Living in a Log Cabin: A Review of Our 5 Best Garden Log Cabin Ideas For Permanent Use [UPDATED]

Palmako Sandra 6.3 x 4.5m Log Cabin Garden Building (70mm) - Click HERE to View

Wherever you look, people seem to be converting their garages or bricking over their patios, as they seek to extend their main house or create new areas for permanent living. But we believe that the natural beauty of garden log cabins offers you a much better solution.

Far more attractive and cost-effective than extensions or conversions, a good log cabin can be used for just about anything. Whether you need a log home office, family garden room, business premises, or money-making Airbnb, a separate log cabin in the garden fits the bill perfectly every time.

And, as house rental prices continue to rise, buying a log cabin could also be a godsend for your kids, offering them the independent living they crave, close to Mum and Dad, while they save up a deposit for a bricks-and-mortar home of their own. Living in a log cabin extends to granny annexes, which are also becoming increasingly popular.

Editor’s Note [29.11.24]:
Our original article “5 Garden Log Cabins That Are Good Enough to Live In” was originally published on September 8, 2023. Revisions have been made throughout to add a greater focus on living in a log cabin and we have amended log cabin idea #5 with a new exciting model.

If you want to see examples of some of our exceptional offerings, here are 5 of our best log cabin ideas…

£6,399.99 £5,199.99*

The Forest Blakedown 6m x 4m Log Cabin (45mm) is an attractive, versatile garden building, suitable for use the whole year round.

This meticulously designed log cabin offers you 21m² of extra living space, making it suitable for use as a garden office, guest room or multi-purpose family outdoor living area.

The 45mm interlocking log walls ensure the interior remains exceptionally well-insulated, while the premium 19mm tongue and groove floor will easily cope with heavier items of furniture and comfortably withstand constant footfall.

Buy this, the first of our best garden log cabins, and you’ve acquired a light, airy but very well-insulated garden room, which is both comfortable and inviting.

£17,999 £14,499*

Built to an exceptional standard, the Palmako Anna 7.8m x 4.8m Log Cabin Garden Building (70mm) could be used by your children, while they save for a permanent home of their own.

This garden cabin boasts a huge 26.8m² internal area, consisting of a large, open-plan living space, a separate side room and a small rear room. Convert the side room to a bedroom, and the rear one to a bathroom, and you’ve got a top-quality, money-making Airbnb or a log cabin home for your grown-up children, while they save up a mortgage deposit.

Expertly crafted from extra-thick 70mm Nordic spruce logs, with a chalet-cut design, this garden cabin is exceptionally weathertight and supremely insulated. Both the floor and roof are constructed from premium tongue and groove boards, renowned for their resistance to weather conditions, durability and strength.

The fully glazed double doors are fitted with a laminated frame, stainless-steel sill, rubber seals and key-operated lock. They open up onto this 70mm log cabin’s main living area. This extra room boasts extensive glazing throughout, so enjoys an abundance of natural light. The windows are double-glazed for enhanced insulation and soundproofing.

The compartmentalised rooms each have their own windows plus interior doors – exactly what you’d expect in a garden log cabin that’s good enough to live permanently in.

£4,149.99*

The Forest Melbury 4m x 3m Log Cabin (34mm) has already benefitted the business of one of our customers. Could it benefit yours too?

Completed to a very high specification throughout, this log cabin makes an excellent garden room for family entertainment, a high-end garden office, or a fantastic garden studio. The 34mm walls are built from kiln-dried, interlocking logs, while the floor and roof are both made from 19mm tongue and groove. The roof is fitted with a premium felt cover AND underlay as standard. This felt has a life expectancy of over 15 years and is twice as tear resistant as standard log cabin roofing felt.

You can gain easy access to the interior via wide double doors, which include double-glazed toughened glass and a key-operated lock, so rest assured that your valuable office equipment or studio tools will remain safe from unwanted attention.

The windows are double-glazed too. They use a tilt-and-turn mechanism, which allows them to be opened from the top or side, so you can enjoy a pleasant working environment on a hot summer’s day.

You can read a first-hand account of how the Forest Melbury Log Cabin benefitted the business of one of our customers here.

£9,999 £7,899*

Perfect for people who love life in the garden, the Palmako Grace 6m x 3.9m Pent Log Cabin with Gazebo (56mm) combines a top-quality garden room with a stylish gazebo.

So far, we’ve examined garden cabins with completely enclosed layouts, but if you’re after one that’s designed to help you embrace the outdoor lifestyle, please read on…

This log cabin combines a premium garden room, built from 56mm Nordic spruce, with a large gazebo-style area, making it the perfect vantage point from which to enjoy your garden throughout the changing seasons.

In keeping with the extra-thick walls, the garden room boasts a 28mm tongue and groove floor - far thicker than those found on most log cabins. The roof is built from a premium 19mm tongue and groove. Designed with a generous overhang, it is compatible with a range of premium coverings, which are all available as optional upgrades.

Entry to the log cabin is gained through a glazed door, featuring a laminated frame and key-operated cylinder lock. The 2 large windows provide additional natural light, are double-glazed, and open via a tilt-and-turn mechanism.

Step outside, into the gazebo, and you’ve got the ideal sheltered space for alfresco dining or a hot tub – absolutely perfect for those of you who enjoy life in your garden.

£3,399 £2,459*

Convert an unused corner of your garden into an all-year-round living area, with the Mercia Grande 4m x 4m Corner Log Cabin (44mm) – Double-Glazed.

The final of our 5 log cabin ideas maximises your outdoor space with a year-round garden building. Built with 28mm thick interlocking logs this garden log cabin gives you almost 16m² of living space. It is ideal for uses such as a guest house, garden office or family room for entertaining in the garden.

Double-glazed doors and windows keep the interior light and warm, which is ideal for log cabin living, especially with the British weather! The corner design makes this cabin an energy-efficient solution that fits into your garden, a beautiful and practical addition to your outdoor space.

Whether you are looking to buy an ideal log cabin as a garden holiday home or temporary accommodation this log cabin home is affordable and stylish. Double doors and windows add extra comfort, and traditional wooden chalet construction means long-lasting durability and a natural look.

The Mercia Corner Log Cabin is the perfect choice for larger families or extra space for a family member. If you are concerned about planning permission, local rules or building regulations our expert team can help you through the process of transitioning to log cabin living.

If you want a log cabin to expand your living area, Shedstore should be your first port of call. All our log cabins are made by the world’s leading manufacturers, at the most competitive prices, while delivering the best customer service throughout the buying process.

You can save £1,300* on the Palmako Lisa 4.2m x 3.2m Log Cabin Garden Room (34mm), if you buy now!

A garden log cabin can be used for so many purposes. Whether you want to create extra living space, a guest house or even a log home office, the best garden log cabins are a comfortable and versatile solution for year-round living.

With proper insulation, double glazing and robust construction materials these wooden cabins can withstand harsh winters and require minimal maintenance. Log cabins are a cost-effective way to accommodate family members, to turn into a holiday home, or even consider permanent living in a log cabin.

The beauty and natural light of these log cabins plus their energy efficiency make them perfect for temporary accommodation or even permanent use. Additionally, some of the larger designs may have a local authorities' legal requirement for planning permission but the versatility and extra space they offer make them a great eco-friendly solution to expand your living space.

*Prices and Offers correct as of 28/11/24