A garden pavilion is a garden structure where you can spend time with family and friends or simply relax. It is most often made of wood. There can be room inside for a grill, a table or benches. Find out what to look for when searching for the ideal garden pavilion for your home outdoor space.
Garden pavilion or garden gazebo? The key differences!
A garden pavilion is usually a simple structure made up of a roof and supports. It often has no floor or side walls, which means a relatively large amount of daylight reaches its interior. A garden pavilion is also often called a carport. It is usually made of wood and looks a bit like a garden tent.
Garden gazebos are openwork structures with elements such as a floor, side walls and a roof. The amount of sunlight reaching their interior is slightly lower than in pavilions. Gazebos provide shade and protection from the wind. In practice, however, the terms "tent," "garden pavilion," "gazebo" and "carport" are often used interchangeably, so if you are looking for a garden pavilion, you should browse all of these groups of garden structures. That way you will surely find the one best suited to your needs!
How to choose the right garden pavilion for your needs?
Garden pavilions come in so many versions that it is easy to get lost among them. When choosing the ideal model for you, pay attention to factors such as:
- the shape and size of the garden pavilion,
- the number of people the gazebo can accommodate,
- the regular price of the product,
- the material it is made of.
Also think about whether you prefer an open or an enclosed structure. You can choose from models with the roof placed on posts, versions with railings or walls, or fully enclosed ones.
What types of wooden garden pavilions are there?
Garden pavilions can be divided by their construction. The variants include:
- hexagonal and octagonal – the most traditional, usually 3 or 4-metre structures. They are a popular choice for relaxation areas, for example at hotels or restaurants.
- square and rectangular – which most often take the form of a roof placed on load-bearing posts.
Garden pavilions are also easy to tell apart by their size. You can opt for a smaller model that seats 5-7 people, or for party pavilions, which are very large. They hold even a dozen or so people and resemble huge party tents, seen for example at weddings. They are perfect for weekend get-togethers with the whole family!
Garden pavilions with a room, a cabin, or perhaps decorative ones?
Besides the types of structures mentioned above, you can find a wooden garden pavilion:
- with an enclosed room – the pavilion then includes both an enclosed and an open space, with a roof and a hard-surfaced floor;
- with a tool shed – this kind of gazebo can even be adapted for temporary living. It consists of a cabin and a sheltered terrace area;
- decorative – designed to arrange the space in an interesting way rather than to shelter from rain or wind. It can have, for example, an openwork structure and ribbed walls that are easy to cover with climbing plants.
A completely different category, which also falls to some extent within the definition of pavilions and gazebos, is barbecue cabins. With one in your garden, you can grill not only in spring, summer and early autumn, but also in winter! These are fully enclosed models, usually equipped with a door, windows, benches, a fire pit and a hood. As you can see, garden gazebos come in a wide variety of forms. This will help you find a practical solution for any garden!
Garden pavilion – uses
Garden pavilions have a number of different uses. They are great both for relaxing alone with a book and for sharing meals with family and friends. They give you the chance to create a unique outdoor space, either connected to the wall of your house or set well away from it, hidden in the garden.
Pavilions protect you from the sun, wind and falling leaves while you relax, and let you have a bit of privacy. They shield you very well from the eyes of passers-by. If you are planning a barbecue but the weather is not on your side, they let you sit down with your guests in a dry spot and enjoy food prepared outdoors.
Have you always wanted a terrace, but for various reasons it cannot be fitted into your house design? In the garden it is possible – all you need to do is choose a garden pavilion with the right construction. In that case, go for a model with a solid wooden floor, with a roof or an additional room.
Metal or wooden garden pavilion?
When choosing a garden pavilion, pay attention to the materials it is made of. Plastic, aluminium or metal, although also used in pavilion production, are a somewhat less popular group of products. The most popular material is wood, mainly because of its:
- stable construction – wooden garden gazebos are usually assembled permanently and anchored to the ground. You do not need to take them down for winter or arrange storage space for them;
- high resistance – wooden pavilions that have undergone wood preservation do not rust and are exceptionally resistant to all kinds of weather conditions. They cope well with light rain as well as downpours, sun, UV radiation and wind;
- shape stability over time – because the structure of such pavilions is made of large pieces of wood, it protects the building from changing shape over the years.
In addition, wood is a natural material, which matters to people who want their relaxation space to be eco-friendly and in harmony with the environment. Such an interior has a pleasant microclimate and really invites you to spend time in it!
What to remember when choosing a garden pavilion?
When choosing a garden pavilion, remember that:
- products are available in different sizes – although 3 and 4-metre versions are popular, choose the one that will fit best into your space,
- the chosen variant should be resistant to weather conditions – ideally, the wood should be treated with preservative, even twice,
- it is worth matching its colour to the other small garden architecture elements found in your garden.
Choose a garden pavilion with a roofing that can withstand the toughest weather conditions. Recommended solutions include, for example, bitumen shingles or metal roof tiles. Their colours can also be matched to your aesthetic preferences.
FAQ:
- Which garden pavilion should I choose?
It is best to choose a pavilion that meets your needs and suits the style of your house and surroundings. When making your decision, pay attention to its shape, dimensions, additional rooms and price.
- What are the most popular types of garden pavilions?
Among the most popular types of garden pavilions are, above all, hexagonal and octagonal ones.
- Is it worth buying a garden pavilion?
A garden pavilion is a great place for the whole family to relax, so it is definitely worth having one in your garden or on your plot. It can also become a play area for children or a barbecue corner for grilling with friends.
