Tucked away at the bottom of the garden, a summerhouse provides a great focal point for you to enjoy time with your friends and family or even as a peaceful escape.

At Arc Design Services, we’ve put together a few tips to help you design the perfect hideaway.

Give the structure charm - The first step in designing your summerhouse retreat is to decide on the size, structure and design. The structure of your summerhouse should complement the style of your home and garden. The easiest way to achieve this, is to repeat in the garden the same materials, colours and features already in use in your house.

The building should look stylish and inviting so adding some architectural detail will help, and getting in touch with an architectural designer is a good starting point.

Set the tone - Once you have decided on the structure of your summerhouse, the next step to consider when designing your perfect hideaway, is the style of your summerhouse. There are many themes to choose from that can work really well. If you want to go for a country-styled summerhouse, choose a design with a tiled roof, a window box with plants, and a calming colour palette of neutral and pastel shades. Or if you’d prefer a shabby-chic look, opt for light colours and accessories, which will also make the room feel and look more spacious. You need to decide whether you want your summerhouse to stand out as a focal point, or to blend in with its surroundings.

Choose your furniture - When it comes to the furniture, opt for wicker-styled furniture and space-saving furniture that don't take up much room, and can be moved easily into the garden and back again such as a folding table for example. For a real touch of indulgence, a daybed dressed with cushions, which completes the theme and tone of your summerhouse will create the perfect spot for a nap after lunch! Also consider heating and electricity so that your summerhouse can be used as an ‘all year’ house.

Better still, if you already have a garden shed or summerhouse that you feel has been neglected over the years, it’s never too late to transform it into a fabulous summerhouse by injecting some personality and style, which will also add a bit of charm and elegance to your garden.

Arc Design Services Ltd are a fully Accredited Planning Agent in the Trafford Council area, and work on all types of residential architectural design projects within the South Manchester and Cheshire area, catering for all client aspirations.

If you’d like some help designing your summerhouse, get in touch with Arc Design Services today!