10 Beautiful landscaping ideas for backyard

Backyard landscaping

RUN OUT OF SPACE INDOORS? WANT A PLACE TO ESCAPE TO? A TIMBER BUILDING
COULD BETHE ANSWER, FOR RELAXING,WORKING, HOBBIES OR ENTERTAINING WE GIVE YOU 10 BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING IDEAS FOR BACKYARD

With the 'don't move, improve' thought still uppermost in many people's minds, creating more space could
be solved simply by adding a beautiful wooden building to the garden and backyard landscaping. Practical and technological developments in insulation, glazing and electronics mean that you can also kit out your , landscaping space to a high standard and use it throughout the year.

If you've already extended your house you may have used up your Permitted Development rights, but usually garden buildings and wood sheds are considered to be outbuildings and as long as they fall within the size/height restrictions you won't need to apply for Planning Permission. Outbuildings should be single storey, with a maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of 4 metres with a dual pitched roof.

1. Landscaping ideas for backyard: TRADITIONAL SUMMERHOUSE

A traditional summerhouse is the perfect backyard landscaping space to retreat to and while away long summer days. They tend to have either a one-piece fibreglass, metal (lead or copper) or cedar shingled roof,
have multi-paned windows, and often have built-in bench seating around the walls.

Summerhouse prices vary dramatically. Summerhouses can cost from a few hundred pounds for DIY
versions from superstores; quality-wise these are on a par with a standard shed. More luxurious designs from suppliers such as Scotts ofThrapston, HSP Garden Buildings, Taylors Garden Buildings and The Garden
House cost several thousand pounds and are warmer, sturdier and designed to last. The pressure-treated timber usualty used can be stained or painted in your own choice of colour. Look out for lockable doors and
toughened or laminated glazing.

 A summerhouse will need to be erected upon a solid concrete base. Most suppliers will specify the sire of the base, do a site survey and may offer building and installation services.

2. Landscaping ideas for backyard: OPEN-SIDED GAZEBO

The perfect solution if you want to make the most of a backyard landscaping beautiful view, a gazebo is generally open-sided and unglazed, and may have trellised sides ideal for growing trailing honeysuckle, climbing roses or sweet peas. Thatched and leaded roof styles are popular and add a colonial or classic look to your garden.

N The sturdier versions in solid oak or tropical hardwoods can act as open-air dining rooms with an integral table and bench arrangement and decked flooring. Look at designs by English Heritage Buildings, Breeze House and African Thatch Company.Tnese cost several thousand pounds and will need to be installed on a solid base.

N Garden centres sell all sorts of gazebos that are straightforward to erect and may not need a structured
base.Try the Burford Gazebo, £1,499. from Focus DIY\ For a more modern version of a gazebo, try Four Seasons Gazebos. Its designs can incorporate a barbecue, with canopy and chimney arrangements. It also offers luxurious'hot tub retreat' gazebos with remote-control lighting.

3. Landscaping ideas for backyard: GARDENER'S WOOD SHED

Chic wod sheds are all the rage. Basic ship lap wood sheds in treated softwood can cost less than £150 from garden centres. Stain, seal or paint regularly with products from Ronseal or Cuprinol, or try Fence & Garden Stain from Green Building Store. Or trade up to more innovative designs such as the Grow & Store (below).

Hanging pegs, shelves and a work bench are all useful in wood shed.Try Ikea for shelves, brackets and pegs and Great Garden Products for traditional staging.Don't expect your shed to be 100% secure: a padlock won't deter a determined burglar so keep valuables elsewhere.

N For cable-free lighting, try the MB980 Wireless Ceiling Light with motion sensor, £25.53 with a 50.000 hour bulb life, from Affordable Lighting.To run a power supply from the house, an installer registered with the Competent Person scheme must be used.

4. Landscaping ideas for backyard: PLEASURE ZONE

 In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in backyard landscaping buildings that have hot tubs, gyms, games rooms or evencinemas. Look at designs from The Garden Escape.The Brookwood Barn Company, Courtyard Designs and Rapyd Rooms.

N Hot tubs can be installed within decking or a terrace, or they can be freestanding. An open-sided gazebo-style surround is often a good idea. Look at English Heritage Buildings, Orlestone Oak (below). Southern Spas & Saunas and Four Seasons Gazebos.

N Swimming pool buildings need suitable floor coverings, water supply/treatment equipment, safety surfaces and comfortable changing areas, so consult a specialist architect.

N For pool tables and games equipment, try a full-size slate-bed pool table in mahogany, around £2,300. from Snooker Billiards Pool.

N To get the room fully wired for media and internet contact CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) to find experts and installers in your area.

