the summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas

8' x 6' Forest Beckwood 25yr Guarantee Double Door Apex Summer House - 4 Windows (2.61m x 1.82m) - Click HERE to View

 

The beauty of working through our range of summer house ideas is that it will give you a whole host of ways to start blending indoor and outdoor living. Imagine sitting back, taking in the sunshine, but still having a little shelter if the breeze picks up. This can be your new reality when you take a closer look at our full list of ideas for summer house décor. This is perfect for getting more out of your summer months than ever before, and a great source of summer house inspiration.

Summer house design principles

The key to beautiful summer house design is to strike the right balance between homely relaxation and free-flowing outdoor activities. Just as a raised playhouse invites the little ones to enjoy their space and make themselves comfortable, a summer house has to do the same. It also needs to make use of the natural world around it, just like this grey skylight shed and the way it uses ambient light.

the Shedlands Traditional Broadway summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Shedlands Traditional Broadway summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
6' x 8' Traditional Broadway Wooden Summer House (1.83x2.44m) - Click Image to View
enhance your summer house design by attaching this pergola deck kit to the outside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching this pergola deck kit to the outside of your summerhouse
8' x 8' (2.44x2.44m) Forest Small Pergola Deck Kit - Click Image to View

Natural materials are always the first port of call because they will allow your garden’s new addition to blend effortlessly into its surroundings. From there, you are looking for large windows that allow the sunlight to flow in with the minimum of effort. Large windows are essential for a contemporary summer house, which emphasises modern details like tongue and groove wood panelling and reflective materials to ensure comfort in hot weather.

This is ideal when you want to be able to create a space that invites you to enjoy the sunshine at your leisure. Lastly, consider using transitional spaces like porches and decks that allow you to have the best of the indoors and the outdoors at the same time.

Summer house ideas for seamless garden integration

Next on our list of summer house ideas, we are going to take a closer look at how to integrate your latest addition with your surroundings. The goal here is to use natural materials in a way that will set the right tone, just like adding pieces akin to our forest slatted edging can really add a seamless finishing touch.

 

Choose a corner summer house to optimise garden space by fitting neatly into a corner, this offers a multi-purpose space with large windows that flood the interior with light.

the Shedlands Traditional Stowe Corner summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Shedlands Traditional Stowe Corner summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
6' x 6' Traditional Stowe Corner Wooden Summer House - Click Image to View

Embracing the world of summer house design allows you to think about how you can manage the transition back into your main home. Having a short walk between the two structures with a modular wooden pergola taking pride of place in the middle can create a real sense of unity without making you feel like your space is just too crowded. Use this strategy when you want to be able to work some truly homely yet traditional summer house design ideas into your dream garden. All you need to do now is look for that little spark that makes things even more special.

enhance your summer house design by attaching this pergola to the outside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching this pergola to the outside of your summerhouse
Forest Modular Wooden Garden Pergola 6'5 x 6'5 (2m x 2m) - Click Image to View
the Forest 4Life summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Forest 4Life summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
8' x 6' Forest 4Life 25yr Guarantee Double Door Apex Summer House - 4 Windows (2.61m x 1.82m) - Click Image to View

Innovative summer house design ideas

The key to elegant summer house design is to consider new ways of doing things so that you can understand your options on a deeper level. More and more homeowners are turning to eco-conscious types of summer house design that use ethically sourced wood and reusable materials throughout. This gives the result much more of a homely, natural vibe than if you had just erected an outbuilding in your garden.

the Shire Blenheim summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Shire Blenheim summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
10'3x8'4 Shire Blenheim Wooden Summer House With Bi-Fold Doors - Click Image to View

Go a little further and explore modern summer house design ideas that pride themselves on a minimalist vibe and you will get even more ideas for summer house décor. Having a design that is clean and simple and yet still offers floor-to-ceiling windows really can make a house a home. Use this when you want to be able to set the tone in a way that gives you complete creative freedom over your outdoor space. Next up, we need to think about how to reconnect with nature.

