It's a luxury space with all mod cons where you rest, work, or play. No, not your home - this beautifully equipped sanctuary is now just as likely to be your garden retreat.

While most homeowners have a basic shed, that traditional structure so beloved by the British - and just to prove it, the Cuprinol Shed of the Year contest attracted nearly 3,000 entries, a record, this year - there's a growing trend for converting these spaces into stylish hideaways, rather than reserving them for spiders and grubby garden tools.

Katie Taylor, brand manager at Cuprinol, said: "Year on year, we're blown away by the amazing creativity and hard work of 'sheddies' in the UK. It's clear the humble garden shed is no longer just a space to store tools.

"Our overall winner, the wonderful West Wing, was made from recycled materials, with a bed in a loft space, an area for relaxing and a bookcase disguising a secret playroom, as well as a workshop.

"It has so much more than the word 'shed' implies, and proves there's no limit to people's imaginations or resourcefulness in creating a space in their garden to suit them.

"Our budget winner was a summerhouse transformed by into a colourful hideaway, and the cabin winner was aptly called Shed of Dreams, which has an extraordinary Gothic-style arch."

So while many of us just want to sit and enjoy a hobby, or escape the kids, in nothing more pretentious than a wooden box with a roof, others obviously have Grand Designs-style in mind. They're discovering that the bottom of the garden has never been so well catered for with buildings for every taste, from retro to modern.

Fancy perking up your plot with a shepherd hut, log cabin or chalet, or even an ultra-indulgent contemporary garden suite or state-of-the-art pod? Here's how to rustle up the backyard boutique of your dreams...

SHE-SHEDS

Although traditionally seen as a man's retreat, recent research by garden buildings specialist Waltons found that more than 50 per cent of sheds bought this year were snapped up by women, mainly in the 25-44 age group.

Sophie Robinson, a presenter on BBC2's The Great Interior Design Challenge, who has styled a 'she-shed' for blinds specialists Hillarys, said: "We're seeing the growing emergence of the 'she-shed' - an area of backyard bliss - where people can get some headspace and have a special zone for themselves. A well-furnished shed can be a perfect little oasis of calm.

"This is somewhere where you can be wildly creative with design. I painted this one black inside for a cocooning effect, with added blocks of bold colour and eye-popping neon accessories. I love mixing patterns, and chose contrasting floral geometric blinds and an abstract floral oilcloth.

"As it's a workspace, it had to be practical, so I fitted a central light and wire shelving, sprayed in neon bright colours. I upcycled an old junk shop chair by painting it turquoise, and added a pegboard organiser."

Think hard about how you're going to use the space. If you plan to use it all year round, full insulation would be sensible. Harmonise your shed's interior with the outside by using weathered woods, and natural fabrics such as cotton, wool and linen, in soft, earthy colours which will blend with the view.