Our Favorite Gazebo Plans for Your Backyard
Create a unique space in your backyard by building a gazebo. It’s a great talking point when you’re entertaining company and is an excellent place to relax after a busy week. Using one of our favorite gazebo plans for your backyard, you can create a space that you always imagined.
Different Types of Gazebo Plans
Five main types of gazebos exist: folly, rotundas, pagodas, pergolas, and pavilions.
Folly Gazebos
Folly gazebos don’t really serve a purpose. They’re decorations since you can’t use them to the entertain. Often, they’re small or don’t have a roof. Follies originated in France in the 1800s.
Rotundas
Rotundas are large enough to accommodate groups of people. Typically, they have a European style in terms of design, so they work well with traditional architecture.
Pagoda
Most pagodas have a Japanese style. Although pagodas were once huge structures that didn’t belong in residential backyards, the newer versions are much smaller.
Pergola
Pergolas are usually wooden structures with open roofs, though some do have closed roofs. They come in various sizes and are easy to install and usually a cheaper choice than other gazebos. They match modern decors the best.
Pavilion
Pavilions are a simple type of gazebo with open sides. Generally, pavilions are rectangular or square-shaped, so they only have four columns for support. Most pavilions have a simple design made for function as opposed to decoration.
Choosing Gazebo Plans to Suit Your Needs
Whether you position your gazebo in your garden, on your patio, or randomly in your backyard, you have to choose the right one to meet your needs and desires. With so many different gazebo plans of various sizes and shapes, you might find yourself overwhelmed, but a few simple can help you select the one ideal gazebo for you.
Choosing the Location for Your Gazebo
Selecting a location for your gazebo starts with looking where the best views are in your yard. Ultimately, you want whatever gazebo plan you choose to overlook the most appealing aspects of your property.
Another aspect to consider is where you want your gazebo. You want to position your gazebo on an area with flat landscape. If you do have a bit of sloping, you can use equipment to level it, or you may want to consider using cement to create a level base.
Choosing Gazebo Plans Based on Shape
You’ll notice most gazebo plans are hexagonal, sometimes octagonal. Hexagonal structures have six sides while octagonal gazebos have eight sides. Although not as common, you can find gazebo plans in the following shapes:
- Square
- Round
- Rectangular
- Oval
It doesn’t matter which shape you choose, as long as it fits in with your landscaping and is an appropriate size for the shape you have.
Choosing the Best Gazebo Plans Based on Size
During the selection process, you must factor in size. Even the best gazebo plans won’t look good in your yard if they’re not the appropriate size for the space you have.
As a general rule, you want a large gazebo for a large space and small one for a small space. You must look at the area where you plan to put the gazebo and evaluate the area’s size. You never want to take up too much of one area of your yard with a gazebo.
Choosing the Best Gazebo Plans Based on Function
Part of the selection process for gazebo plans deals with choosing one based on function. Think about what you want to use the gazebo for, such as a place for your hot tub or a space for family gatherings or casual get-togethers. This helps you decide on the size and also the design.
Choosing Gazebo Plans Based on Price
Although you can find gazebo plans online for free, you have to take into consideration the price of the materials.
Choosing Gazebo Plans Based on Style
The style choices of gazebo plans range from traditional to Asian to modern. You want to take into account the other adornments you have in your yard as well as the style of your home.
Choosing Materials for Your Gazebo Plan
While it’s possible to construct a gazebo from iron or vinyl, wood reigns as one, if not, the most popular material for gazebo plans. Wood tends to cost a bit more than other options, but aesthetically speaking, it’s more visually appealing and does last. Using outdoor varnish or paint, you have a variety of options for creating your gazebo.
Avoid using pine or oak on the external portions of your gazebo. These woods aren’t for parts of the structure that receive exposure to the weather. Typically, you want to opt for pressure-treated wood for most of the structure, beside the railings or overhang, which you may use cedar or cypress to build.
When deciding on gazebo plans, you have to decide on the floor you wish to use. For instance, you can choose concrete, decorative gravel, or even an outdoor tile.
Choosing Gazebo Plans Based on Permit Requirements
If you don’t want the hassle of having to obtain a permit to build your gazebo, check into your local laws and make sure the plan you choose follows those parameters.
Make sure you never build without a permit if you need one. If you do, you could receive a “Stop work” or “Cease and Desist” order, which remains in effect until you have the necessary permit.
Review all the laws in your area to ensure the work you do meets all requirements because if it doesn’t, you could have to pay to rebuild the structure according to the regulations. If you should build a structure that doesn’t follow the guidelines, you may have trouble selling your home in the future.
