WHEN Emma Vaughan was made redundant at 20 weeks pregnant, she desperately scrambled to find a new source of income.
The expectant mum, 34, struggled to find another job and wanted to set up her own beauty salon, but wasn’t willing to cough up £30,000-a-year to rent a studio.
But then she had a light bulb moment – she could set up a salon in her back garden if she built a shed and furnished it.
So, that’s exactly what she did.
The decision has meant that the mum-of-two is now serving more clients than ever and believes the closure of her workplace was a blessing in disguise.
Emma, from Leeds, initially invested £3,300 to have a shed erected in her garden that she could offer spray tans, waxing and manicure services out of.
The shed was purchased from Tiger’s “log cabin” range, which prospective business owners can even order on Klarna if they don’t have a few thousand to spare up front.
She then spent a further £1,800 on “decorations and furnishings” to create a cosy “ski lodge aesthetic”.
“The financial aspects of a garden building felt more manageable,” Emma says.
“It offered the perfect solution – a designated workspace within my own home, allowing me to create a schedule that revolved around my growing family.”
And the best bit about her new workspace is the 10 second commute – a far cry from the average commuting time of 27 minutes in the UK.
“It’s close to family and with two young children, it allows me to pick and choose my hours, have a better work-life balance and my commute is just a 10 second walk to my log cabin,” Emma adds.
“I also find the atmosphere calming which helps with my work, as the log cabin aesthetic reminds me of a ski lodge.
“I’ve gotten more clients since I started working from home too.
“Working from home has helped me to better connect with people who live nearby, so now more locals are choosing to come to me because of the convenience and personal attention I give.
“Reflecting on it, the closure of my workplace ended up being a good thing.
“It pushed me to find new ways of working and led me to a setup that is perfect for my job and family life.
“For anyone thinking of taking the leap into starting their own studio from their garden, I’d say go for it.
“The flexibility and work-life balance improvements are so worth it!”
