What are lifestyle sheds and barns?

Lifestyle sheds and barns are typically built on small rural lifestyle blocks and are used for storage, workshops, accommodation, animal housing and general multi-purpose use.

Lifestyle sheds & Buildings - Customised to your requirments

Q: What type of shed is best for a lifestyle block?

The best shed depends on your personal preference, how you plan to use it and the size and layout required. Most lifestyle sheds are designed as multi-purpose buildings combining storage, workshops and sometimes accommodation.

Q: How much does a lifestyle shed cost in NZ?

The cost depends on the size, design and features included. Simple storage sheds are more affordable, while larger multi-purpose buildings with accommodation, workshops or stables will cost more. A custom design is the best way to determine an accurate price.

Q: Does a lifestyle shed require council permits?

It depends on the zoning of your property and the size of the building. In many cases, sheds over 110 square metres or outside rural zoning will require consent, but it is best to check with your local council to confirm requirements.

Lifestyle Sheds and Buildings

Lifestyle sheds and barns are generally sheds found on a 1–20-acre block of rural land. Your lifestyle block would not be complete without a car shed to lock your toys, tools, implements, and animal feed away.

We can create a personalized shed for storage, extra accommodation, an entertainment area, or a fully dedicated horse stables or workshop.

Different Uses for Lifestyle Sheds

Hay shed
Workshop
Sleep out
Implement
Pony stable
Horse stable
Car workshops
Entertainment
Sleepouts
Hay barns
Animal shelter
Buildings
Lifestyle buildings, sheds, and barns

What type of shed is best for a lifestyle block?

The best type of shed for a lifestyle block comes down to personal preference and what is important to you, the look, the size what you plan to use it for there are many things to consider. Most lifestyle sheds are designed as multi-purpose buildings, combining storage and workshops sometimes providing additional accommodation.

Lifestyle Buildings & Barns NZ Wide

Our sheds can be customized to your individual requirements. You can color match your shed to suit your home and the rest of your property and environment using the color steel Maxam range.

Make your day-to-day country life easy with one of our custom-made prefabricated sheds or barns. We build and deliver lifestyle sheds everywhere in New Zealand.

Lifestyle shed build’s we have provided

We can design and build a shed to suit your lifestyle no matter what your requirements we have you covered

Lifestyle Shed

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3 Bay Storge Shed

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Home Office Hobby Shed

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Photos and Details of our system

The average shed company designs buildings based on standard measurements simply rounded to the meter, then builders trim the excess cladding to suit. We do it way better – we base each dimension on the total cover of the cladding sheets

Why?

A wall 12.3 m wide instead of 12.0 m really makes a difference. Everything lines up, flashings fit properly, reducing waste and saving time.

More close up photos

Get a lifestyle shed price today

Want to know what your shed will cost? Option 1: Get ballpark pricing. Option 2: Use our 3D shed designer to create your own custom layout, then hit send to get a firm price.

Get shed prices

Cladding sheets and flashing alignment on a NZ made shed

Why Choose Us

We do things differently — and it shows in every building we supply.

New Zealand Steel

Locally sourced New Zealand Steel throughout — dependable quality, accountable supply chain, built to last.

Site Specific Engineering

Engineered for your exact site conditions — not a generic solution. Built right, from the ground up.

20 Years Experience

Over 20 years of expertise goes into every barn we design and build, from pitch angles to the finishing details.

COLORSTEEL® Cladding

Genuine COLORSTEEL® cladding, engineered for the NZ climate. Strong, weathertight, and available in a full range of colours.

Lifestyle Shed Design & Materials

Lifestyle sheds combine functionality with appearance, making material selection and design flexibility important considerations.

Interior of completed steel shed showing open span, roller doors, and clean structural layout

Colour Chart

NZ Steels Colour steel range.

If you live in the country or on a rural block, the wide selection of colours provided by NZ steel from their Colorsteel Maxam range will allow you to choose the prefect combination of colors for your situation.

Colour Selection Tool

COLORSTEEL colour chart showing available colours

Look at other shed styles

We supply a variety of shed styles each can customised to your specific design needs, see other shed options.

Find Answers to the Most Common Questions Here

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us and we’ll get back to you quickly.

How much does a lifestyle shed cost in NZ?

The cost of a lifestyle shed in New Zealand depends on the size, design, and features included. Simple storage sheds are more affordable, while larger multi-purpose buildings with additional features like accommodation, workshops, or stables will cost more. A custom design is the best way to determine an accurate price.

Does a lifestyle shed require council permits?

It depends on the zoning of your property unless it is rural zoned and under 110m2 you will most likely need a permit to build, unless your local authority has special exemptions, it’s best to contact the council for confirmation.

Dream it. Design it. Build it.

Bring your ideas to life with our easy-to-use 3D shed designer

Start Designing View Guide

What They Say About Kitset Sheds

Don’t just take it from us. Here is what some of our happy clients have to say

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Leyton Mercer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. From the initial enquiry to production of the shed Paul was brilliant to deal with . His knowledge and anytime availability was amazing . As first time shed builders we were green and Paul stepped us  through every phase including advice on Council consent .
We now have a finished product that has exceeded our expectations .
Would highly recommend Kitset Sheds NZ Ltd and if needed he will be the first we will call.
Leyton and Sondra from Clevedon , Auckland
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Hannah Lane 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We’re incredibly grateful to Kitset Sheds Limited for their generous support of local performing arts in Tauranga. Their sponsorship of our production of The Places You’ll Go made a huge difference and helped bring this show to life for our community.

It’s fantastic to see a local business not only supporting the arts financially but also getting involved in community events and backing creative opportunities for young performers. Their generosity, encouragement, and belief in what we do has been amazing.

Thank you, Kitset Sheds Limited, for investing in the arts and helping make performing opportunities possible for our community. Your support truly means a lot!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Deb Tarr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul Wiiliams always had a smiling face with great work ethic.  Our 10 year old shed has doubled in value.  We now live in the legal cottage attached to the garaging. But previously it was rented out. Best thing we ever did.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Caleb McQuoid 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kitset sheds supplied the kitset shed, and the quality of the materials and design was excellent. Everything arrived as expected and was well organized, the kit arrived clearly labeled, and easy to work with, making the building process efficient and hassle free.

The finished shed is solid, practical and exactly what the client was after. Meraki Builders completed the installation and construction of the shed and the quality of the shed made it straightforward to achieve a great final result.

We here at Meraki Builders Ltd highly recommend Kitset sheds Limited for anyone looking for a reliable, well-designed kitset shed solution.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Russell Williams 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I built a kitset shed in 2025 (4 bays, 16.25m x 8.9m) and it was a total blast! The kit instructions were excellent, and anything I didn't fully understand I was able to phone Paul and get the answer quickly. The shed is now complete and being set up as an engineering workshop. I can't wait to get some projects going. I highly recommend Kitset Sheds Ltd and owner Paul Williams (no relation to me) for their helpfulness, excellent communication, speedy delivery, excellent product and overall ease to deal with.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jason McMillan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Paul’s tips and advice was priceless.
Paul is always available and keen to help.
Everything was organized and efficient.