Garden sheds, cabins and summer houses

If you are the kind of person who has a garden heater, then the chances are that you will want to maximise the use that you can get out of your garden or yard in every possible way. One of the best ways of doing this is to have one of the many variants of a garden shed, hut or cabin. You can even have a summer house or a sauna cabin.

What are the options?

the type of garden structure that you choose will be largely determined by what you want to use it for.

• If all you want is somewhere to store things like a barbeque garden furniture, patio heaters, tools and other outdoor equipment, then a basic cabin will suffice. If this is the case then a small shed with a single lockable door and a weatherproof exterior will be more than adequate. This type of shed will sit on a simple base and can be quickly and cheaply installed.

• If you want something a bit larger and more versatile, then you may need to think about a cabin or summerhouse.

  These larger structures can have multiple windows, pitched Swiss style roofs, and even decking around the doorway. They are very flexible and can be used as a room for eating, relaxing or entertaining, or simply as an extra bit of garden space that can be utilised on a cool day.

  Cabins of this type often benefit from having light and power which extends their use into the evening by virtue of the fact that they can be heated and illuminated at any time. You can even use your laptop or watch TV in one of them. They are also ideal for barbeques, parties and getting the most out of your garden.

• In addition to the more obvious cabin and shed uses, there are also some more specialist ways in which a shed or cabin cab give you an extra “outdoor room”.

  You can buy and convert, or buy to order, a cabin fitted with a home sauna. Many of these sauna cabins come in self assembly kits and they give you the luxury and relaxing properties of a genuine Finnish style sauna experience. These cabins can cater for as few as two people, or be large enough to accommodate six or even eight sauna goers.

  Having a Spa cabin is another alternative for those with a large enough garden and budget. A larger home log cabin could have a Jacuzzi or a steam room and, having running water and a shower, adds extra flexibility to the cabin and its uses.

  Those fortunate enough to have a home swimming pool will often have a cabin for changing, showering and the storage of towels and pool side equipment.

Design and appearance

Aside from how you will use your cabin or shed, the other selection determining criteria is what you want it to look like.

With so many online stores, Home Improvement centres, DIY superstores, and Garden Centres, you will never be spoilt for choice. Sheds and cabins start in a very basic format with little in the way of luxuries or aesthetics, and run all the way through to large summerhouses with double fronted window designs, multiple rooms and a requirement for proper foundations. This gives you plenty of scope to find your ideal garden building, irrespective of your budget or available space.