Six-Sized Gazebo Plan From Mitre 10
One of the six-sized gazebo plans, in particular, the one from Mitre 10, is easy to construct when compared to other options. Depending on the wood you select, you can give it a rustic appeal.
Because it’s less than 20 square feet in diameter, you more than likely won’t need a building permit for this gazebo, but you should always check with your local government before purchasing any materials.
The gazebo is an open design with a roof, so it protects against the elements while letting fresh air blow through. The design is simple with a few embellishments on the top of the upper supports as well as a unique roof setup.
You don’t require a great deal of tools to complete the project. Most of the items you probably already have, such as a shovel, ladder, power circular saw, and adjustable wrenches. The plan is set up in nine easy-to-follow steps.
Mother Earth News’ Gazebo Plan
The Mother Earth News’ gazebo plan is what many think of when they picture a gazebo. It’s large and white and ideal for entertaining guests, enjoying a good book, or even for your own wedding.
The steps to this particular plan are for an eight-foot, hexagonal gazebo, but they’re simple to alter if you want the gazebo a different size or have a roof with a different slope.
The instructions for this gazebo are in four sections. They’re a bit more complicated than step-by-step directions divided into smaller steps, but if you have the patience and know-how to figure them out, this particular structure will enhance the appeal of your landscaping.
Customizable Rectangular Backyard Gazebo Plan
If you’re looking for a gazebo plan that gives you a basis to start planning and the ability to create the one you want, this customizable rectangular backyard gazebo plan gives you the best of both worlds. It’s a simple, yet functional gazebo, and you can alter it to match your needs by choosing the wood, shingles, and even size.
You don’t need many tools to construct this gazebo beside the following:
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Framing square
- Miter saw
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Sander
- Safety glasses
It’s ideal for beginners or those looking for a design that’s basic. You can use this particular outdoor area for entertaining or a space for your kids to play, depending on how large you decide to make it.
The directions available online feature detailed steps and everything you need to know about how to build this structure. For those who have difficulty reading and following directions, the guide provides you with intricate pictures to follow or to use as a reference, so you know you’re on the right path.
Hexagonal Gazebo for Small Areas
Whether you’re searching for gazebo plans ideal for a small yard or a small area of your yard, this hexagonal gazebo ranks highly. It’s only eight feet in diameter, and although it has a simple look, it enhances the aesthetic appeal of your yard tremendously. Plus, it’s a cost-efficient solution.
For your convenience, each step is on a different page, so it’s easy to follow along. Each step has elaborate details and images as a guide.
You’re able to choose other flooring and roofing to create a look that matches your home’s outdoor décor.
Gazebo Plan Perfect for Grillmasters
When you’re looking up gazebo plans that give you a partially enclosed structure to store your grill, you want one like this that is open on two of the sides and has storage space on the inside for all your seasonings. Because the two enclosed sides act as bars, your guests can enjoy upfront seats to all your summer festivities.
The plan suggests using metal roofing because it doesn’t require any maintenance and lasts for quite some time. The guide recommends using Western red cedar since it’s resistant to insects and rot – and still looks amazing – but it does require upkeep. You could reduce the cost and the need for as much upkeep by using pressure-treated wood.
This might not be the best option if you don’t have experience working with wood. However, if you do have some previous experience with wood construction projects, the steps are simple to follow and have many pictures to help you along the way.
Gazebo Plan With a Cottage-like Style
Although the design is a bit more intricate and does require the skill and know-how of someone who is familiar with woodworking, this gazebo has old-fashioned charm.
Add curtains, pillows, and other home-like decorations to create a relaxing space with plenty of room for storage. Create an intimate setting for you and your partner to enjoy at the end of a long day.
Flared eaves provide protection from the elements while the open sides give you the perfect view and amount of ventilation.
The instructions to build this gazebo are very personable. You receive firsthand information from the creator with detailed steps to follow.
Basic Pergola Gazebo Plan
Simple is often the way to go, especially if you’re placing a gazebo in your garden since you don’t want it to stand out as the focal point. With this basic pergola design, you allow all the sun to shine through and are able to place lattice against one of the walls for vining flowers. You could even allow your flowers to grow up the posts of the pergola.
You don’t have to have a great deal of experience with construction projects. The directions are straightforward and easy to follow.
Three-Tiered Pergola
If you want something that’s a bit more intricate but still a pergola, you could opt for a tiered one that’s best for larger yards because it takes up space and stands out.
Since this gazebo plan is larger, you’re able to use this pergola for more than just decoration. You may want to position a small table and two chairs underneath it for you and the love of your life to escape after a hard day at work.
The directions are short, to the point, and easy to follow. You don’t need a lot of tools to complete the project.