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A beginner’s guide to log cabins

If you are considering giving your home and garden a new lease of life by purchasing a cheap log cabin, it is worth familiarising yourself with the various options available first. As well as providing you with an idea of what you can get for your money, it may also help you decide how to best use the space you have.

There are several main types of log cabin, but it is important to remember there are also many nuances to consider too, such as the number of doors and type of roof it has. First of all, you should ascertain the broad style of log cabin you want – something that will hinge on how large your garden is and what you will be using this new space for.

Traditional log cabins

Typically based on Scandinavian designs, traditional log cabins are an aesthetically pleasing addition to the garden, usually made from attractive pine logs and featuring stylish doors and windows. Of course, what exactly you get varies from one design to the next; there are compact versions available for smaller gardens, as well as more luxurious options for those with larger outdoor spaces.

As well as considering size, you should also give some thought to extra features, such as side sheds, which provide extra storage capacity. Whatever you pick, traditional log cabins are among the most versatile options to choose.

Indeed, spaces like this are well-suited for use as an extra room for the family. Particularly perfect for the summertime, they are ideal for games evenings or candlelit dinners. Alternatively, you could use the cabin as a space to practice your hobbies, study or even as a home office.

Corner log cabins

If space is at a premium in your garden, it is worth considering a corner log cabin. As you would expect, these are designed to fit snugly into a corner of your garden, thereby making best use of the room you have available.

Coming in sizes as small as 3 m by 3 m, they offer an excellent balance between providing a tranquil, sheltered haven and ensuring you still have some space left to enjoy the greener parts of your garden. While these buildings are designed to be compact, you can choose options that boast a side shed for additional storage as with traditional cabins.

Home offices

While technically you could use any kind of log cabin as a home office, if you are planning to work from here in the long term, it is worth investing in a model specifically created for this purpose. Generally speaking, these are designed to maximise the amount of space you have to work in.

However, there is more to this kind of log cabin than space alone. A number of large windows, as well as windowed doors, are usually factored in to flood the building with light – something that will give you as pleasant a working environment as possible.

Garages

Another option to consider is garage log cabins. These offer a particularly stylish place to park your car or motorbike and, compared with traditional garages, offer the added bonus of giving you the freedom to place it where you wish. Of course, when doing so, you should always check whether you need planning permission, as these cabins are large!

Designs for garages are extra-sturdy, offering both additional security and protection from poor weather. These will also typically feature secure locking mechanisms, though you can always purchase added security if you wish.

Within these four categories, there is a lot of variety in terms of window style, doors and roofs, which can be flat, pent, apex or split level. It is important to review each cabin carefully to decide which would look best in your garden.