Creative Backyard Shipping Container Ideas to Transform your Outdoor Area

Have you ever looked out of the window on a long Zoom call and daydreamed about setting up an office in your backyard, or leaving work and diving into your very own swimming pool? Or maybe you wish you had more space indoors: more room for working out, developing a hobby, or having guests to stay while still keeping your own private space.

All of these property upgrades used to require expensive, conventional construction. But now there’s another option: container conversions. Once they’ve retired from shipping journeys, shipping containers make for tough, climate-friendly, and affordable ways to set up a new space in your backyard.

Because they’re famously versatile, you can use shipping containers for anything from home cinemas to hot tub enclosures, greenhouses, and games rooms. And getting started with a container conversion may be much easier than you think.

Why use shipping containers in your backyard?

Think about shipping containers as if they were building blocks. You can place them on any level surface, join them side-by-side, stack them on top of each other, or even stack them cross-wise. They’re modular, which means you can move them around and scale your construction up and down as needed.

Next, think about how they’re made. Each shipping container is a rectangular box of marine-grade steel. Their strong, simple structure makes it easy to make adaptations — such as cutting windows, adding internal doors, or wiring in electricity.

Finally, shipping containers are more affordable than any other building materials. Most of the structure is already built: you just need somewhere to put it. There’s no need to dig foundations, buy new construction materials, or pay for construction labour. For most projects, converting a container is cheaper and lower-carbon than building from scratch.

20 clever backyard shipping container uses

Each shipping container is a blank slate. You can customise the layout, amenities, and design to suit whatever purpose you have in mind. There’s practically no limit to what you can do with a shipping container in your backyard!

Home office

Shipping container offices are one of the most popular shipping containers. They’re ideal if you work from home and need some extra quiet or inspiration.

The basic office set-up is simple: you just need doors, windows, and electrical points to set up your desk. High-quality insulation will keep the temperature comfortable year-round.

However, most people like to add more than that. Different shipping container office ideas allow you to express your personality and creativity. For example, if you like to feel immersed in nature, you can customise the container with a green roof, living wall, or sliding glass doors.

Swimming pool

If you’ve ever wished you had a private swimming pool, container pools are one of the simplest and cheapest options available. You can choose from an above-ground or in-ground installation, so long as the container is properly sealed and watertight.

Just like home offices, shipping container pools can be customised to your personal taste. You can add steps, bars, or even a second container to serve as a comfortable, insulated changing room or shower.

Garden shed

The good old garden shed is a traditional sight in many British gardens. But it also comes with other traditional features — like rotting wood, drafts, and beetles.

When you compare shipping containers vs. garden sheds, containers win for durability, space, and flexibility. You can expand the space as needed, install shelves or hooks to keep things organised, and even add ventilation and heating to protect valuable tools or plants.

Man cave or she shed

Container conversions can also be a way to extend the space inside your home, creating a private and comfortable retreat. Whether you call it a den, a man cave, or a she shed, your container can be a haven for gaming, entertainment, or time spent with friends.

You’ll need the standard adaptations, such as insulation, ventilation, and electrical points. You can also customise the design with extra features and furnishings, such as soundproofing, skylights, or a convenient bathroom.

Guest house

Alongside home offices, container homes are one of the most popular types of shipping container conversions. Their compact, affordable design is perfect for private guest houses or business holiday rentals.

Your guest house or holiday home will need windows, doors, insulation, ventilation, electricity, and plumbing. It’s up to you whether you just create a basic bed + bath unit, or include a kitchenette, seating area, or other special features.

Gym

Forget the gym membership: with a gym container conversion, you can create your own private members’ club for one, set up with your favourite equipment and layout.

Shipping container gyms are extremely simple to set up. You just need basic insulation, ventilation, and lighting. Heavy-duty rubber flooring will reduce noise and protect the container when you’re lifting heavy. You can also add custom shelving and equipment such as pull-up bars, benches, and squat racks.

Sauna

A shipping container is the perfect vessel for a home sauna: compact, durable, and easy to modify. You’ll need to add significant insulation, along with ventilation, heaters, and interior wooden panels and benches for a traditional feel

For added luxury, you could include a shower unit, built-in speakers, or adjustable lighting. You could even combine a container sauna with a container gym or swimming pool.

Art or music studio

A shipping container can make the perfect backyard studio for amateur or professional artists. It’s easy to adapt the basic steel structure, and the walls and ceiling are strong enough to carry heavy equipment if necessary.

If you love to paint or sketch, you can adapt your shipping container studio with plenty of windows and glass doors to maximize the natural light without getting too cold. For musicians, soundproofing is the most important thing of all: you can line the container with acoustic foam or mass-loaded vinyl to create the perfect recording space.

Home workshop

Similar to artists’ studios, containers make great workshops for crafts such as woodworking metalwork, fibre arts, or ceramics. They’re a secure, dry place to store equipment and materials, as well as offering extra workspace. You can add shelving and workbenches to your container workshop to make the most of the space.

Underground hideaway

Most container conversions are placed at ground level, but you also have the option to set yours into the ground. Semi or fully buried shipping containers make for a cosy hideaway with minimal impact on the surface.

