Contrary to what the name may suggest, a ‘summer house’ can be used year-round, not just during the summer months. Some people choose to sleep in their garden rooms, others use them as a home/garden gym. To help you get the most out of your investment and add value to your property, we’ve put together some fantastic summer house interior ideas to inspire you.
With some proper planning, your summer house can be crafted to become a year round retreat that keeps you cosy in winter and cool in summer. By incorporating some stylish interior design, it can also become an inviting addition to your home that you, your family, and friends can all enjoy.
Whether you’re drawn to the minimalist elegance of Scandinavian design, the warm textures of a rustic retreat, or the vibrant hues of a bohemian enclave, the possibilities are only limited to your imagination.
Read on and get inspired to make your summer house a year-round garden room retreat with our summer house and garden room ideas.
Exploring summer house interior styles
Scandinavian
Characterised by simplicity, minimalism, and functionality, Scandinavian designs bring focus to light, natural colours, wooden elements, and functional design.
This theme combines modern minimalism with a rustic charm, featuring clean lines and a cosy inviting atmosphere that’s bright and airy.
Bohemian chic (Boho)
With vibrant colours and a mix of patterns and textures. Bohemian chic garden rooms aim to deliver a playful and expressive atmosphere, incorporating plants, ‘lively’ fabrics, and vintage furniture. These can make for perfect garden office rooms.
Industrial
Utilises elements like metal fixtures, raw concrete and reclaimed wood, eliciting a sense of urban cool, with an edgy, architectural feel.
This style of interior can turn your summer house into an urban-style modern office, gym or even a garden yoga studio.
Coastal/nautical
Inspired by the seaside, this style uses natural colours like blues, greens, whites, and earthy tones to represent sand, stone and wood along with nautical-themed decorations to bring a breezy, relaxed feel.
Traditional
A timeless design featuring classic furniture, rich colour schemes, and elegant decor.
Rustic charm
This embraces natural, raw and reclaimed materials such as wood, stone and metal to create an atmosphere that is warm, cosy and inviting. Rustic garden rooms often feature traditional craftsmanship, conveying a sense of timeless beauty and comfort.
The rustic interior is quite common for garden studios – whether its for art projects, music or filming.
Modern minimalist
Utilising clean lines, a monochrome colour palette, and minimal furnishings. This theme is the epitome of simplicity and function, creating a sleek, contemporary space that promotes focus and clarity. Great for those looking for a clean, distraction-free space to work from home.
Mediterranean
Reflecting the warm, colourful essence of the Mediterranean, emphasising natural light, earthy tones, and textured surfaces like rough plaster and terracotta. This theme combines rustic wood furniture with rich textiles and decorative tiles to create a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere.
Cottagecore
Inducing the rural cottage life, featuring floral patterns, soft colours, and vintage furniture. This theme is all about creating a cosy, welcoming space that celebrates the beauty of nature and simpler times.
Zen/Asian inspired
Inspired by the principles of Zen Buddhism, this theme emphasises simplicity, natural beauty, and tranquillity. Featuring clean lines, natural materials, and a muted colour scheme, this theme aims to create a peaceful retreat that fosters mindfulness and relaxation.
Green oasis
Using lush plants, bright colours, and natural materials like bamboo to create a vibrant, energising environment. This theme transports you to a flourishing, tranquil habitat, perfect for relaxation and creative inspiration.
Eclectic
Eclectic design is a thoughtful blend of various styles, textures, and colours. It’s about harmoniously mixing elements to reflect personal taste and create a unique, vibrant space.
Rustic minimalist
This style blends rustic charm with modern minimalism, featuring exposed wood, neutral colours, and clean lines. It’s perfect for creating a cosy yet refined garden room.
Modern zen
Offering a tranquil retreat that combines contemporary design with the principles of Japanese Zen. This space is characterised by its minimalist aesthetic, where every element serves a purpose.
Key elements of a functional summer house
Furniture
Choose furniture that is multifunctional, durable and fits the summer house’s theme.
Colour schemes
Opt for colours that not only compliment the summer house’s interior theme but also enhance its functionality, using lighter colours if it will be exposed to the sun during the day to help reflect heat, or using darker colours in a shaded area to help absorb heat during colder months.
Lighting
Capture natural light with large windows and use warm, soft artificial lighting to maintain a cosy feel at night. Consider skylights to increase brightness while preserving privacy from overlooking neighbours.
