Our favourite garden shelter ideas

Pergolas

A pergola is a stunning garden shelter which can really add the wow-factor to your patio. These large garden shelters can cover your whole garden seating setup, giving you the best chance of keeping dry if a pesky summer shower comes your way.

Pergolas come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. For a classic look, a wooden pergola is a no-brainer. As well as having a natural beauty, wooden pergolas can be treated with a stain or exterior wood paint to really make them your own.

We also love adding some greenery to a pergola. Climbing plants, especially, will love growing up the pergola, eventually spreading over the roof too for some natural shade and a truly showstopping look. Simply plant something like Clematis, Honeysuckle, Wisteria, Sweet Peas or Climbing Roses into a planter at the base of your pergola and watch as they elegantly snake around the beams. You may need to give them a helping hand with some ties.

Not only will your pergola look outstanding, but these fantastic flowers will attract pollinators and make your garden shelter smell divine.

If your area is particularly prone to bad weather, a metal pergola is the ultimate low-maintenance option. Many also come with retractable covers for when you want to keep the rain out – or let the sun in!

For even more info on how a pergola can upgrade your garden, you can read our full guide here.

Gazebos

A gazebo is a great garden shelter with a roof to shelter you from the elements. They’re usually made up of a wooden or aluminium frame and canopy, with or without walls, so you can customise how much shelter you need! They work well with bistro sets and dining sets, and can make a lunchtime spread for guests look fantastic.

One of the great things about gazebos is their adaptability. Whereas a pergola is fixed in place, many gazebos can be taken down and moved as much as you like – we’d definitely recommend securing them down though, as these lightweight garden shelters can be moved by wind!

For larger spaces and big get-togethers, a marquee is an excellent high-capacity alternative. These large soft-sided structures can seat multiple people and make a great choice for garden parties!

Arbours

Any nook in your garden can benefit from a bit of shelter. Arbours combine garden seating with shelter, giving you an enclosed space to relax and unwind while taking in the beauty of your garden!

Most garden arbours are built for two or three people, making them a lovely place to enjoy some downtime with a loved one – or with a cuppa and a good book. They create a charming little spot which is sheltered, comfortable, and attractive – choose from wooden options with slatted roofs for an airy feel, or an arbour with a canopy and padded seating for extra shelter from summer showers.

Parasols

On those hot days, sometimes you need a quick piece of shelter to protect you from the heat of the sun, which is where a parasol comes in. Incredibly easy to set up and put away, a parasol takes up very little room when not in use and is a great space-saving garden shelter.

Traditional parasols feature a straight pole with a canopy attached to the top, which you can extend using a crank. Cantilever, otherwise known as hanging or banana parasols, have the canopy attached to an arm which hangs over and can be adjusted and tilted to block the sun.

Parasols aren’t just for the garden, either! Thanks to their lightweight and portable frames, a parasol can go with you just about anywhere: beaches, campsites, parks… it’s shelter on the go!

Whichever style you go for, it’s very important to pick up a good parasol base to slot it into.

Summerhouses

If you want to go all-out with your garden shelter, a summerhouse is a stunning choice. Essentially another room in your garden, summerhouses can double up as home offices, gyms, studios, and so much more. They’re certainly more of an investment, but as far as garden shelters go, it doesn’t get much better.

Or why not make it the focal point of your summer entertaining by turning it into a garden bar? Simply combine with some tables & chairs and some lighting, and hey presto – your friends won’t want to leave!

Our favourite garden shelter decorating ideas

Outdoor lighting

For al fresco hangouts after dark, it’s well worth having some outdoor lighting. It’s the perfect way of adding an ambient glow to your garden, letting you continue the good times once the sun goes down.

We love the look of outdoor string lights on a pergola or gazebo, but why not try some stake lights or lamps which you can move as you see fit? They’re also a good idea for making sure people can find their way back to the house in the dark without tripping over a gnome.

Outdoor rugs and cushions

With our curated outdoor furnishings, the outdoors can be just as comfy as indoors! Outdoor rugs and cushions add comfort to your patio areas and are built to be more weather-resistant; just make sure to keep them sheltered from the worst of the weather in garden storage.

Outdoor heating

When the temperature drops, some outdoor heating will make all your guests feel nice and cosy. Patio heaters are a fuss-free choice which will kick out some immediate heat, but nothing beats the ambient cosiness of a firepit or chiminea. Load them up with logs and bask in the satisfying glow of an open fire – just make sure they’re kept at a reasonable distance.

Accessories

Put some of your personality into your garden shelters with the perfect finishing touches. Garden mirrors are a stylish choice for patio areas, as are clocks and weathervanes, but our collection of garden decorations is big enough to have something for everyone!

How to look after your garden shelter

Your garden shelters are made to protect you and your garden furniture from the worst of the elements, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible!

Wooden garden shelters will need continuous maintenance to make sure they keep looking and performing their best for as long as possible. If it’s made from dip-treated timber, you’ll need to apply a wood treatment, stain, or paint as soon as you can, topping it up every year.

Pressure-treated timber goes through a more intensive process and is usually good to go straight out of the box, though you should still apply a coat of protection every year or so to keep it looking great.

Metal frames are a low-maintenance option for your garden, though you should still check them regularly for any signs of rusting, as well as oil any moving parts to keep them working well.