When you need extra space, a dedicated office, a guest bedroom away from the main house, or even a reading nook, a summer house is a great way to extend your home and create a garden escape.
With so many types and sizes available, even the smallest garden space can be turned into a comfortable, cosy, and functional area. We have a huge variety of summer homes that will suit every budget, taste, and imagination. If you give us a few minutes of your time, you’re sure to find some ideas that will inspire your own ‘ultimate garden escape.’
Classic Corner Summer House
2.8m x 2.8m with Glazed Double Doors
Even with limited space, this classic corner summer house will help you bring your best ideas to life. If you’re dreaming of a reading nook, secluded garden office, meditation retreat, mini greenhouse, gaming room, tea room or podcasting studio, then this option is ideal.
Its classic design features will fit into any garden and add a touch of class with glazed double doors and opening windows. Imagine flinging open the doors on a warm summer evening while you settle down with a cup of tea and a good book.
From the outside, the Nordic spruce timber and black roof shingles complement the natural environment, adding elegance to your unused garden space. Measuring only 3m x 3m, it can fit into the tightest space, but it won’t feel that way when you step inside.
Here are some summer house interior ideas for turning this small space into a garden retreat.
- For a reading nook: Install floating bookshelves along one wall and a comfortable sofa along the other, perhaps with a small side table and reading lamp for night time reading. Decorate with a rug, soft furnishings, and blinds for privacy.
- For a meditation escape: Lay down a yoga mat, a few floor cushions, hanging plants, and an indoor fountain. Decorate with warm colours, and add a diffuser for essential oils. Place photos of memorable places you went with friends and family or other images that make you feel peaceful.
- For a gaming den: Add a comfortable chair or sofa, along with your sound system and a small bar fridge for drinks and snacks. Use blackout blinds and dimmable lights for a cinematic experience.
Want something a little different, fun, and interesting? How about turning this corner summer house into an exclusive immersive escape? This setup allows for rotating themes, from mystery to adventure or fantasy, using clues and puzzles that encourage creativity and collaboration.
Modern Corner Summer House
3.9m x 3m With Aluminium Sliding Doors
This contemporary summer house is one garden building that will never qualify as boring with its modern look and aluminium sliding doors. This snug outdoor space is the perfect blend of chic and environmentally friendly with its modest footprint of 3.9m x 3m. You can turn this modern corner summer house into a sanctuary within a few hours.
The modern summer house is the best way to connect your garden with your favourite indoor activity. If you want a space to connect with friends and family in the serenity of your garden, here are some ideas to help you along.
- Outdoor Coffee Lounge: This is the perfect way to enjoy your morning coffee or have intimate coffee chats with friends. Place a small, comfortable sofa with modern side tables. Add a compact coffee station with your favourite coffee machine, coffee pods and special coffee cups you’ve bought on your travels.
- Mini Art Gallery: What better place to find inspiration than viewing nature through the expansive double-glazed sliding doors? Display artwork on the wall and add lighting that showcases the art. Choose modular shelving for supplies and a small easel for when creativity strikes you.
- Garden Getaway: Need somewhere for your guests to sleep? Create a garden guestroom by adding a sofa bed, small side tables, blackout curtains, and a mini fridge with snacks. The robust timber construction offers warmth in colder months and a shield from the sun in summer months - so your guests will always be comfortable.
This list of ideas wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that this is the perfect space for creating a digital detox house. Turn it into a tech-free space and reconnect with yourself and nature. Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it?
Every house can benefit from one of these garden buildings where you throw out everything that’s technology driven, and create a digital-free zone for yourself and your family.
Clockhouse Style Summer House
4.2m x 3.2m with Glazed Double Doors
Perhaps you’re looking for something stylish, but modern summer houses aren’t your thing? This clockhouse style summer house is the perfect alternative, but you will need a height clearance of 347cm to accommodate the beautiful decorative roof dormer.
Constructed from Nordic spruce timber, known for its high quality and resistance to harsh weather conditions, this garden room is perfect for all seasons. Spacious and yet cosy, this summer house is perfect for creating a year round entertainment room, a well-lit and roomy home office, or even a garden dining room. Let your imagination go to new heights by incorporating these ideas:
- Garden Lounge for entertainment: Bring in a comfortable sofa and a luxurious ottoman, and surround these items with throws, soft lighting, and a low coffee table. Put up photos of interesting places or place special items (such as ornaments and books) around the room that can be used to start conversations.
