Forget basic wooden shacks for storing your gardening tools, because these cool creations prove that when it comes to cabins and sheds, the only limit is your imagination. Creative individuals from around the world have turned otherwise ordinary timber structures into far-flung holiday retreats, cinemas, luxury hideaways, craft rooms and more. Click or scroll on to step into these souped-up sheds and leave your expectations at the door...
Positioned in an awe-inspiring landscape in the shadows of Ben Ohau mountain in Canterbury, New Zealand, Skylark Cabin epitomises the beauty of simple timber structures. Designed by architect Barry Connor, the property was conceived as a vacation retreat that truly makes the most of its surroundings.
The homeowner wanted the cabin to be simple and honest, while fully connecting with the environment. Orientated towards the Black Hills and Backbone Peak, the tiny home has an angular roof that was inspired by the skylarks that occupy the area. Built for around £255,000 ($354k), it features a glazed gable at the front, allowing for seamless views of the landscape beyond. The exterior is clad in a rough-sawn larch timber rainscreen, which protects it from weather damage.
Spanning 538 square feet, the interior has been finished with contrasting light beech plywood with black-edged detailing. Inside, there's a living area, kitchen, dining space, bedroom and bathroom. In the bedroom, a viewing window has been installed in the ceiling, allowing the lucky occupant to soak up panoramas of the famous stars found inside the protected Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Designed by the experts at O2 Treehouse, this stunning woodland retreat was built to harmlessly co-exist with its natural surroundings. Elevated off the ground, access can be gained via a long, 50-foot bridge, which leads to a floating open deck that’s perfect for soaking up the forest scenery.
Constructed using O2 Treehouse’s unique Equilibrium System, the luxury treehouse is formed from modular foundations and an insulated panel system. Prefabricated in a factory and shipped to the site, the zero-impact retreat is both striking and eco-friendly.
Inside, the sustainable structure was curated to make the most of the view. Floor-to-ceiling windows and ample skylights frame dazzling views of the sky from almost every space, while filling the interior with sunlight. There’s a reading nook, a fold-out bed and a composting toilet – all you need when disconnecting and immersing yourself in nature.
Known as Sky Den, this eye-catching tiny home can be found inside Kielder Water and Forest Park in Northumberland, UK. The project was the brainchild of architect and TV presenter George Clarke, whose Amazing Spaces TV show explores the world's most unique homes. Clarke started his own project in 2013, aiming to create an unforgettable hideaway inside one of Europe's most enchanting forests.
Northumberland, the cabin's location, also happens to benefit from the UK’s darkest sky, meaning stargazing here is second to none. To maximise this, Clarke hired William Hardie Designs to create a cabin with a retractable roof, so any lucky visitor can soak up the sky without having to step outside. There's also an open-sided deck platform, where tranquil landscape views can be enjoyed.
The cabin is formed from three units, including a square structure where the main living areas are and a circle structure that offers an outdoor seating zone overlooking the tree canopy. Finally, the triangle module on the top storey is home to a lofted bedroom with a mechanical roof that can open up to the sky. Inside, the retreat features a simple natural timber palette, with ample windows, a functional kitchen and clever fold-away furniture. Available to rent via Canopy & Stars, this dreamy rural retreat is truly one-of-a-kind.
Kieran Bentham's garden in West Yorkshire, UK, was crying out for a shed, so with zero carpentry skills or experience, he set about building himself the ultimate backyard 'man cave' to seek a bit of space and solace.
The luxurious cabin features a glass and aluminium-framed front with bi-folding doors that open out onto a larch deck overlooking the garden. It's clad in cedar and offers a cedar shingle roof that's durable and weatherproof. Light, bright and fully equipped, the summerhouse has a mid-century aesthetic and comes complete with electricity and water.
The modern A-frame cabin is equipped with everything you could need for a blissful backyard retreat. There's a wine chiller, a lounge area and even a mezzanine bedroom for guests to enjoy. Kieran completed all of the work himself, aside from the wiring and the glass front. "I can't quite believe I was able to pull this off," he said about the project, which was shortlisted for the Cuprinol Shed of the Year.
Ufogel is an open-plan cabin located in Nussdorf, Austria. Made almost entirely from larch wood, the multi-functional living space is just over 480 square feet. Access to the ground is via a bridge, so the structure almost appears to float on top of the meadow where it's sited.
The marvelous tiny home boasts large picture windows, which provide panoramic views of the Lienz Dolomites. The curved timber structure is covered with traditional shingles that help create a warm and snug interior.
The contemporary cabin has underfloor heating, a wood-burning stove and an air-conditioning unit for the colder months. The bedroom zone has two beds that are separated with a screen that adds extra privacy to the small space.
The Viking Bauhutte, owned by Chris Walter in Hampshire, recognises a Viking tradition in the middle ages where craftsmen and artisans would discuss their construction ideas in a shed over tea or mead.
Shortlisted for the Shed of the Year in 2018, the cabin is built from timber, birch plywood and a roundwood chestnut frame. Well-insulated for the winter months, the ingenious retreat even has running water and electricity.
Inside, the characterful interior features an antique Norweigan stove and a copper kettle. The space is used by the family much like it would have been in Viking times – for various craft and DIY projects.
Doctor Who superfan Paul Foden has gone all out with this incredible TARDIS-themed shed. A year in the making, the police box entrance leads into a hexagonal space housing the Time Lord's console room.
Like the real deal, the interior of Foden's TARDIS shed looks much bigger than its exterior. The outer structure is made from a hexagonal shed with a fibreglass roof to make it watertight.
Inside, the 12-foot TARDIS is a true replica of the Doctor's time machine and features everything from appropriate sound effects to a full control panel and neon lighting. The ultimate DIY project, we wouldn't mind travelling back in time in this amazing shed!