Ideas for summer house décor that connects with nature

Our list of summer house ideas simply would not be complete without exploring how you can unite your garden’s latest addition with the greenery we all know and love. Natural summer house design ideas could include creating a garden room and might involve having climbers trained on a trellis section on one wall of the summer house. This versatile and charming garden room would serve as a space for relaxation and enjoyment, a studio for creative activities or a retreat to get back to nature. The way in which the natural explosion of colour that arises when the flowers are in full bloom can catch your eye really will make quite the impression.

enhance your summer house design by attaching these flowers to the outside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching these flowers to the outside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching these furniture and plants to the inside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching these furniture and plants to the inside of your summerhouse

Are you still searching for a few more ideas for summer house décor? Add some cosy wooden furniture and a set of stone coasters to the interior and create a theme that you are sure to fall in love with. You could even use the same approach to furnish and decorate that double glazed garden office you have had your eye on. And if you want to make your summer house the perfect place to rest after an afternoon spent in your large potting shed, we think you need to treat yourself to a few pot plants for good measure.

Functional summer house design for year-round use

You want your choice of summer house design to make your new space accessible and comfortable at all times of the year, not just when the weather is good. An insulated summer house, equipped with premium grade insulation, ensures energy efficiency and comfort in all weather conditions. This makes it suitable for year-round use, including the colder seasons such as winter. That is why our next batch of summer house ideas cover the materials you want to consider adding:

Air vent

Having an air vent that will allow the air to circulate in the cold months will ensure dampness is never an issue.

Bitumen or slate roof

Some discerning homeowners even look at adding a bitumen or slate roof to their new garden summer house to make it truly weatherproof.

Wool

A perfect material for a couple of warm and cosy blankets when it is time to snuggle up.

the Shire Chatsworth summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Shire Chatsworth summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
7'1x7'11 Shire Chatsworth Traditional Wooden Summer House - Click Image to View

Maximising small spaces with smart corner summer house design

Small summer house ideas include modular furniture that you can chop and change as the mood takes you, as well as foldable tables that allow you to tidy things away easily. You may also want to consider investing in a modest garden lighting system so that you can illuminate your new small summer house design as the evenings close in. This will make the space you have available feel a little bit bigger and more accessible.

enhance your summer house design by attaching this solar kit to your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching this solar kit to your summerhouse
Solartech Premium Garden Building Solar Lighting & Charging Kit 2 - Click Image to View
enhance your summer house design by attaching this solar kit to your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching this solar kit to your summerhouse
Solartech Premium Garden Building Solar Lighting Kit 8 - Click Image to View

Shelf storage will also help save floor space, reduce clutter and can also add to the cosy, homely vibe that you have been trying to create. Ideal when you want to feel right at home every time you walk in.

the Shire Hampton summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Shire Hampton summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
7'5x7'5 Shire Hampton Traditional Corner Wooden Summer House - Click Image to View

Creative themes for summer house interiors

Next up on our ideas for summer house décor come the three key styles that you may wish to consider. Whether you're aiming for a creative theme, or a stunning summer house entirely decorated in shells, look and see if any of these garden office setup ideas catch your eye:

1) Coastal style

Choices involve faded pastels and distressed woods that take the edge off while making your space feel open and tranquil. Think lightweight fabrics, a constant gentle breeze and plenty of open space and you will be on the right lines before you know it.

2) Contemporary style

Imagine clean, minimalist lines and modern furniture. A statement light, chic seating and a cubic-style coffee table are all that is needed to bring this look to life.

enhance your summer house design by attaching these plants and furniture to the inside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching these plants and furniture to the inside of your summerhouse

3) Countryside style

Focuses on feeling snug and cosy, regardless of how much space you have at your disposal. We are picturing you with a thick woollen blanket, a coffee table stacked with books and a smattering of landscape pictures on the walls

Regardless of which one you choose to go and explore further; we can lend a helping hand whenever you need us to. This is perfect when you want to feel truly at home.

enhance your summer house design by attaching these furniture items to the inside of your summerhouse
enhance your summer house design by attaching these furniture items to the inside of your summerhouse

Lighting and colour schemes for summer houses

Lighting and colour are the perfect creative duo when you want to make the transition from indoors to outdoors truly seamless. Top of your list of inspiring summer house ideas to consider must be balancing vibrant, welcoming colours with a rich light source that adds a sense of natural vitality. This approach is essential for creating inspiring garden rooms that serve as dream outdoor retreats for activities like writing, painting, crafting and relaxation.