5. Landscaping ideas for backyard: PLAYHOUSE

Create a special space for kids in the backyard landscaping with their own dedicated playhouse. For younger children, it's fun to have a rough and tumble area with play mats or a messy area for painting.

And older children will appreciate a den-style playhouse where they can relax with their friends.

N As with a gym or games room, don't underestimate the space.The larger the better, as there needs to be room for moving around, games, storage and general clutter. Timber playhouses are available from The Playhouse Company (above), Greenfingers. B&Q and garden centres. For older children, look at sheds and the smaller chalets instead of specific playhouses.

Try the Junior Log Cabin, about £400 from Garden Buildings Direct; a knight's castle,Victorian mansion or Princess cottage from Rainbow, a Dutch barn from Walton Garden Buildings Direct at £379 or for desirable bespoke timber playhouse buildings, try The Children's Cottage Company.

6. Landscaping ideas for backyard:  STABLES

Stable buildings in the backyard landscaping, by their very nature, are generally built to individual specification. Planning consent is generally required; the stable supplier will look after the application, as well as providing instructions for groundworks and site preparation for your builder. Look at suppliers such as The Brookwood Bam Company (right) and Courtyard Designs for classic timber framed designs in green oak with tiled roofs.

Courtyard Designs often incorporates loft rooms above its stable buildings for storage, accommodation or office facilities. For modern, modular stables available on a supply and DIY installation basis, try Chart Stables, which uses pressure treated external timbers and Onduline roofing in black, green, red or brown.There are various ranges at different price levels, but the flexibility is such that more or less all

design requirements can be accommodated.

N Try The Stable Company for a wide range of traditional, practical designs; they also supply garden rooms via The Garden Room Company.

7. Landscaping ideas for backyard: TREEHOUSE

A treehouse in backyard landscaping can be a raised playhouse at the end of the garden, or a fully fledged hideaway perched in the branches of a mature tree.

Try treehouse designs by The Playhouse Company, which include raised platforms and under-house storage areas.The Children's Cottage Company also has a good range.

 A treehouse ideally has a platform, a covered room and various ways in and out Try Castles Camy

Treehouse Life (below) and Blue Forest UK.  Expect to apply for Planning Permission for a treehouse that has a useable room; suppliers can advise and apply on your behalf after an initial site visit

8. Landscaping ideas for backyard: HOME OFFICE

A garden office needs to be warm enough to use all year round but not overpoweringly hot in the summer and it must be secure, especially if you will be leaving office equipment in it.You'll also need an electricity supply and extension to your home broadband and telephone lines The new range from Atelier starts at

£25.000", and incorporates tie latest timber and glass eco technology.

Many modular office/garden rooms are constructed using SlPs (structural insulated panels), then finished with plasterboard inside and timber cladding on the outside.'SIPs structures are all-year-round buildings, insulated and designed to maximise light without compromising performance' says Paul Barton. Managing Director of Roomworks (above).

N Look at options from The Garden Escape, Roomworks, John Lewis and Garden Studios. The garden office usually sits on a concrete base. Look for garden office designs with double-glazed doors and windows and insurance-approved locks. Roofs are usually asphalt, tiles, slates, or cedar shingles. Heating can be from electrical storage heaters or freestanding heaters. 

9. Landscaping ideas for backyard: ANIMAL HOUSES

While rabbit hutches, guinea pig homes, kennels and even chicken coops are widely available from pet shops and pet superstores, you may need to travel further afield for larger animal homes; although even B&Q can now supply a pig ark.

 Smaller gardens may be more suited to the designs from Ornlet The Eglu Classic chicken house, for two to four chickens, costs from £360, or try the Eglu Cube for six to 10 chickens, from £595.

N For classic chicken coop designs, try Perfect Poultry, which has huts and runs. For pretty duck and goose

houses in pressure-treated timber, try Flyte So Fancy, which has bird houses and practical log stores as

well as poultry keeping supplies.

10. Landscaping ideas for backyard: LOG CABIN OR CHALET

A log cabin or chalet is a useful addition to the backyard landscaping, which can be used for occasional overnight guest accommodation. Larger log cabin versions can be configured to include a bathroom or shower room and a kitchen area: they may need to comply with building regulations, depending on the size of the building so check with your local council.

 Depending on the size or" the building in relation to the garden, its position and how much Permitted

Development you have already used, you may need to apply for Planning Permission.

Log cabins over 30 square metres in floor area and any that have sleeping accommodation will need to

adhere to Building Regulations. Many suppliers keep their designs under 30 square metres.

N Look at log cabin designs from Crane Sheds and Summerhouses, and from B&Q (left), where prices are aiound £2-3.000. Try Norwegian Log Buildings for designs in European spruce, which use interlocking leg joining methods.

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