Tom Chudleigh has built three amazing spherical treehouses that hang from ropes up in the forest canopy on Vancouver Island in Canada. Named Eryn, Melody and Luna, the sphere houses sleep up to three people in each unit.
The suspended shelters provide a compact living and sleeping space, with unique round windows and rotund entrance doors. This sphere, known as Eryn, is one of the more traditional designs, featuring a bronze door and Sitka spruce exterior. It's almost like living in a hobbit home!
In the more modern Luna model, the rectangular double bed is tucked up in the day and can be brought down for the evening. Offering a small skylight for stargazing and charming curved wooden beams, the sphere is a cosy spot to escape to.
Created by movie buff Anderson Jones, this incredible miniature picture house sits at the bottom of a garden. Named the ABC Home Cinema, it has an authentic light-up title box outside to display what films are showing and houses a retro 34-seat auditorium.
Another previously shortlisted entry for the Shed of the Year competition, the cinema takes you back in time to the 1970s with original seats, old exit signs, posters, and swing doors salvaged from cinemas that have shut down.
The cinema took four-and-a-half years to build and is constructed from brick with a tiled roof. The foyer area even has a kiosk for sweets and popcorn and let's not forget the authentic-looking booth where you can purchase tickets. How's that for a surprising extra?
Nestled in the forest overlooking the Salish Sea, Pleasant Bay Lookout is, on paper, one simple room measuring just 121 square feet. In reality, it's so much more; set in the heart of nature, the entire back wall of the cabin is made of glass that frames stunning views over the ocean below.
Available to rent via Airbnb, staying in the lookout means forgoing some home comforts (the bathroom is 40 seconds away along a wooden walkway), but the peace, solitude and connection with nature more than make up for it. Any guests planning a stay at the overnight shelter need to be fit and mobile, as it sits off the main road at the bottom of a set of steps.
Inside, the woodland cabin has a comfortable recliner as well as a modern sofa that converts into a bed. The timber-clad ceilings only add to the welcoming, rustic aesthetic, while the numerous windows and doors allow light to flood the living space.
Hardanger Retreat is a 160-square-foot room made from glass and wood by Saunders Architecture. The contemporary structure was completed in 2003 using trees that were felled onsite to create planks for the build and the decking outside.
Large glass windows provide stunning views over the fjord below and the structure has been insulated with recycled newspaper. The partially off-grid home isn't connected to an electricity supply but instead uses natural gas for cooking and heating.
The retreat was designed to be used mainly in the summer months when the sun sets much later, so no lighting was installed in the cabin. Inside, there is just enough room for a double bed and minimal light pine furniture that embraces the streamlined Scandi style.
Designed by Rotterdam architects 2by4-architects, Recreational Island House is a miniature lakeside cabin located on a small island in Loosdrechtse Plassen, which is a region in The Netherlands famous for its lakes.
The 215-square-foot structure has a wooden façade that folds open to reveal jaw-dropping views of the rural landscape. To make the most of its location, the pocket-sized property was designed with large glazed end walls that frame the surrounding scenery.
Cleverly, the building's layout is customisable thanks to a movable wall and a rotating fireplace. One corner of the cabin can be completely opened up to expand the living space out onto the wooden dock outside.
Japanese brand Muji has designed a 100-square-foot flat-pack cabin that has been described as somewhere between a permanent residence and a holiday home. Built on a concrete foundation, it costs around £20,000 ($27.5k) but can currently only be purchased in Japan.
Constructed from Japanese wood, the minimalist hut includes a compact covered patio. Sliding glass doors open up the interior to the great outdoors, while a smaller window to the rear wall allows natural light to stream in. The open-plan living area is lined with untreated Japanese cypress plywood for an organic, streamlined feel.
The dramatic black exterior is clad in wood that has been charred using a Japanese technique called shou sugi ban, which prolongs the life of the timber and makes it more resistant to fire, insect damage and decay.
Amateur architect Caspar Schols created this ingenious convertible shed, which features clever sliding walls that can be opened up on warm, sunny days or closed when the weather takes a turn to keep out the elements.
Shortlisted for the Shed of the Year in 2017, the cabin is versatile and sophisticated in its design. The structure is made from Douglas fir timber and features vast glass walls that are set on runners that glide inwards or outwards with ease.
Photographed by Jorrit 't Hoen, Garden House may look similar to a shed but it has everything you need for a cosy night's stay. Inside, there's a bed that lifts out of the structure's raised decked base and a small black wooden fireplace in the centre of the living room.
Clad entirely in reclaimed oak, this coastal cabin in Navidad, Chile, is spectacular and sustainable in equal parts. Nestled on a steep hillside 262 feet above the Pacific Ocean, La Loica was designed by the team at Croxatto and Opazo Architects as a holiday home that would seamlessly blend in with its surroundings. Manufactured from reclaimed timber, the cabin was treated with petroleum oil, which provides a barrier against marine corrosion.
With the appearance of a look-out tower, the clifftop cabin is formed from a series of compact stacked cubes that minimise the structure's impact on the environment. It sits on a hidden platform, supported by pressure-impregnated wood, while the home's narrow design ensures it's protected against the area's blustery winds. Thanks to large picture windows that face the ocean, the cabin benefits from breathtaking views from every living space.
One of two cabins positioned on this coastal stretch, La Loica measures just 215 square feet. Meanwhile, the other residence, known as La Tagua, spans 269 square feet. The interior of each upcycled tiny home is decorated with recycled wood, which provides natural insulation and a rustic, streamlined feel. There's a lounge, dining room, bathroom and kitchen, as well as a mezzanine bedroom that truly makes the most of the view.
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