Opting for warm white lighting as opposed to something purer and more clinical is what it is all about here. You can then use it to set the tone in a way that will provide a real sense of balance with the colours you choose to add to the mix. If in doubt, opt for light, warm and welcoming shades and take it from there.

Enhancing privacy in summer house designs

Just as something as simple as a greenhouse roof vent can add an extra degree of comfort when you are exercising your green fingers, our list of summer house ideas also offers ways to quickly enhance your privacy.

enhance your summer house design with this GREENHOUSE roof vent
enhance your summer house design with this GREENHOUSE roof vent
Palram Canopia Rion Eco Grow Greenhouse Roof Vent - Click Image to View

Something as simple as adding some strategic landscaping to your summer house design project really can make all the difference. A small, turfed mound or a tiered approach to a key section of your lawn can keep your summer house out of the view of prying eyes so you are never overlooked.

the Forest Beckwood summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Forest Beckwood summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
8' x 6' Forest Beckwood Double Door Pent Summer House (2.52m x 2.05m) - Click Image to View

Others choose something a little more subtle in the shape of frosted glass so that when the summer house is in use after dark, they are not lit up for the neighbours to see. The advantage of this approach is that it will generally be much less work than embarking on what could be a time-consuming landscaping project.

the Forest 4Life summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Forest 4Life summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
10' x 6' Forest 4Life 25yr Guarantee Double Door Pent Summer House (3.11m x 2.05m) - Click Image to View

Crafting multifunctional summer house spaces

Before we finish off our complete guide to the summer house ideas you need to know about, we want to give a little extra thought to how you can make your new space truly multifunctional.

the Shedlands Traditional Woodstock summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Shedlands Traditional Woodstock summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
10' x 10' Traditional Woodstock Wooden Summer House With Veranda - Click Image to View

As with all types of summer house design we mentioned, the key is to strike the right balance between style and comfort. Many homeowners now have the option of working from home, which makes repurposing a summer house as a home office during the daytime an attractive option.

 

When used as a garden studio, a summer house provides dedicated space for hobbies and creative activities. It offers a peaceful environment surrounded by nature to inspire creativity and focus. It is an ideal setting for pursuits such as art, yoga and crafting, providing a distraction-free zone to nurture your hobbies.

Are you still looking for a few more multifunctional summer house design ideas? Sitting down with the family and asking them how they would like to see the space used is a quick and easy way to get to grips with things.

Final reflections

We truly do hope you have found our list of summer house ideas helpful and useful. Take a couple of moments to work your way through a shortlist of your favourite summer house idea suggestions, such as creating a craft room, a garden bar or a relaxing retreat with privacy screens. We know that you will be creating a space you will never want to leave in no time at all. Just what you want to hear when it is time to make a house a home in a way that instantly makes you feel at peace.

Contact us

You are always welcome to use our contact form to reach out and get in touch with a skilled member of our team at your convenience. They will guide you through everything you need to know, help you with sizing and materials choices and confirm the delivery date if you choose to go ahead and treat yourself. We are also available on 0333 003 0518, as well as on live text chat via our app, which is accessible via a green button at the bottom left hand corner. Just what you would expect when you come to the experts at Shedstore for a helping hand.

the Traditional Wychwood summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
the Traditional Wychwood summer house design seen in this photo can be improved with our summer house ideas including ideas for summer house décor and summer house design ideas
12' x 10' Traditional Wychwood Wooden Summer House - Click Image to View