30 Creative Backyard Retreats From Around the Globe
If you have the space, we have the ideas for granny units, guest quarters, offices and hideouts of all sizes
Whether you need to house an aging parent, prefer a separate space for guests or crave a quiet spot of your own to write that bestselling novel, it may be time to reimagine your backyard. As these inspirational outbuildings from around the world reveal, backyard retreats come in all shapes and sizes. See which one would fit in best at your place.
1. Sydney. These stylish guest quarters aren’t just for guests. The two doors on the right open to reveal a bathroom-laundry and a light-filled workshop-storage area. And who doesn’t love an outdoor shower?
2. London. Creativity and productivity are almost guaranteed in a home office as fabulous as this one. Who says a backyard room needs corners?
4. Shelter Island, New York. Double doors that open when the mood strikes for a game of pool spark a sense of fun. This spot is sure to be popular when friends are over.
5. Portland, Oregon. This rustic unit may be compact, but the sliding doors open the living area to the backyard, and a skylight in the bedroom above brings in ample natural light. It’s clever by design.
We especially love that the trees make their presence felt inside as well as out.
7. Santa Barbara, California. Those rough-hewn walls make this hideout blend into its surroundings, and its foldaway glass doors make the most of the ocean view. The walls are hinged to open the space to the breeze, and it even has a living roof.
8. New York. A simple design is made charming with the help of a window box and an ivy-covered front wall.
Find an architect or designer to help with a backyard getaway
Find an architect or designer to help with a backyard getaway
9. Brisbane, Australia. Tucked away in a tropical garden is this impressive home office-studio. Air and natural light flow effortlessly into the space.
Inside, the mosaic tiles and lofty ceiling ensure that the occupants never feel hemmed in.
10. Melbourne, Australia. This music room-guest studio is freestanding but maintains a connection to the main house with the help of a shared deck and pergola.
11. Nashville, Tennessee. It may have had its day as a mobile home, but this refurbished 1972 Avion camper is now a cool space for guests.
12. Mornington Peninsula, Australia. A pool house with an outdoor kitchen that doubles as guest quarters is an entertainer’s dream.
13. Melbourne, Australia. A study pod that literally reflects its surroundings is just the place to go when you need uninterrupted time to focus.
Top-notch grades are practically a given.
14. Woodside, California. The sliding barn doors open to connect the guesthouse to the outdoors and main house, but when they’re closed, guests can cozy up in absolute privacy.
15. San Francisco. We love the use of wood inside and out of this modern teen retreat.
16. Adelaide, Australia. Handmade from western red cedar, this mini beach house is as cute as a button.
17. Seattle. A second dwelling on a lot, often called a granny or in-law unit, doesn’t have to be gigantic to be functional and inviting, especially when there’s no need for a bathroom or kitchenette. Check your local building regulations to see if approval is required for a simple design like this.
18. Madrid. This contemporary abode can be transported just about anywhere, and its barnlike dimensions are pleasing to the eye.
19. Atlanta. A traditional granny unit with country-cottage charm will never go out of style.
20. Castle Douglas, Scotland.
It may be unusual, but this off-the-grid treehouse is a cozy retreat for two. Inside, the tiny windows re-create the feeling of dappled light coming in through the trees.
It may be unusual, but this off-the-grid treehouse is a cozy retreat for two. Inside, the tiny windows re-create the feeling of dappled light coming in through the trees.
21. Portland, Maine. Finding this 1959 Chevrolet Viking bus out rusting in a field was a stroke of good luck. The owners completely refurbished it, and it now serves as a quirky guesthouse on their property.
Inside, hippie-chic decor pays homage to the retro exterior.
And you can even have a turn in the driver’s seat.
22. Sydney. A granny unit needn’t be fancy to be fabulous. Some of the most successful designs tie in with the main house, as this one does.
23. London. A garden escape fashioned around an outdoor hot tub sounds like heaven to us.
24. London. You don’t need an expansive garden or expensive materials to construct a separate home office. A wall of books turns this one into a place you want to be.
25. Kent, England. The thriving living wall softens an otherwise contemporary design. At night, downlights turn the garden wall into a feature.
26. Columbus, Ohio. As long as a granny unit is watertight and suits the climate, it can be as rustic as you like.
27. Washington, D.C. If you have the pool, the space and the means, a pool house is a fine way to enhance a home. We’re swooning over the outdoor fireplace in particular.
28. Vancouver, British Columbia. This is essentially a modern version of an old log cabin in the woods. Rammed earth and recycled materials add so much character.
29. Galloway, Scotland. This country getaway sits lightly on the land and is a humble but ultracomfortable home away from home for visitors.
Inside, plywood warms up the space on cold, blustery days, and skylights enable stargazing.
30. Los Angeles. It may be bold, but that’s no reason not to love it. The stairs lead up to a rooftop terrace …
… doubling its versatility.
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How to Add a Backyard Shed for Storage or Living
Read other stories about outbuildings