It’s your secret space, whether you want a private meditation space or an entertainment venue with a mysterious vibe. Just make sure you check local planning rules for buried shipping containers before you start.

Garage

Sometimes, all your property needs is some extra garage space. Whether you need extra car storage, a motorbike lock-up, or working on a vintage rebuild, shipping containers are a secure alternative to a garage.

Shipping container garages offer plenty of space in a safe, dry environment. Best of all, shipping containers aren’t permanent. If you only need a garage temporarily, it’s much easier to place and remove a container than to build a garage from scratch.

Games room

A storage container is the perfect place to build your own games arcade. Classic coin-op games, consoles, or PCs can be installed as soon as you wire electricity into the container. Alternatively, you can fit out your garden room with a pool table, foosball table, or ping pong table. Don’t forget the comfy seats and a fridge full of snacks.

Hot tub enclosure

Everyone loves a hot tub—but not so much the British weather. A converted shipping container can be the perfect solution.

You can place the hot tub inside a converted shipping container to offer shelter from rain or wind. It’s up to you whether you leave it open on one side, or install sliding doors or large windows. Insulated walls will keep out the cold, and a skylight means you can stargaze in the tub. For even more luxury, add a shower unit or fridge for drinks.

Outdoor kitchen

If you need more space indoors, or just love eating in the garden, then an outdoor kitchen is well worth the investment. Once you’ve converted the container with windows, ventilation, electricity, and water, it’s ready to go.

Add built-in appliances, cabinets, and counters so that you have plenty of workspace. Some container-conversion kitchens feature bifold windows so that you can pass dishes out to your guests.

BBQ station

Every serious barbecue fan knows that your equipment stash just keeps growing. Charcoal, firewood, grill racks, covers, smokers, and that new design you just had to check out… it all takes up space.

A shipping container BBQ station is a secure, weather-proof space to store all your gear. You could even install shelving or a fridge to take care of the food and meat rubs, too. Just make sure that the space is well-ventilated, especially if you plan to barbecue inside the container.

Fire pit

Similar to a barbecue station, you can also use a shipping container to house a fire pit. But there’s a twist: in this case, you can set the fire pit up in the centre of the container. Then build seats (with plenty of space for cushions and blankets) around the central pit.

You’ll need a large ventilation opening in the roof to make sure it’s safe. Line the interior of the container with fire-resistant tiles for added peace of mind. Don’t forget a cupboard to store ingredients for smores!

Pergola

If you want to keep the feel of an open garden, but add some extra shade or seating, then you can use a converted shipping container as a pergola. The design is up to you: you could cut away one wall to keep it open, or use a retractable roof to let sunlight in on warm days.

The sturdy structure of a shipping container is great for supporting climbing plants. You can choose whether to paint your container to blend in with the garden, or stand out with a statement colour or mural.

Playhouse

A converted shipping container can become a safe, warm and dry place for your children to play in, all year round.

To make a garden playroom or rumpus room, you’ll need to modify the container with insulation, ventilation, doors, windows, and heating. It’s a good idea to add child-safe locks and make sure any sharp corners are rounded off.

You can fill the inside with comfy seats and shelves for games. On the outside, you could add more play equipment, such as a slide or climbing wall.

Greenhouse

If you’re serious about gardening, then you need a greenhouse. That’s especially true in modern times, when more and more people are exploring indoor farming to grow their own food supply.

A converted container can be much cheaper to set up than a conventional greenhouse. You’ll need to install clear polycarbonate panels on the walls to let sunlight in, and add roof vents or side windows for ventilation control.

Movie night pod or outdoor theater

Build a home cinema in your backyard for the ultimate movie night experience! All you’ll need is cosy insulation, seating, and lighting, plus a projector and screen. Speakers, string lights, or even a snack bar are additional little luxuries that will make your movie night pod even more magical.

Things to consider before you start your container conversion

It’s relatively quick and easy to get a container conversion installed. However, there are a few things you need to know before you start.

Permits and backyard preparation

Different areas have different rules for shipping containers. In much of the UK, temporary storage containers are allowed under permitted development rules.

However, you might need to apply for planning permission for your container if you intend to use it as a permanent structure for living, working, or sleeping. The height and exact placement of the container can also make a difference. When in doubt, it’s always safest to consult your local planning department.

Site preparation

Shipping containers can be placed on almost any level surface. But you’ll also need to make sure that the site is well-drained and stable so that the container doesn’t shift around over time. If necessary, you can add to shipping container foundations with concrete slabs, paving slabs, or concrete piers. These can also support airflow beneath the container, reducing the risk of rust and condensation.

Container modifications and customisation

Every container conversion is different. You’ll probably have your own vision for the design, including some special features.

The basics are usually insulation, ventilation, lighting, and heating. You might also choose to plumb in water and add extra windows or doors. If you plan to run any cables or pipes out to the container, then you’ll need to plan ahead and make sure that they are properly protected.

The bottom line

Shipping container conversions are perfect for a wide range of backyard projects: from greenhouses to game rooms, swimming pools to art studios. Before you install your container in the backyard, you’ll need to check planning rules and plan ahead for utility connections. Once all that’s sorted, you can get started on creating the backyard setup of your dreams.