Two San Diego-area sheds reveal why these spaces are today's must-have garden accessory.

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The utilitarian potting shed has grown up. That's not to say gardeners no longer need an enclosed, out-of-the-way place for storing tools, stashing the wheelbarrow or starting seedlings. But where some see a backyard shed and think “cobwebs and clutter,” others eye a few hundred square feet and think “guest room” or “art studio.”

Americans have embraced technology in all its digital glory, filling homes with computers, audio and video players, gaming systems, digital cameras, cell phones and more. For a variety of reasons, however, one everyday item has resisted the incessant march of technology, and you probably use it several times every day. It's likely to be in your purse or pocket right now, in fact.

Revitalize an old broom by covering the bristles with pantyhose. Cut a piece from the leg, and stretch it over the broom's bristles. The nylon's static will attract lint and small dust particles as you sweep.