How to paint a shed
Is your beloved shed looking a bit worse for wear after a long winter? Or do you want to give it a fresh new look in time for summer? Our guide on how to paint a shed will go through every step of the process – and give you a little bit of inspiration on the way.
By Alex- 9th March 2026
- 4min read
How often should I paint my shed?
Timber sheds are a classic choice for your garden. They tie in beautifully with their natural surroundings and can last for many years if they are properly cared for.
Painting your shed isn’t just to make it look pretty – regular maintenance will keep the wood in good condition, keeping your garden tools and equipment fully protected against the elements.
You should aim to paint your shed every 3-5 years at a minimum. But if you’re looking at your shed and think it’s time for an upgrade, it’s never a bad time.
You can paint your shed at any time of year, though we’d steer clear of doing it during wet winters as the paint will need time to dry between coats.
What do I need?
- Garden brush
- Wood filler
- Sandpaper/sander
- Masking tape
- Exterior wood paint
- Paintbrushes/paint sprayer
Step 1: Clean the surface
Use a garden brush to sweep off any dust or dirt from the outside of your shed. If the wood needs a deeper clean, use a cleaning solution and a stiff brush to get rid of any algae or other gubbins. Leave to dry fully before moving on.
Step 2: Prepare the wood
If you find any splits or gaps in the wood, now’s your chance to fill them in with a wood filler.
Next, grab some 80-120 grit sandpaper (or a sander) and run it all over the shed to remove old paint and prep the surface for the new layer of paint. You’ll find this much easier if you wrap the sandpaper around a small wooden block!
Take some masking tape and use it to cover door handles, hinges, window frames, and anything else that you want to protect from paint.
Step 3: Get painting!
Grab your tin of exterior wood paint. You should use a specialist paint which protects the wood, and we’ve got plenty of choices from the biggest brands like Thorndown, Cuprinol, and our own great value wilko paint!
Check the tin to see how they recommend applying their paint, as some manufacturers suggest watering down the paint for the first coat.
Working with the grain of the wood, use your brush (or sprayer) to evenly apply the paint all over your shed, working from the top down. Pay particular attention to where the wood overlaps on shiplap and overlap sheds, and try not to apply too heavily to avoid drips. Once the first coat is done, treat yourself to a cuppa and some cake while it dries. Then you can apply another coat.
Our favourite paint ideas for wooden sheds
If you like the natural grain of your wooden shed, many of the paints we stock have semi-transparent finishes or can be mixed with a clear coat (or even water) for a more translucent finish. This way, you can give your shed your own personality while letting the beauty of the grain shine through.
One style we love is using contrasting colours on the door and window frames of the shed and the main body. Why not try green as the main colour and white around the doors and windows for a bright and cheerful colour scheme? Alternatively, using a clear coat around the door and windows with a darker blue gives your shed a striking look.
But with so many colours to choose from, the world really is your oyster. Just remember that your chosen colour will be a lot more striking over a large area like a shed than it is on paper, so you may want to test some on some scrap wood first to get an idea of how it’ll look.
Painting the inside of your shed
It isn’t just the outside of your shed that can benefit from a fresh coat of colour! Considering how much time you’re likely to spend in there throughout the spring and summer months, giving your shed's interior a jazzing up is never a bad idea, and it helps with your shed’s longevity, too.
The good news is that you don’t need to buy anything that you haven’t already used for the outside of your shed, unless you want to mix things up with a new colour! Shed interiors are often quite dark, so we think it’s the perfect opportunity to bring in some bold colours. Why not try a bold yellow paint to bring some sunshine to rainy days, or some pastel colours for a bit of calm while you organise your plant pots?
We’d love to see your shed painting projects! Get in touch with us on: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & X.
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