If you only have a small patio then the gazebo you choose will need to be fairly small.  Styles consisting of a basic metal frame with a canvas or vinyl canopy are ideal for this purpose. The bigger sized gazebos are ideal for larger patios; perfect if you are inviting friends around for a BBQ. 

Another option for a patio gazebo is the swing seat gazebo. Consisting of a gazebo frame with a canvas canopy and a built in swing seat, this style of gazebo usually has a waterproof cover. As this style is not that easy to dismantle and move around, it is better suited to those who like to use their outdoor space to relax.

Finding the right patio gazebo is easy if you go shopping with a size and a price in mind.  Shopping online can also take the hard work out of finding a gazebo, as it will be delivered to your door and can often prove to be cheaper than shopping in a store.

The style and options that come with your gazebo are as varied as your personal taste.

Do you want millionaire drapes, and gold taps and candlelight, or just a simple wooden gazebo to barbeque in when it rains?  Your dream place can become reality according to your budget and imagination.

A gazebo can be an extension of your patio, or a focal point in your garden. You can customise your gazebo and add a touch of class by choosing your own finishes and furniture. Canvas canopies that retract, or a solid tiled roof to give a permanent look to match your home – this can all be achieved.  Trailing ivy to add a romantic touch, lamps, lanterns, a gas fire, Roman blinds, and wooden floors, the options are endless. If you can dream it, you can have it.

Want to be the envy of all your friends? Homeowners enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle after their gazebo is installed and can’t imagine entertaining without it.

Best of all, this is a sure-fire way to add value and style to your home.

Gazebos come in many different shapes and sizes and are weather-resistant, comfortable and ready to use whenever you need to expand out into the garden.

A wooden gazebo will serve as a permanent structure in the garden. Once you have decided exactly where it should go, it will be an extra room outdoors. It is ideal for those who enjoy spending time in the garden but who prefer not to sit in the sun. It provides a relaxing atmosphere and can be a wonderful focal point for the garden.  

As it is a permanent structure, there will be no need to dismantle it to move or store it during the winter months. A wooden gazebo should stay in place for years if it is properly cared for. The extra expense of a wooden gazebo will be worth it, as it will look very stylish and add value to the house. 

Garden gazebos with a seating area built in can save the user from purchasing extra chairs, and are ideal for those who enjoy entertaining, perhaps for an al fresco meal or for hosting parties for children. Those holding a wedding reception at home will find that a gazebo is ideal as a backdrop for the wedding photographs.

When buying a portable canvas or vinyl gazebo you may be offered the side panels as an extra. Depending upon the shape of the gazebo you may be offered three, four or more panels. These will be fully detachable, allowing more to be added later. This means that you can use them all, to give the gazebo more of a ‘tent’ feel, or just use one or two to shield the occupants from the sun or a strong breeze.  Purchasing the side panels as an optional extra gives the user far more flexibility when it comes to using their outdoor space.

When considering a permanent gazebo structure, you may be offered curtains to fit around the sides of the structure. These will do the same job in protecting the occupants from the sun, but are not as resistant to the elements and will need a little more looking after. However, they do look very stylish and can be designed to fit in with the style of the gazebo.

An enclosed gazebo can make your outdoor ‘room’ feel more like an indoor room, and is ideal for those who want to maximise the time they spend in their garden. You may even consider building a camping hut in your garden instead of a gazebo; these are great alternatives to traditional canvas tents or caravans and provide a family shelter whatever the weather.

Screw in plant hooks and use them for hanging plants in a garden gazebo. Use the hooks to hang paper lanterns on a patio gazebo for a family barbeque.  Whatever your party scheme, novelty stores and craft supply houses have decorations for every occasion or holiday.

Purchase swag mini-lights. Tuck them under the lip of the roof and the railing. Soft white lights will bring a fairy twinkle to your garden gazebo and provide good visualization at night. For the holidays, string traditional coloured lights for an added design element to your holiday décor. It could be anything. From hanging jack-o-lanterns, plastic Easter eggs or dangling blue suede shoes and gold painted CD’s for an homage to Elvis’ birthday, the possibilities are endless.

For summer decorating, use flower leis or artificial flowers to adorn the gazebo. Go for a beach ambience with flip-flop lights.  Let your imagination run wild. There are craft elements you can use to design the perfect setting for a party, holiday or season.

Furthermore, your garden gazebo can be decorated for the most beautiful of all special occasions. From a christening to an outdoor wedding, the gazebo can provide a setting that will bring a special aura to the event, captured in photographs, videos and personal memories for all time.

