Traditional Summer Houses Uses
Classic summer houses have many uses – but they’ve always been enjoyed as a secluded spot in the garden where you can shelter from the rain, either alone or with company. Today, they’re used in a much more versatile way; one of the most popular reasons our customers purchase a traditional summer house is because they’re looking for an alternative place to work remotely, and they’re short of space in the house.
As our summer houses are available in such a broad collection of sizes and designs, they’re also brilliant for storage, and excellent as a space to entertain friends and family. You could host a movie night, arrange a board game day or a craft session – or even consider setting up a home gym or miniature yoga studio, so you’ve somewhere to practise outside the house. With the right traditional summer house, the possibilities are endless.
Features of a Classic Summer House
A classic summer house has a distinctive aesthetic, usually achieved by a handful of recognisable features that have been appearing in summer houses for many decades. Our stylish traditional designs are available with both single and double doors, which can be partially or fully glazed depending on your preference.
We offer several different choices when it comes to other windows in your build too – for instance, you can choose latticed windows for a cosier, more conventional look. You’ll also need to make a decision about the type of roof you’d like for your summer house; for a traditional model, an apex roof, a hip roof, or a barn roof would all work well.
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What sizes are available?
When it comes to choosing the right size summer house for your garden, working out what you intend to use it for is paramount – but so is checking whether or not you need planning permission. The exact size and location of your build can determine this, so take a look at our planning permission guide first. These are the main sizes available:
Small Traditional Summer Houses
Why not consider one of our small Victorian summer houses? Available in 6x6, 6x8 and 7x7 feet, these are ideal if you’re looking for a compact indoor nook with a garden view, which you can also use as a convenient covered storage space for your tools.
Medium Traditional Summer Houses
Our midrange summer houses – which measure from 8x8 and 10x8 to 12x8 and 12x10 feet – are a popular choice for customers who want a slightly more versatile space, that still doesn’t dominate in a medium-sized garden.
Large Traditional Summer Houses
For households lucky enough to feature generous gardens, a large traditional summer house is an excellent option that can function as an additional reception room. Our most spacious builds in this style range from 12x10 and 14x10 right up to 16x8 and 20x10 feet.
Traditional Garden House Maintenance
Our Victorian summer houses are designed to be as low maintenance as possible, but if you want to make the most of your build and enjoy it for years to come, there are still a few pieces of upkeep to bear in mind. For instance, adding a ventilation system like wall vents or a whirligig can prevent damp from wreaking havoc on your summer house – you could even add an electric fan if you’re planning to supply your model with mains power. It’s also worth treating or painting your summer house on an annual basis, providing you use the right products, like an oil-based wood preserver or waterproof paint.
You should also think about what type of lighting you’ll need for your summer house – for example, while solar powered lamps or natural light might suffice if you’re using the space for storage, a home office or garden workshop would likely benefit from mains-powered overhead lighting.
Keen to find out more before you narrow down your options? Take a look through our Summerhouses Explained guide.