Remember when you were a kid playing with Legos, creating all sorts of strange buildings that you may have hoped to live in one day? 

Great news for childhood you–since the trend of turning bulk containers into shipping container homes started a few years ago, your Lego inventions of your early years no longer need to be strictly left to the imagination. Neither is it only homes that these awesome building materials can be used for.

In this post we are going to cover several different possibilities for buildings made from shipping containers as well as some of the advantages that come with using these as building materials. 

1. Homes Built From Bulk Containers 

Let’s start with the buildings that really got the trend rolling–homes. Other than making your childhood self proud, what are some of the advantages that come from having a cargo container home? 

They’re tough as nails. Being stacked on top of one another and then bearing the weather of the open sea–sometimes for even a month, they have to built durably.

Being made from the world’s most recycled material, they’re incredibly eco-friendly (this is why we offer used cargo containers as well!).

They’re extremely affordable. With the average reported cost of building a new house in America right now nearing $300,000, a container home can easily save you more than half of that money, depending on modifications and specific needs.

They’re completely customizable, allowing you to, just like in your Lego-playing days, design and build the house of your dreams.

2. Offices 

Whether you have an established business or are an entrepreneur, you are no doubt always looking for ways to cut down on overhead. Likely, one of your biggest operating costs is the expense that comes with buying or leasing an office space.

Well, we already considered that using bulk containers as your building material can be incredibly cost-effective. But what are some of the other benefits associated with making these shipping containers a part of your business?

It inspires creativity. To be able to work in an office space that is itself built with creativity will inspire you and your employees’ own creativity.

People will remember you. Especially if your business is one that requires customers to visit your office, a bulk container office will help you to stand out as unique. Plus, working out of an eco-friendly office will attract more people. This will already give you a one-up on your competition. 

Container offices allow you to be incredibly flexible, no matter the type of business you run. Many businesses, such as pop-up stores and large construction teams, need to be able to move their shops and offices from site to site. This is why we offer such a variety of mobile container offices

3. Restaurants

Just like with a business needing an office, if you are planning to start running a restaurant, you need to stand out amidst the many options.  The same principles behind having a shipping container office come to play with having a restaurant built with shipping containers. 

For example, there is potential that shipping container’s will cut down on your start up and operating costs, helping your business turn a quicker profit. 

Also, you will quickly be able to catch people’s attention. If you can make people stop and take notice before they even take a single bite of your food, you’ve already taken a big leap towards restaurant branding success. 

4. Mobile Food Vendors

We’ve all seen shipping containers on the back of tractor-trailers being hauled to or from a shipping port, ready to make their next delivery. But what about at street food markets?

Being durable and portable, shipping containers are a perfect fit for mobile food stands and food trucks. Just ask street food powerhouse Copenhagen, Denmark. They’ve created an outdoor food market mecca, called Reffen. Their vendors’ building material of choice? You guessed it–shipping containers.

5. Pools 

What else can a sealed 8ft wide, 8.5 ft high (or deep), 20-40 ft long container be used for? 

Remove the top, fill it with water, and you have the hippest way to stay cool in the summer heat. With a bulk container pool, your house will instantly become the go-to hang out spot in the summertime.

What if you move? Well, unlike a poured concrete below ground pool, we are talking about a product that was built to be moved. It’s as easy as having the container pool picked up and brought to your new residence. 

With the summer of 2019 coming in hot (pun intended), why not check out this post for further details on if a shipping container pool might be the right fit for your family and friends?

6. Home Gyms

What else comes with the approach of summertime? The desire for that summer body.

We all want it, but paying $60-$150/month to have to travel to a local gym and get our sweat on in front of people may not be our thing. Or it could be that your house doesn’t have a basement, garage, space in general, or a place you could safely stack hundreds of pounds worth of gym equipment. 

This is where a hardy, open and spacious shipping container could be the perfect fit for your next home gym.  

And with just how affordable a used shipping container can be, it could easily be one of the cheaper parts of your home gym investment.

7. Home or Work Storage Sheds 

If you’re a tradesman or tradeswoman, homeowner, or simply someone who enjoys being handy, you may run into the same problem as someone who wants to build a home gym–a lack of space or safe place to store heavy, metal equipment. 

The benefits of considering a bulk container for use as a storage shed are immediately seen. Being spacious and open, you can store all sorts of tools and machinery, such as lawnmowers, plows, and other heavy-duty equipment in one.

Since they are durable and fireproof, you can store heavy, sharp, electrical, and gas-filled equipment with peace of mind, not worrying about fire or wear and tear.

Built of steel and capable of being locked tight, you can put your mind to ease knowing that potentially tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment is safe in your cargo container storage shed. 

Durable, Portable, Affordable, Eco-Friendly, and Super Cool…But Right for Me?

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, store or restaurant owner, environmental advocate, or simply someone who wants a cooler, more hip way to live and work, make sure to seriously consider some of the shipping container ideas discussed above. 

Love the idea of building a shipping container home or office but need a little bit more information? Check out our blog for more inspiration in bringing your ideas to life!

If you have already decided that cargo containers might be the right fit for your needs, get in touch with us today? We can price out single or bulk quantities of new or used containers for you.