Summerhouse, Most Colourful, Eco-Haven, Simple But Effective and the dark horse Unexpected/Unique
You have until July 31st to vote for your favourites.
As the UK welcomes warmer weather and longer days spent outdoors, the shortlist for Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2025 has been announced - giving 22 lucky Brits another reason to show off their glorious gardens!
This year’s competition attracted 84 wildly inventive entries, and after an exciting round of judging, 22 spectacular sheds have made it through to compete for the coveted title of Cuprinol Shed of the Year. This year’s shortlist has something for every garden dweller to love, from bold colour explosions to calm family hideaways and vibrant entertainment venues to holiday homes for bees. One shortlisted ‘Sheddie’ is now in with a chance of winning £1,000 in cash, a one-of-a-kind nature’s getaway experience, and £250 worth of Cuprinol products.
Andrew Wilcox, Founder and Head Judge of the competition, adds: “19 years in, and I’m still constantly amazed at how much passion and imagination people pour into their sheds. Behind many of them lie powerful stories - sheds that connect generations, bring families together, and serve as hubs for communities. These aren’t just garden buildings; they’re meaningful spaces full of history, purpose, and connection.”
Categories
ECO HAVEN
Nature lovers - this one's for you. Introduced in 2025 as part of Cuprinol's collaboration with pollinator protection initiative, Bee1, Eco Haven sheds welcome, preserve and celebrate nature in all its glory. Sheds in this category should demonstrate use of sustainable techniques and materials, as well as the ways it goes above and beyond to support our buzzy and fuzzy friends outdoors.
MOST COLOURFUL SHED
Whether you have a technicolour treehouse, or a rainbow retreat, this category celebrates the very best in vibrant shed design. Entrants should showcase an eye-catching use of colour that is also considerate of the shed's purpose and surroundings.
SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE
At Cuprinol Shed of the Year, even the simplest sheds are given their flowers - the humble potting shed, or tool storage space, can be the foundation for any great outdoor retreat. This category welcomes understated sheds that serve their purpose perfectly, with a fabulous story to tell.
BUDGET
This category is for the savvy sheddies who have created their outdoor oasis in wallet-friendly ways. Entrants should demonstrate how their sheds have been designed and built with affordability in mind, while still delivering on functionality and visual impact.
UNEXPECTED/UNIQUE
Whacky, weird and wonderful - we want to see them all! The Unexpected/Unique category calls for never-before-seen designs, innovative structures and creative use of colour to create a functional shed with incredible wow-factor.
CABIN OR SUMMERHOUSE
This category is for those relaxation stations, those zoning-out zones, those places for you. Cabins and summerhouses make for wonderful end-of-garden retreats for escaping the hustle and bustle and practicing what brings you joy - here, we want to see sheds that make ideal spaces to do just that.
PUB OR ENTERTAINMENT
This category welcomes all shed landlords and hosts with the most! Whether your shed serves the best pint in town, premieres the latest blockbusters - or entertains in a completely unique way - this category is for you. The more heartwarming stories behind the shed, the better.
WORKSHOP/STUDIO
We're excited about the workspaces that inspire you, to inspire us. The workshop/studio category celebrates sheds specifically designed around you and your work, with careful consideration into how the design maximises your productivity.
Other info
If you use Cuprinol on your shed, it would be great if you could tell us on the entry form if you do and what colours you used - YOU don’t have to use Cuprinol to enter the competition.
Prizes
Only residents in the UK (and Ireland) are eligible to win the Cuprinol Shed of the Year title & prizes ( £1,000 in cash and £250 worth of Cuprinol products and an exclusive nature's getaway experience (worth up to £500).
If you missed it > Cuprinol Shed of the year 2024 overall winner and Unexpected/Unique Category Winner
Wrinkly, Rusty and Retro
Wayne Dawber, a school art technician from Crewe, has been crowned champion in this year’s Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition. His shed ‘Wrinkly, Rusty and Retro’ soared past 160 other entrants to claim top spot, after being voted king of the ‘Unexpected/Unique’ category by the general public, and selected as the winner by a judging panel.
This year’s victor built his winning shed by combining unusual and disregarded materials, such as corrugated metal from a torn-down stable roof, and windows from a recently demolished chapel. Most striking, however, is the hand-painted vintage signs he has painted the shed’s interior and exterior with, in line with a style he likes to call “industrial, ghost town chic.”
Shed of the Year Still Needs Your Help!
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Andrew Wilcox
(Founder & Head Judge, Shed of the year)
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