Decor and theme
Decorate to reflect your own personal style whilst not feeling cluttered, choose a theme that will make the space inviting for you or anyone using it or combine themes to reflect your own individualistic style.
Practical tips for decorating your summer house
Decorating your summer house should be a fun, creative process that results in a space you love to be in. By approaching it with a plan that considers your budget, space, and personal style, you can easily create a charming retreat that meets your needs and also reflects your individual taste.
Here are some tips to help you with this…
Garden hobby studio
A creative sanctuary for artists and hobbyists, utilising natural light, easy-to-clean surfaces, and storage for materials and tools.
Games/entertainment/movie room
A lively space dedicated to entertainment, with comfortable seating, tv and gaming systems, or create a room for games like pool or darts.
Music studio
An acoustically treated retreat for musicians, complete with racks for audio processors, equipment wiring, and storage for musical instruments/gear.
Garden gym pod
A private fitness space with durable flooring, customisable with your favourite personal exercise equipment for working out.
Garden office
A peaceful workspace separate from the home and its distractions, designed with ergonomic furniture, good insulation for year-round working, and essentials such as a wireless access point for a strong and reliable internet connection.
Garden bar/kitchen
An outdoor spot for cooking and socialising, potentially equipped with a grill, sink, fridge, or bar perfect for hosting and enjoying meals or drinks with friends and family.
Yoga studio
A tranquil open area for yoga and meditation, surrounded by nature, with calming decor, natural light.
Man/mam cave
A personal leisure den, themed around your favourite team or game, with comfortable seating, entertainment systems, and a maybe even minibar.
Summer house interior ideas
Bright and airy garden hobby studio
A garden hobby studio is a dedicated space for you to get creative and craft, paint or create, ideal for artists, crafters, or hobbyists. It should be designed around available natural light, with storage for tools and materials, and surfaces that are easy to clean. This space can be customised for various activities, from painting and pottery to model building and sewing.
Zen inspired yoga studio
A garden yoga studio offers a tranquil spot for meditation, stretching, and yoga practice, whilst being surrounded by nature. It should feature minimal but calming decor, space for storing mats and props, and large windows to bring in natural light and views. Creating a serene environment that helps you enhance your mindfulness and physical well-being.
Garden room kitchen/bar
A space designed for cooking, dining, and entertaining friends and family. It can be outfitted with a fully functional kitchen, including a grill, sink, fridge and freezer, and storage. The garden bar/kitchen becomes a social hub, perfect for hosting barbecues, parties, or relaxed family dinners in the open air.
Multifunctional and space saving furniture to get the most out of your summer house
Sofa with underseat storage
A multifunctional sofa is an ideal choice for a summer house due to its versatility and space-saving design. It maximises the usability of the confined space usually found in summer houses, ensuring that the area remains uncluttered whilst being comfy and inviting.
Photo credit: alusplash
Coffee table with lift up desk
A multifunctional coffee table with a desk feature can be a brilliant addition to a summer house, combining practicality with leisure in one piece of furniture. This versatile table serves as a central spot for coffee or tea breaks whilst having the ability to transform into a workspace.
Photo credit: better homes & garden
Wall mount fold down desk
A wall-mounted fold-down desk is an excellent addition for anyone looking to do remote work in their summer house. This type of desk provides a temporary work area that can be quickly and easily tucked away when not in use, maintaining the openness and relaxed feel of the room.
Photo credit: city furnish
Tall corner shelves/bookcase
A tall corner shelf or bookcase is a great addition to your summer house, making use of often unused areas by utilising the available vertical space to maximise storage, providing room for books, decorations, and personal items, helping to keep the space organised and clutter-free.
Photo credit: amazon
Summary
Creating a functional summer house within space constraints requires thoughtful planning and careful choices. Start by defining how the space will be used and how you want it to look, this will help your decor and furniture decisions, preventing unnecessary spending.
Choose multifunctional furniture, like a sofa with underseat drawers or storage ottomans, to maximise storage without losing precious space. Utilise vertical areas and corners with floating shelves, corner shelves, or a wall-mounted drop down desk. Embrace your inner DIY to upcycle and refresh old furniture, creating a unique touch whilst saving money.
Using light colours on interior walls and strategically placed mirrors can open up the space, making it feel larger and more inviting. If storage is not an issue, select compact, easily movable furniture that is weather resistant to allow for outdoor use.
