SUMMERHOUSES, SHEDS AND GARDEN HIDEAWAYS

A summerhouse gives you the chance to indulge a sense of escapism and create a personal retreat. It could serve as an extra living space or bedroom but it is well worth investing in running electricity to provide heating and lighting, in addition to insulation so it can be used year round. Huts on wheels, such as vintage shepherd’s huts, are very popular and new ones are being made by many companies following the traditional lines of the Victorian originals. These, too, can be kitted out with heating in the form of a traditional stove or served by plumbing and electricity if they have a permanent site. Alternatively, you might want to keep furnishings simple and use it as a place to camp out in the summer.

When decorating a hideaway, it can be fun to opt for a more rustic scheme than your main home. A floor in brick, board or tiles is practical but can be offset with comfortable upholstered furniture, textiles and fabrics. If the interior is boarded, you can create different looks by painting it and introducing artworks or shelving, plus cupboards for storage. Or create a working area with a desk and chair or a potting bench to make a space for relaxing, as well as propagating and raising plants. Turn to page 74 for our directory of garden structures, from conservatories to summerhouses and sheds.