Finally, don’t forget Christmas. What a lovely opportunity to decorate for the holiday. Twinkling, lights, Santa’s reindeer taking off from the gazebo rooftop, angels playing harps from the railing or a fully decorated tree in the middle of the gazebo can all stand as a testament of your reverence and joy of the Christmas season.

Begin with design – where does the sun fall in the garden, how big an area do you want decked, what shape, and so on. Then mark out the area with string and wooden pegs. If you’re laying the deck on lawn, clear the turf and level the ground first.

Once you’ve decided on how you’d like to lay your garden decking, cut the joists forming the sides to size. Lay further joists at 400mm intervals, sealing the edges with preservative. Secure this framework with three 75mm screws at each joist end (pre-drill the holes to avoid splitting the wood). Cut the deck boards to the size you need, sealing the edges with preservative, and position the first board flush with the joist at the front of the decking assembly, fixing it into place with two 50mm screws. Repeat the procedure with the other boards, but leave a gap of 3mm between them for expansion. Make a fascia out of the remaining deck boards to cover the side joists. Get some potted plants and some chairs, open a novel and relax.

Canopy gazebos can be used all the year round, although during the winter it is best to take it down and store it until spring. A good quality canopy gazebo will be quite robust and can be used to protect you and your guests during a heavy rainstorm.

The main function of a canopy gazebo is to create shade and a cool area, which will allow a number of people to enjoy dining or just relaxing during a hot summer day in comfort.  

The majority of canopy gazebos are installed over a metal framework that clicks together. This makes canopy gazebos very easy and quick to erect. It also means that they can be taken down quickly and conveniently stored for later use.  A great feature on some canopy gazebos is the fact that they come with curtained windows.

Canopy gazebos are a fantastic addition to any garden and they come in many different styles and sizes. They can also be used in commercial situations such as job fairs or markets.

Whatever use you want to put your garden gazebo to look for a good strong frame and a quality cover. Be sure to shop around to see which style suits you best and to secure the best price.

A gazebo effectively extends the house into the garden, providing an outdoor experience without the accompanying dependency on the weather, as well as being a talking point and ice-breaker. Just being in one seems to lighten the mood with its associations with summer, relaxation and socialising.

There is a vast range of garden gazebos to choose from, at prices to suit any pocket. The tent-like structures familiar from wedding receptions and farm produce markets can be erected before an event and dismantled easily afterwards, but a patio gazebo for example can be a semi-permanent structure, practically a house extension but only used in good weather. In these hard economic times it is a popular option.

During the long summer holidays a gazebo incorporating a pool can be a great source of entertainment, keeping the kids out of trouble, occupied and safe from too much sun. But a basic portable canopy gazebo that can be set up in a few minutes can be just as effective, as kids as well as adults love their hideaways and private spaces.

Whatever you requirements, there are scores of economical as well as more expensive gazebos on the market, and you’re bound to find one that’s right for you.

Using pegs and string take care to mark out the area of your patio, nudging the size to avoid cutting the slabs.

Dig the area to a depth of 15cm (but go a further 15cm below the damp-proof course if you’re building beside the house). Tap in some wooden pegs to jut 10cm above the surface, and fill the area with hardcore up to the tips.

If you’re beside the house, use a spirit level to angle the hardcore – water must drain away from the building, not towards it! Make sure to compact the hardcore with a vibrating plate or a board.

Starting from a fence, a wall, or the house, lay the slabs loosely to check that you like the arrangement. Mix one part cement with five parts building sand and spread a bed of mortar 5–8 cm thick over the hardcore.

Lay the slabs on top, tapping them into place with a lump hammer. Use a spirit level to check they’re level or sloping properly from the house (remember to leave 1 cm spaces for grouting). Leave for at least 24 hours.

Finally, mix three parts building sand with one part cement and fill in the grout spaces with a pointing trowel. Let it dry for a few days. Before you know it, it’ll be time for Pimms on the patio.

Picture Courtesy of justinbaeder

The Romans, on the other hand, all owned private gardens, a place of relaxation and refuge, to escape from the fast pace of urban life.  Archaeological remains in Pompeii have revealed that all citizens had a private garden used to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables.  Gardens and gazebos were not only the domain of the wealthy. 

It has been suggested that the word gazebo has a Latin origin.  It first appeared in England in the middle of the 18th century is a combination of two words: the English word gaze and the Latin word ebo, meaning I shall.  Gazebo therefore means I shall gaze.

Roman gardens were influenced by the style and design of the Egyptians, Persians and Greeks and their gazebos, like the Greeks, were constructed of marble and resembled small temples.  Gazebos became focal points in public spaces and private gardens.

As the Empire grew and Romans became more affluent, it became fashionable to own a summer residence on the Mediterranean coast.  Thousands of summerhouses were built each with its own garden gazebo.