Shipping Container homes are all the rage at the moment, with home renovators and builders incorporating them into houses in order to reduce waste and therefore make houses more environmentally-friendly. But what if you don’t need a new house – what are some alternative uses for shipping containers? Look no further, here’s a list of fantastic ways to re-purpose a shipping container.
Shed, Barn or Garage
The shape and size of shipping containers make them fantastic for creating sheds and garages, even barns on larger properties. They can also be used for storing large farming equipment like ride-on mowers, slashers, tractors and more. Either use the container as is or utilise it as the foundation on which to build your ultimate shed.
In the above example, two shipping containers are used as the outer walls of the shed, and provide lockable storage for tools, stock feed and vehicles. The interior section can be used for parking tractors and larger farming equipment.
Don’t forget about farm animals, too – check out this innovative horse barn which was made from a shipping container.
Man Cave or She-Shed
If you’ve ever wished for a spot to socialise with friends or enjoy your hobbies outside of the regular mayhem of the main house – whether it be crafting, playing video games or listening to your music LOUD – building your own Man-Cave or She-Shed could be the answer. Another option is to use it as a kids’ retreat or rumpus room so the kids can make a mess and noise outside of the house, while you are still close-by. Check out some awesome examples of Man-Sheds, She-Sheds and Kids’ Playrooms using shipping containers here.
Here’s an idea: Why not create your very own bar in the backyard? Photo from PremierBox.
Home office
The amount of people working from home these days seems to be increasing, especially with lots of Mums opting to start their own home-based businesses in order to be around the children. If you’re lacking space in the house to set up your work station or meet with clients, you might consider building an office in your backyard.
Granny Flat
Building a Granny Flat is a smart way to make a bit of extra rent money or to of course create extra living space for when visitors come to town. You can either keep it simple and convert a container just into an additional bedroom, or go the whole hog and include a bathroom and kitchenette, the choice is yours! Check out this beautiful Granny Flat created by HybridCargotechture, don’t you just want to move in right away? It looks so cute! Read more about this build here.
Home gym
Think how much money and time you would save if you didn’t have to drive to the local gym and pay for a membership, by building your own home gym. It would be particularly useful on those mornings when you sleep in or can’t be bothered making the trip – no excuses when it’s literally in your back yard! If you’re smart about it, your workout space could also be used for other purposes as needed, you could even convert it into a guest bedroom when family and friends visit (provided you put some windows or a glass sliding door on!).
Swimming pool
No, we’re not kidding. People are actually making pools using shipping containers, and it’s actually a brilliant idea! An innovative company in Queensland came up with the design for these swimming pools that are quick and easy to install, affordable, better for the environment, and best of all – portable! You can totally take it with you if you ever move – how great is that!? Read more about this genius upcycling idea here.
Image: Lifestyle
Poolside Cabana or Entertaining Space
While you’re at it putting in the pool, why not also install a poolside cabana that also doubles as an entertaining space, parents’ retreat, granny flat or home office? Talk about multi-tasking! You could even join the two together using raised recycled timber decking. That’s exactly what a family in Canada did when they created this fantastic shipping container outdoor office and entertainment space. We think this looks like a great place to while away the hours!
And for something a little more unusual…
Build an underground bunker
You know, for your doomsday prep! If you have ever thought about building a bunker for the end of days, but thought the costs were a bit prohibitive, burying a shipping container could be an option, according to website Containerpedia.com. You can even watch this video that explains the do’s and don’ts of burying a shipping container. Be warned, we are not entirely sure of whether this would even be allowed in Australia or any country, so best to check with local regulations before turning the sod on this project!
Shipping Container Houseboat
Perhaps the most innovative idea we have seen is the use of shipping containers to build a floating home – a houseboat! Steve White, a boat builder from Maine came up with this creative way to utilise shipping containers, returning them to the seas where they rightfully belong, but in a different format.
Image: The Casa Club
Remember to do your research
When it comes to embarking on a new project using a shipping container, remember to look into whether you should purchase second-hand or new. Some projects are better suited to a brand-new unused container. As we mentioned a few times above, it’s also important to look into local government regulations to make sure you’re actually allowed to build a shipping container structure in your backyard or on your property. We hope you found this list useful or interesting!
Looking to start your shipping container project?
If you’re ready to start creating with shipping containers, give Coastal Hire & Sales a call and we’ll be happy to quote on your needs. Call us on 02 6581 3388 or email sales@coastalhire.com.au. You can read more about our shipping containers here.
