Put the shed where you can reach it easily, open the door fully and get around it for maintenance. In a small garden, that may mean moving it out of the far corner. Check the ground, the delivery route and the manufacturer's base requirements before settling on a position.
It's tempting to tuck it away and leave the middle of the garden clear. Fair enough. But if you have to drag the mower across wet grass every time you use it, you may wish you'd put it closer to the path. A bicycle you take out each morning needs a convenient route too; furniture stored for the winter can sit further away.
Try the door before you buy the shed
Lay a garden hose or some string on the ground to mark the footprint. Use the supplier's measurements, checking whether they include the roof overhang and any extra allowance needed for the base.
Now mark where the door opens.
Bring the mower or bicycle over and try moving it through that opening. Leave the wheelbarrow where you'd normally park it. Can you turn without stepping into the flower bed? There's no need for a neat drawing here, just enough of an outline to find the awkward bits while you can still move them.
Don't squeeze the shed against a fence without checking the clearances. The supplier will need room to assemble it, and you'll need access afterwards. With timber cladding, for instance, think about how you'll reach the back to inspect or treat it. Keep any nearby drains accessible as well.
Walk the route from the house, then from the street
Have a look after rain. The patch beside the back step might hold water, or the lawn on the way to the shed might be softer than you'd noticed. Work out whether the existing path gets you there comfortably. If it doesn't, allow for an approach as part of the job.
You may already be planning a patio. In that case, look at the shed and the paving together so the route makes sense around your seating and doors. Our guide to patio materials and layouts covers the surrounding hard surfaces.
Getting the shed into the garden is a separate matter. Show the delivery team the narrow gate, the steps and the turn beyond them. Then show the same route to whoever is building the base. They have materials to bring in and may have soil to take out, while the shed supplier has panels and assembly equipment to move. Check with both.
That old paving might need a closer look
If there's already a paved corner, it's reasonable to wonder whether you can use it. Have it checked against the requirements for your chosen shed. Paving that has been fine under a table and chairs still needs assessing before it supports a building.
Ask about levels too, especially where the shed will meet a path or patio. The foundation may need to be level while the paving beside it slopes to carry rainwater away. If the shed position is lower than the rest of the garden, discuss how water will move around it before the base is built.
The supplier's drawing is useful here. Sheds Direct Ireland's steel shed guidance, for example, calls for a solid, level base with a damp-proof membrane underneath. Get the instructions for the actual model you're buying, because the detail can differ between ranges.
For a job in Dublin, you can use Shed Base Dublin's guide to concrete shed bases when discussing the groundwork. Send over the drawing and photos of the ground and access. Include waste removal in that conversation, and ask when the finished base will be ready for the shed. You'll still need to arrange the shed supply and assembly separately.
Leave the outline there for a day or two
Look at it from the kitchen window. Then sit where you'd usually sit outside. You might find you've given the shed the brightest corner, or the spot you enjoy most. Try another position before deciding that space has to go.
A bed of plants nearby can help the building fit into the garden, though you'll need to allow for growth. Keep the door and ventilation openings clear and retain the maintenance space the supplier asks for.
Before ordering, run through what you've actually agreed:
- The door can open fully, with room to turn your largest stored item.
- Both teams have checked their access, including any steps or tight corners.
- Keep the base drawing with the quote so the dimensions and clearances are easy to refer to.
- Allow for ground preparation, waste removal and a new path if you need one. Confirm when the base can take the shed, too.
Meanwhile, leave that hose on the ground. Take the bins out, carry the washing basket past it and see whether it gets in your way. You can still shift it.