Gazebo can be a quiet retreat or an entertainment hub, an outdoor kitchen or a home office — it all depends on your preference and the available space. The styles vary from the oriental teahouse of the Chinese to the common Victorian style of the English. They could be round, square, hexagonal, octagonal or almost any other shape.

Octagonal gazebos are the most popular while squares are the easiest to build. Here are some other things you should know when setting up your gazebo.

Style

Choosing the right style and shape is an important decision. Different shapes lend themselves better to different functions. For instance an octagonal gazebo is great for dining while a square or rectangular shape will give you the maximum square footage to accommodate a large party crowd.

A gazebo with a slated roof. It can be a quiet retreat or an entertainment hub. [photo courtesy]

The same should apply when making decisions about which materials to use. For the sake of blending the gazebo into your home, choose materials that have been used in the house or on other visible structures in the compound.

Finished timber is the most common structural material for gazebos.

Go for timber that is durable under the external conditions such as cedar or treated cypress at the very least. Other materials that can be used include mild steel, aluminium and more recently, vinyl or PVC.

Make the floors from non slip finishes that best fit your gazebo’s style. Choices for floor finishes include wood, gravel, natural stones, tile, concrete or brick. Of these, natural stone and tiles are the most common ones around.

The roof may be solid or slatted. A solid roof cover gives total shade and shelter from rain while a slatted roof will offer filtered shade only.

Common solid roof materials include shingles, thatch, tiles, or good old tin. Walls and rails are optional. A gazebo may be left open, partly or fully screened or even glazed on the sides depending on the desired look and feel. Other optional accessories include a built in barbecue, spa or a storage nook depending on your unique tastes and preferences.

Location

Because a gazebo provides such a strong focal point in the landscape, its location is as important as its design. Ordinarily, they are set some distance from the house. If, however, you plan to use it for outdoor dining, make sure it is near or easily accessible to the kitchen.

It is also important to consider the prevailing site factors in your garden. Wind direction, sun and shade patterns, nearness to the neighbours and the views of the garden from each side of the gazebo are important if you want to get the most out of it.