Shed of the Year shortlist includes a crocodile home and Star Wars-inspired shed

Each year, Cuprinol's Shed of the Year competition started by Uncle Wilco showcases UK sheds that range from fantastical to sustainable to imaginative, and the 2016 shortlist doesn't disappoint.

This year "sheddies" submitted a staggering 2,825 entries, and voting is now open for the final 32. There's everything from the cozy West Wing shed which includes a loft and secret bookcase to the Crocodile Shed, in which resides a live dwarf crocodile.

There are four finalists in eight categories: Unexpected, Eco, Cabin/Summerhouse, Workshop/Studio, Pub/Entertainment, Budget, Historic, and Unique. The sheds were described by the Shed of the Year’s shedblog as “outrageously spectacular” and “extravagant.” For some of the sheds, those descriptors are understatements.

The Crocodile House, home of an African dwarf crocodile, is just the beginning. The 32 shed finalists range from creative to well-designed and everything in between. There’s the Party Shed, which allows owners to host fabulous parties without worrying about angry neighbors, since the shed is soundproofed. According to the owners, “some of the best DJs in the world” have entertained guests. At one party more than 100 people danced under disco lights on the dance floor.

Then there’s the geek-friendly Star Wars shed, a timely entry after the recent movie release. The shed is built to look like Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon and is basically Star Wars paradise.

Some of the sheds reveal the dedication and love poured into their design. The submitter of Stephen’s Pub says his father “put his heart and soul into his little slice of heaven” yet was able to design a quaint pub-themed shed without spending too much money. His father built the tables inside the petite pub using “old beer barrels.”

Another in the Pub/Entertainment category, the Tranquility Saloon, offers enthusiasts “plenty of floor space in case of brawls.”

Andrew Wilcox, aka Uncle Wilco, said in the blog, “These sheds include some of the best I have ever seen in the history of the competition, so deciding who will take our top honor as the Shed of the Year 2016 will be tough. I love them all.”

Gardening and outdoor supplies company Cuprinol sponsors the competition. Brand Manager Katie Taylor said in the blog, “It’s clear that the humble garden shed is no longer just a space to store garden tools, as more and more people use it as an extra living space where they can spend more time outdoors. We hope the competition will inspire the nation to make the most of the outdoor space they have, no matter how big or small.”