How to Choose a Summerhouse Shed | Buyer’s Guide & Expert Tips

How to Choose the Perfect Bespoke Summerhouse Shed in 2026

When looking for ways to enhance your home, utilising your outdoor spaces to add a new dimension to the property is the obvious choice.

However, when considering different structures, the summer house shed dilemma is a difficult one to solve.

Deciding whether to opt for a summer house, garden shed, or summer house shed combo isn’t an issue that should be taken lightly.

Thankfully, getting it right will add value to your home life as well as your home.

• Why focus on a garden upgrade?
• Summer house Vs garden shed installations
• Introducing the summer house shed
• Summerhouse shed combo: pros and cons
• Top tips to do more with your summer house shed
• Summer house and garden shed FAQs
• The final word

Firstly, Why Focus on a Garden Upgrade?

If you’re anything like the average UK homeowner, you’ll have a long list of home improvement projects that you’d ideally like to complete. Unfortunately, time and budget restrictions mean that it is necessary to prioritise. Transforming the external spaces with a timber clad shed, summerhouse, or summer house shed combo is the ultimate solution.

Up to 87% of UK households have garden spaces, but only a small percentage make the most of them. Unlocking the full potential of yours with a summer house shed or garden structure will;

• Encourage you to spend more time outside, enjoying your land.
• Allow for increased social activities with your friends and family.
• Keep the garden spaces looking organised and easy to maintain.
• Increase the value of your home, providing a positive Return on Investment.
• Make the property more attractive to buyers when the time to sell arrives.

Moreover, installing a summer house shed or similar structure is far more affordable than home extensions. Likewise, the project can be completed quickly without major disruption to your home life. You are also far less likely to encounter issues with planning permissions – especially as most installations will not require them.

Finally, the new garden structure will make your home stand out from the crowd and become the envy of your neighbours. Perfect.

Summer House Vs Garden Shed

Many people still incorrectly use the terms garden shed and summer house interchangeably. Likewise, they share many similarities and may feature intricate corner designs. While they both build structures to enhance your outdoor spaces, there are noticeable differences.

Sheds are made of metal, wood, or resin and tend to be quite small. In fact, the most commonly selected shed size is 8ft x 6ft. This type of structure may feature a simple flat roof or pitched roof, as well as a small window and standard hinged door. They are primarily used to store garden items, from lawnmowers to furniture.

Summer houses are more aesthetically pleasing structures that are often carefully crafted from durable timber and may also be designed to match the main property. Summerhouses may also feature advanced features such as French doors, electrical wiring, and four-point locking systems. As a result, they may be open to an extensive range of functions that go far beyond simple storage.

Naturally, a summer house will cost more money. However, they are often bigger, with 10ft models being very popular. Like sheds, though, they can be built to larger specifications.

Introducing the summer house shed

When deciding which type of garden building to install, many UK homeowners find themselves debating whether they’d prefer the aesthetic and functional benefits of a summer house or the practical elements of having garden shed storage.

Does this sound like you? If so, why not opt for both…

The summer house shed combo is exactly what it sounds like. It is a two-in-one structure characterised as a summerhouse with side shed included and has strong framing to make the building rigid. The majority of the space will be dedicated to the summer house section, but the addition of a shed makes it a dual-purpose structure capable of transforming the garden spaces like never before.

Your summer house with shed attached can be built to your aesthetic and functional needs, allowing you to decide how much storage is needed while also selecting the right size, style and features for your intended purpose. The building may also be used for a range of functions, such as;

• A home office space – ideal for the 44% of UK workers who use hybrid or WFH models.
• Beauty salon or hair salon – opening the door to improved self-care or business opportunities.
• A home gym – perfect for anyone wanting to get fitter without the commitment of a gym.
• Yoga or relaxation studio – an idyllic getaway to break free from the stresses of modern life.
• A games room – the ultimate place for recreation and entertaining guests without disrupting others.

Of course, the summer house with a side shed could be used for other purposes or integrated with existing features, such as your patio or garden swimming pool. Our tailored solutions ensure that the perfect structure is designed, developed, and delivered to match your needs and budget. To find out more, contact our experts to discover the possibilities.

The Pros & Cons of a Summerhouse with Side Shed Installation

A summer house with a shed attached has become an increasingly common choice for homeowners throughout the UK, not least because it allows them to create a design perfectly aligned with their requirements.

It is shown that a garden shed can add 10% to the property’s value, while summer houses can increase it by even more. So, an investment of just a few thousand pounds to cover everything from inspiration to installation could increase the property’s value by tens of thousands.