- Garden dining room: This stylish summer house can accommodate a rectangular table, six dining room chairs, or a square table with four chairs if you want more space. The double glazed doors and generous windows make it the perfect place for hosting garden dinners or family brunches. Add rustic touches such as table linen, candles, and indoor plants.
- Classic home office: Create a comfortable home office by adding a desk, comfortable chair and blinds for privacy and focus. Ensure you have plenty of storage, a small fridge for refreshments, and even a small round table and chairs for brainstorming and meetings.
Before we get to the larger summer houses, we have to discuss the pavilion summer house with a canopy. This comfortable space provides an indoor and outdoor area with a canopy for protection against the sun and rain and can be built in reverse to fit any corner.
Pavilion Summer House With Canopy
5.6m x 2.8m with Glazed Double Doors
This is the first summer house on our list that allows for a multifunctional layout. This uniquely designed house includes a large canopy area, making it useful for both indoor and outdoor uses, such as combining a living room and a dining room where family members can enjoy the garden together.
Constructed from high-quality Nordic spruce, it features 28mm thick timber walls and the traditional design you might expect from log cabins. The pavilion includes double doors with glass panes. The canopy provides an additional 8.1m square for outdoor garden furniture or a dining table with chairs.
There are many wonderful ideas for this summer house, and here are just some of them.
- Garden Inspired Cinema and Snack Bar (for the movie fans): Design the interior as a mini cinema lounge, add comfortable seating and a wall counter where you can place a popcorn machine, a soda fountain, and other snacks. Hang an outdoor projector screen under the canopy for open-air movie nights, allowing for an indoor/outdoor cinema experience.
- Home Library and Cafe (for the book fans): Set up wall to wall shelving and fill it with carefully selected classics and family favourites. Include books from all categories and genres. Create an outdoor cafe by adding bistro tables and chairs, and offer self serve refreshments and snacks.
- Cocktail bar: Design the enclosed area as a fully functioning bar. Install a countertop along one side for bar service, equipped with shelves for storing glassware, bottles, and mixers. Add a mini-fridge or a wine cooler under the counter for chilled drinks. Set up comfortable, weather-resistant seating under the canopy, such as high-top tables or benches.
The charm of these outdoor garden houses lies in their incredible versatility, inviting you to unleash your creativity and transform it into anything you imagine. They can be set up in just a few hours, whether as a DIY project or professionally installed. Now, let’s explore the possibilities of larger summer houses with the pent roof summer house.
Spacious Pent Roof Summer House
5.5m x 4m with Pent Roof (under 2.5m in height)
This contemporary style summer house is the perfect cross-over for a larger space. Built like a traditional log cabin, it introduces clean lines and a spacious interior of 19.4 square meters. That’s a lot of space, but one of the most outstanding features is that it doesn’t go higher than 2.5m, avoiding the need for planning permission.
This is a robust structure that is durable and energy-efficient, making it the perfect solution for a guest cottage or bed-and-breakfast rental.
Make this a relaxing, comfortable and beautiful space by adding soft pastel colours, fairy lights, vintage chic, wicker chairs, a reading nook, and other personal touches, as seen here.
A bed-and-breakfast can be made more interesting by creating theme-based decor, especially if you have a lush garden surrounding the summer house. For example, a ‘secret garden' theme inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book with botanical garden illustrations, a birdcage hanging lamp, and antique-style mirrors.
Garden rooms with a lot of natural light, like this one, invite the use of natural materials and colour schemes, providing guests with a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of normal life.
The summer house has unique safety features, such as a multi-point locking gearing on all windows and doors, as well as removable Georgian bars, bringing peace of mind to all your guests.
As we’ve seen, there is a summer house for every purpose, style, and imagination, making it easy to create your ultimate garden escape. Whatever you envision, each summer house discussed here brings unique possibilities that can transform your garden.
Choosing the right summer house for you
The beauty of summer houses lies in their versatility. From compact corner houses for smaller spaces to larger canopy and gazebo models, each house is something special. If you have that dead space at the bottom of the garden, you can neatly tuck a corner summer house into the unused spot without dominating the landscape.
Larger models like the pent roof summer house offer expansive interiors that serve a number of purposes. Imagine having a garden guest room that doubles as an art studio or a spacious outdoor dining area where you can host family gatherings or garden parties. With the additional square footage, you gain the freedom to design a space that evolves with your needs.
If you’re ready to elevate your garden to another level and make an investment that lasts, then start breathing life into your ideas by checking out the summer house catalogue, or call us for a free consultation where our experts will help you make the best choice for your garden space.
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