This is the perfect hideaway in which you can enjoy a book or a glass of ice-cold wine. Your garden will also gain a focal point.

THE ACTION PLAN 

1 Choose a place
The size of our chill-out corner is 1.5 x 3m. Decide where in the bed you want to build it, mark out the spot and then think about what kind of garden floor you would like most.

2 Shopping list
We used seven wooden trellis panels of 1.5 x 2m (two for the back ‘wall’, one for the side, one in front and two for the rooftop). You also need four support posts, cement and cable links. For the floor we used different paving blocks, gravel and pebbles but don’t forget attractive groundcovers. You will also need weed matting (or black plastic) and building sand as a base.

3 Build the chill-out corner
Dig holes on the corners for the support posts and anchor them with cement. Wait for it to dry and then secure the trellis panels to the posts first and then to each other with cable links before putting the roof on top and securing it.

4 Lay the floor
Rake the soil in the chill-out corner until it is level and then cover it with weed matting or black plastic. Cover the area with a layer of building sand. Place paving blocks of your choice in a pattern on the sand and use a spirit level to make sure that they are level. Fill the gaps in-between with pebbles or gravel. Now it’s time for that glass of wine.

Words and images: Home magazine