Summerhouses are a welcome addition and the perfect finishing touch to any garden space. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, a summerhouse can be a functional extra room that your house doesn’t allow for.
It can create the ideal space for relaxing, dining with family and friends or as a workspace. What you use a Summerhouse for is entirely up to you. But how do you choose the right one for you and your outdoor space?
By following these steps we’ve highlighted below, you’ll have the perfect garden building that is just as functional as it is beautiful.
What will you be using your Summerhouse for?
Summerhouses are an ideal solution if you want to escape from your everyday life. When buying a garden building first think about what you will be using it for. Here are some ideas:
- Create a garden retreat – create a space where you can escape to with your favourite book or magazine.
- To entertain friends and family – enjoy a meal by dining alfresco amongst the nature.
- A space to work in peace – leave the days of the daily commute to the office behind and work from home in your own home (garden) office.
- A hobby room – whether it’s painting, sewing or writing, having a dedicated space where you can enjoy the things you love can help spark your imagination and creativity.
- Work out amongst nature – home / garden gyms make life easier and help implement a healthier lifestyle in the comfort of your own home.
Of course, the list can go on. The important thing is that the Summerhouse can be whatever you want it to be; the choice is entirely yours.
But this will impact the size and shape of Summerhouse you should buy. And with this you’ll also need to consider what available space you have in your garden.
What size Summerhouse should I get?
Summerhouses come in a wide range of shapes and sizes so consider how you are going to use yours to decide on the best design for your needs.
A Summerhouse is often chosen purely to be the focal point for a garden, so it is important to give consideration to the overall garden design at the same time as choosing a building. The best Summerhouses are those which are integrated into the wider landscaping scheme and are clearly the inspiration for everything else.
If you’re looking to use your Summerhouse for alfresco dining or entertaining, then look for something sizeable that can accommodate a table such as the Scotts 3.0m Burghley Summerhouse which can house a round table to seat up to eight people.
The Sun Ray Garden Room is larger still, and is a popular choice for entertaining family and friends. Its large double doors and windows mean you can still enjoy a view of the garden whilst enjoying shelter inside. The Garden Room is also ideal as a home/garden office or even a gym.
Do your research – find the right Summerhouse supplier
Many companies offer standard sizes of Garden Buildings, at a wide variety of prices, however if dig a little deeper you will find a small number of reputable companies that manufacture high quality Summerhouses that are cost-effective and will last for decades.
Such companies supply a wide range of building styles and will give advice on everything from planning and bases through to ongoing maintenance.
Timber is the natural, and preferred, material option for a Summerhouse and the quality of timber chosen is very important. Different suppliers offer different timber options, but the best materials will ensure your building will last for generations.
Red Grandis is a great timber material for a Summerhouse. This hardwood timber is ethically sourced, versatile and exceptionally durable. It’s what all of Scotts Summerhouses are manufactured from.
Summerhouse added extras
Once you’ve selected a size and shape, you can select your colour options, choose a roof style and opt for seating and upholstery fabrics and designs. Paint colours and soft furnishings will add character and help personalise your new addition to the garden.
Many customers arrange to have electrics to their Summerhouse, although a solar panel option is a quick and easy compromise where electricity is not an easy or viable option when the Summerhouse is located a distance away from the main home. Lighting, and even fairy lights, can add a different dimension to a garden hideaway and enable it to be used late into the balmy summer evenings and for winter parties.
Also consider useful optional extras such as additional shelving, a rotating base, integrated seating that can double up as a useful storage area, leaded glass, internal tongue and groove lining, insulation, double glazing, and not forgetting floor coverings.
The design and manufacturing team at Scotts of Thrapston continues to offer a unique bespoke service, working with customers to create their own individual Garden Building and often modifying existing standard designs. The quintessentially British Summerhouse is yours to adapt – if you can dream it, Scotts can build it!
Choosing the right Summerhouse, for your garden and needs, will be a sound investment for the future and really will prove to be an all year round reward.