Everything you need to know about summer houses

I’ve always loved the idea of a summer house. It would be fab to have a place where you can go for a glass of wine in summer or have a party in winter. They’re like an extension of your actual home, minus the huge costs. 

Last week, my sister mentioned that she’s having a garden office installed. She’s a freelance events organiser who spends all day every day at home, working on her laptop to organise wedding events. She currently lives in a two-bedroom terrace house, where the second bedroom isn’t a bedroom at all but an office for all her wedding fayre things. By building an office in the garden, they will be able to make their second bedroom an actual bedroom and move all the office items into the summer house in the garden.

For them, it makes so much sense, and they have the space at the bottom of their garden for a summer house that is complete with electrics and heating. What an idyllic place to work, hey?!

This got me thinking about summer houses and building additional spaces in the garden. What would you put in there and how should you decorate it?

I hope this post can give you all the summer house inspiration you need. 

 

What to put in a summer house

Looking for ways in which you can use your summer house? There are SO many options. You could be like my sister and use it as an additional work space, somewhere you can go to get out of the house and concentrate on any important tasks. 

You could use the space for a bar, making it the perfect party place. A garden party can be super fun in the summer. When the weather’s nice, you just want to get the Pimms flowing and make some gorgeous BBQ food. If your guests are worried about getting cold outside, then a summer house is the perfect place to party the night away. With large glass windows, you could enjoy the party inside or out. 

Alternatively, you may choose to use your summer house as an additional bedroom. Not only will this add value to your home, but it can be a real treat for guests when you show them to their own personal building, complete with plumbing and electricity. 

Finally, are you fed up of the children cluttering up your home with their clothes, toys and gadgets? Your summer house could become a place for the kids to hang out in. When they have friends over, they can disappear to the garden so you don’t have to worry about them. All their clutter and noise can go in there, making your house a luxury reprieve. It might also become a great space for your partner to disappear to as well. Kit out the summer house with games consoles and pool tables and they can go in there when they have their mates over too. 

 

How to decorate a summer house

Depending on what you’ll be using your summer house for will depend on the decor and furniture you choose to have. 

If your summer house will be the ultimate party palace, you could go wild with the decor. Use funky pineapples or flamingos around the place in bright colours to provide a tropical feel. A bar is an essential for any party venue, so make sure you stock it up with plenty of spirits and wine. Finally, display some fancy glasses around the place. Gin and wine glasses are fundamental. 

To create a calming guest bedroom, you’ll want to aim for a hotel feel. A double bed with some luxurious bedding should do the trick. Complete the look with a throw and some decorative cushions. You’ll want to soften the summer house, so add lots of soft furnishings, such as curtains for privacy and a rug for cosiness. Add some boutique touches like dressing gowns and slippers, some books on a shelf that your guests can peruse, and some mini toiletries. You’ll have people queuing up to stay over!

To create the ultimate games room space, you might want to keep the decor casual. You’ll need a sofa for chilling out on, and perhaps a couple of gaming chairs for the games consoles. A TV on the wall is a must. You could hang some posters and artwork on the wall and maybe even some fluorescent lighting, like you might find in a bar. Don’t be afraid to use dark colours to create this kind of feel. 

 

Do I need planning permission for a summer house?

You probably won’t need planning permission for your summer house. As long as the house doesn’t cover over half the garden and isn’t over three metres high, you won’t need to apply through the council.