A garden summer house (also called a garden room) is a timeless addition to your outdoor space that allows you to make the most of the sunshine like never before. We like to think of it as the ideal finishing touch when you want to be able to enjoy the natural light and get away from the hustle and bustle of the main house.
However, with many popular summer house uses, they come in all shapes, styles and sizes, so picking the right building can be a challenge. Let us look at your summer house options so you can get up to speed with the latest trends.
Introducing summer houses
Using your summer house as a shaded lounge in the garden is the best way to think about it if you are not already familiar with the concept. You can turn a summer house into a cosy little extra space to retreat to in the summer evenings, and host close friends in the afternoon on the weekends.
The key to making the most of your new outdoor building is to choose a style and layout that fits with how you want to use it. To make sure you find the right fit for your exact needs, we are going to guide you through potential uses for summer houses, so you understand what is possible. Enjoy!
Top 5 summer house uses
Here are our top 5 summer house uses that you need to know. You can use them for work, play, relaxation, or just getting away from it all and having your own little private space. See what you think of our shortlist, and you will want to buy your own summer house.
1) Garden office
First on our list of summer house uses are the garden offices that have been popping up all over the country in the last few years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. A little different to the cosier log cabins and other garden buildings we also sell, a garden office complete with garden furniture and storage space is the perfect place for focusing on the task at hand by creating an outdoor living space.
Many people who work in a garden office on a full-time basis choose contemporary summer houses as a garden office because it allows them to separate their work and home life more effectively.
With a year round summer house, you simply close the door and walk back up the garden when you are done, and you will feel like you have left work for the day but will have saved the commute!
2) Garden gym
Shedstore offers a range of garden buildings and summer house styles that are ideal for creating the garden gym you have always wanted. Imagine being able to skip the lines at your leisure centre or the commercial gym around the corner and get straight to work when you are motivated to get your blood pumping.
As well as no more negotiating time on the bench press or cross trainer, it also means you have the added motivation to train at all hours. Garden gyms are one of the popular summer house uses because of the way they combine convenience and privacy in perfect harmony, all so you can sculpt your dream physique, while saving the costly gym fees!
3) Arts and crafts room (hobby room)
Using your new summer house as an outdoor studio craft room is the way to go if you are that way inclined. Not sure how to make the most of it? Look at these three ever-popular summer houses uses and see which one of them catches your eye today.
Art studios
Having a dedicated garden studio for art where your creativity is free to flow and expand while you enjoy true peace and quiet is something that really works wonders.
Crafting workshop
If you are more into crafting than art, how about having a dedicated space where you can lay out all your materials and tools? It could be the perfect space and mindfulness retreat at the bottom of your garden.
Modelling hobbies
A garden room is the perfect place to lay out your models and collections in all their glory. This can include items such as diecast cars, dolls & dolls houses, Lego models, model aircraft (perhaps hanging from the ceiling), model ships, remote control toys, Scalextric, Subbuteo football, train sets, war gaming models (such as Warhammer).
4) Reading and study room
Enjoy fresh air with a garden summer house that doubles as a cosy little reading nook. This is a place where you can escape with your favourite books and is a real joy to behold. As far as summer house uses go, a reading or study room can be a real source of escape when you have an assignment that needs to be completed quietly.
If you have teens who are working towards their exams, or kids at Uni who come home for the holidays, offering them a dedicated study space can be a game-changer. In garden rooms, knowing that you will not get distracted or interrupted helps improve your focus and raise your attainment levels.
5) Guest room
Use an insulated summer house all year round (even in colder seasons!) as a welcoming garden building that doubles as a private retreat and spare room is one of the most popular garden summer house uses of recent years. While they are not designed for permanent residence, they do offer a special space and casual way to host friends and family when they descend on your home during the holidays.
Furnish it (with a coffee table, comfy sofa, etc.) and decorate it in a way that makes them feel at home (e.g. natural materials, earthy tones, a calming colour palette, etc.) and your guests will feel at ease from the moment they walk through the door. This is ideal when you want to make memories together that will endure for years to come.
Other garden summer house ideas
A great benefit of investing in a summer house is its versatility. Look at these additional garden summer house ideas, and you will know what we mean:
1) Children’s playroom
Use your garden room as a garden playhouse to keep children happily occupied and entertained and you will be sure of some relaxing peace and quiet when the sun is shining. This is ideal when you want to enjoy some of the more peaceful aspects of family life.
2) Garden bar
Add some outdoor heating and comfy seating and you will be able to bring your dream garden bar to life before you know it. Entertain and cater for your friends and family when it is time to really put on a show throughout the summer and all year round! It is not just for alcohol; you can also have afternoon tea in your very own beautiful garden pub.
3) Home cinema
Could there be anything more relaxing than heading out into the garden with a hot chocolate and a blanket so you can snuggle up and watch a movie? We love the idea, and we think you will too!
4) Music room
Let the tunes flow through the air, add some BBQ options from our range right outside, and invite a few friends over for a jamming session. It is the timeless way to spend a weekend afternoon that you will soon wonder how you ever did without
5) Outdoor dining room
Enjoy garden parties and eating outdoors in a garden room with an outdoor dining room. You can buy garden furniture sets including a table and chairs and enjoy entertaining family and friends whenever you wish.
6) Pool house
If you buy a large summer house, you could even install a pool house. Enjoy warm summer evenings as you bring a relaxing pool to your outdoor lifestyle.
Do I need planning permission for a summer house?
In the UK, whether you need planning permission for a summer house depends on several factors. These include its size, location, and usage. Read our article for further details but find out about whether you need planning permission from your local council BEFORE you buy a summer house.
Summer houses available from Shedstore
At Shedstore, it is as quick and easy as you would expect it to be. We have an ever-expanding range of garden summer houses for sale, from small summer houses to large summer houses. We are confident that you can find the summer house that meets all your needs without delay.
To help you with your search, how about starting by taking a look at the highly popular 10’x6’ double doors option that comes complete with a 25-year anti-rot guarantee? And if that is not quite to your liking because you prefer something more traditional, how about this 10’x8’ Beckwood - country style with an apex roof option?
Do you have an awkward corner of a garden to fill? If so a corner summer house or octagonal summer house, could be the answer. A good example of a corner summer house is the 7’x7’ Mercia Premier, which will neatly fill a small corner.
The point we are making is that there really is a little something for everyone when you come to the experts. Options include log cabin summer houses, and summer house sheds. We will even talk you through your options when it comes to layouts and installation if you want us to.
Wrapping up
Considering the wide variety of summer house uses and finding the right summer house for your needs can feel daunting as it’s often a considerable purchase. The key is to decide how you want to use your additional space and the times of the year you want to make use of it. That way you will be able to choose the right combination of window frontage, floor and interior space to meet all your needs.
Select a summer house at Shedstore, then all you need to do is sit back and relax while we bring it to your door. Some models even offer professional installation services as an extra, which makes the process even smoother.
Contact us
Take a quick look at your new contact form and you will see that it is a quick and easy way to get in touch whenever you need an expert second opinion. Ask us anything you need, and your dedicated point of contact will reply in double-quick time with the answers you just could not find before.
Our garden building range is extensive, as well as summer houses, choose from log cabins, garden offices, garden furniture, outdoor storage space and much more as you prepare to buy your peaceful retreat. Speak to us at 0333 003 0518, as well as on live text chat via our app.