Decorate exterior shipping container

[Whiskeymike]

Hey, I live on 6 acres, I have an HOA, but it doesn’t restrict having a shipping container, but does restrict trailers being behind the house, stuff like that. Rules are pretty loose, all of them fit on a couple pages. With that said, everyone keeps their yards up and has pride in their homes, good neighborhood. I don’t want to cause any problems and I’m looking to expand my storage to have more room in my 30x40 shop. I’m considering getting one or two 40’ shipping containers and putting them behind my shop. This way, you won’t see them from the street. I will put a coat of paint on them matching my shop.

Long story short, i’m looking for ideas on how to make them blend in with the shop and not give anyone a reason to get upset. I’ve gone through google images, threads on containers, Instagram etc, however all of them still look like containers.

Any ideas?

Best idea I’ve come up with is an RV carport with sides.

 

[ZRX61]

Guy near me has a row of 3 or 4 40fts place almost end to end. He built a fake 1800's western town facade on one side of them. Even has a raised wooden sidewalk & hitching rails etc.

 

[Bondo]

Long story short, i’m looking for ideas on how to make them blend in with the shop and not give anyone a reason to get upset.

Ayuh,..... Side 'em with whatever siding you've got on the garage,......

Put a gambrel roof on 'em, to double yer space,.....

 

[Justind97]

I've seen them done up in board and batten. Painted the same colour as the shop and should blend in no problem.

 

[tboy]

Bury them, plant grass.

 

[Homerr]

Wrap? Here's an idea.

Mural? Something that says 'tasteful art', not graffiti.

Camouflage

Add a roof, porch, or something else which breaks ups the shape.

Cladding

My favorite would be slatted cladding, similar to this that says 'architecture'.

 

[Bretny]

By the time you do all this you could just build a shed or something.

 

[rburke65]

Wow....can’t believe the HOA would allow this! Good luck.

 

[Kenstone1]

Here's a few pics:
https://www2.bing.com/images/search...ding&qpvt=shipping+container+siding&FORM=IGRE

https://www2.bing.com/images/search?q=Shipping+Container+Buildings&FORM=RESTAB

 

[C2tuck]

No HOA here but wanted it to look like it belonged. Offset it to be flush with lean to. Will be adding awning on roll up door side someday.

 

[Voi]

A friend of mine in the southwest US wrapped his with EIFS stucco and put roof trusses on top.

If you think you'll need insulation that's one consideration. I understand that woodpeckers love the stuff so keep that in mind.

 

[Whiskeymike]

Wow, great suggestions guys, thank you. The wrap and the cladding are awesome. All of them are good ideas.

My shop is a metal building, so I figure cladding it in the sheet metal would end up being more of the same.

Good ideas to consider. Thanks again.

 

[kbs2244]

Anything that breaks the box shape and color to match existing buildings will help hide what it is.

 

[atthebeach]

In my neighbor hood of 1 to 5 acre lots, the least offensive shipping containers are painted earth tones and eventually hidden by fast growing bushes and trees.