While the financial returns are certainly a positive feature, especially if selling the home is a possibility at some stage, it’s important to consider other key contributing factors. Once you do, you’ll be better positioned to determine whether this is the superior choice compared to other home upgrade projects, including extensions or major renovations.

Another thing to consider is that the free summer shed combination assembly service offered by 1st Choice Leisure Buildings is a great feature. No dragging heavy wooden panels around and the work that entails, no wondering whether you have built the structure correctly and saving money into the bargain. Surely this must be a decision-maker.

Summer House with Side Shed Pros

Before committing to any home improvement, you will rightly want to focus on the benefits it brings to your home and daily life. Here are some of the key reasons to opt for a summer house shed combo in 2024 and beyond;

• A summer house with a shed attached allows you to keep mowers, furniture, and other items safely stored. They will be out of sight and mind when using the summerhouse.
• The summer house with shed allows you to create a garden room without planning permission, providing a major benefit over extensions and other major projects.
• Summer houses give you the option to create a functional space for recreational or business purposes that stands self-contained and separated from the main home.
• The summer house can be purpose-built to align with your personal desires and demands or to integrate with the aesthetics of any existing surroundings.
• Your summer house shed can be designed to have the available dimensions, both in terms of shape and size, of the intended placement within your garden.
• A summer house combo shed can easily be revamped to support a new function at a later date if you decide that the original solution is no longer right for your needs.
• The structure will be made from sustainable timber and other natural materials to ensure that it fits your desires for green living and embracing natural vibes.
• Due to the energy efficiency and insulation properties of timber, keeping the warmth in is easy. Meanwhile, folding doors or French doors promote great air circulation.
• Compared to brick and other materials, wood is cheaper and easier to assemble. So, the summer house and shed combo is budget-friendly as well as ROIL-positive.
• The benefits of the shed section will ensure that the rest of the garden remains under control with greater ease, giving the home a more complete look.

Summer House with Side Shed Cons

While a summer house with a contained shed for storage offers many benefits, it is important to understand its potential drawbacks. Even if there aren’t that many of them, understanding them will help you make a clear decision. The notable issues are;

• Likely to cost a little more than either a summer house or a shed – although not as much as a separate shed and summer house or other garden building structures.
• They aren’t the right upgrade for people who do not want to make good use of their garden spaces. In this instance, internal updates are probably a wiser move.
• A summer house shed will reduce the amount of free space for gardening, playtime, or other activities that you may wish to enjoy.
• The summer house shed combi will require some maintenance treatment – the shed section, in particular, may require more care than a standard shed structure.
• Garden sheds and summer houses may encounter issues like pest infestations, and your summer house shed may be prone to the same issues.
• The fact that your garden building may contain more valuables also increases the need for security – 90% of home burglaries occur in the garden.

Top Tips to Do More with Your Summer House Shed

If you want to truly unlock the full benefits of having a summer house shed, it’s vital that you make calculated decisions. The following simple steps should point you in the right direction;

• Pick the right positioning so that you can maximise the space within your garden.
• Choose the right colour scheme and finish to match your home surroundings.
• Go the extra mile to create a solid foundation for the structure.
• Consider whether gutters are needed to prevent damage caused by UK rainfall.
• Take the time to confirm that the intended function will enhance your life.
• Select the best type of doors and windows for your structure.
• Check that the height of the shed section is suitable for your needs.
• Think about the internal requirements of the summer house, such as wiring.
• Familiarise yourself with any maintenance that may be required.
• Speak to a specialist who can help you with design and installation services.

Help is just a click away.

Key considerations like verifying planning permission regulations and learning the basics of foundation construction should be considered before buying a garden shed. Visit our website for helpful articles that can help you navigate these concerns. After handling these aspects and setting up your new building, explore heating choices and methods to manage condensation. We also provide support on these topics. Browse our wide range of How-to articles for valuable tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us for additional help.

The Final Word
If you’re hoping to find a home improvement project that will deliver benefits for the whole family, including more time spent outside and increased happiness, a summer house with a shed attached is the perfect choice.

The summer house shed combo lets you create a home office, gym, or recreational space that can be used year-round while retaining a contained storage area for garden items. Therefore, your outside spaces will become more attractive, organised, and functional with instant results.

To discover the full range of models, as well as bespoke solutions, check out our extensive collection of summer house shed combos today.

Visit our Surrey Showroom close to Woking, Ripley and Guildford to Find Your Perfect New Summerhouse Shed Combo

FAQs For Summerhouse With Shed