The right location for your wooden shelter in the garden

Parents with small children, families with their own garden and DIY fans know that A wooden shelter in the garden is extremely practical. Whether as firewood storage for cozy evenings by the fire, as a shelter for bicycles and garden tools or as a weather-protected storage area - the choice of the right location needs to be carefully considered. Regardless of whether you buy a ready-made wooden shelter or build one yourself, a well thought-out location ensures safety, protects the wood from the weather and blends harmoniously into the garden landscape. In this guide, you will learn how to position your wooden shelter in the garden in the best possible way - with five practical tips for a location that is functional, safe and aesthetically pleasing.

1. stable base and secure location in the garden

A suitable base is crucial for the stability and safety of your shelter. Choose a level, stable location in the garden so that the wooden shelter stands upright and does not sink. It is advisable to prepare the ground - for example with a gravel bed or concrete foundation - to create a solid base. Otherwise, leaning or damage can quickly occur on soft or uneven ground.

Tips for preparing the ground: Allow sufficient time for a small foundation. A base leveled with gravel and paving slabs serves as a stable foundation and also provides moisture protection from below. If necessary, use ground anchors or foundation stones at the corners to anchor the wooden shelter firmly - this will keep it standing securely even in stormy weather.

Also make sure it is safe for children: if the shelter is stable and level, there is less risk of it tipping over. Heavy firewood should always be stacked neatly (preferably stacked crosswise for more stability and ventilation) and secured so that nothing can slip. Ideally, place the wood shelter away from your children's play areas to avoid accidents. In this way, you can create a safe storage area that does not interfere with everyday family life.

2. weather protection: facing the sun and wind

A well thought-out location protects your wood from the weather and helps it to dry naturally. In Central Europe, rain often comes from the west - so the open side of the wooden shelter should face south or south-east if possible to protect the contents from rain, wind and snow. This tip is particularly important if your shelter has no rear wall or is of semi-open construction. Facing the sun also has the advantage that the heat from the sun dries the wood and removes moisture. A place on the south side of the house is ideal, as it usually receives a lot of sunlight and your firewood can dry "sun-drenched".

Avoid locations where moisture and humidity constantly reach the shelter. Avoid direct contact with the ground: Never stack wood directly on the ground, otherwise ground moisture will creep into the logs. For safety, use a base such as pallets or a metal grid to allow air to circulate from below. Your wood also needs protection from above - many models already have a slightly protruding roof with an anti-drip coating (to prevent condensation). Also check the surroundings: Is water constantly dripping from trees onto the chosen area? Is the area located in a depression where rainwater collects? Such places are less suitable. A sheltered, dry location that is nevertheless ventilated and bright is better. This will ensure that your firewood is stored optimally: airy, protected from the rain and sunny - perfect conditions for keeping wood dry and free from mold.

If you place the wooden shelter against a house wall, remember to leave a few centimetres of space: a gap of around 10 cm between the shelter and the house wall promotes air circulation. In this case, it is advisable to angle the roof pitch of the shelter towards the garden so that rainwater drains away from the house. This also keeps the house wall dry and clean.

3. observe boundary distances and legal requirements

Before you finally place your wooden shelter, it is worth taking a look at the legal framework. In Switzerland - as in Germany or Austria - there are regulations on boundary distances and possibly building permit requirements for garden structures. The following often applies: Smaller shelters do not require a permit, but above a certain size (or height) a notification or permit may be required. It is best to find out about the local rules from your municipality. In many Swiss cantons, for example, a minimum distance of 3 m from the property boundary is required for structures over 1.2 m high. Such boundary distances often serve your own safety and the protection of the surrounding area for fire safety and neighborly reasons. If you want to be on the safe side, check with the building authority or local authority before erecting your shelter to find out whether and where it does not require a permit - this will help you avoid any nasty surprises.

Even if the neighbor's consent is not always legally required, a friendly discussion in advance will help. Involve your neighbors, especially if the shelter is to be located close to the boundary. Your neighbor does not have to formally agree to your project, but it is advisable to obtain their consent if you value a good relationship. For example, clarify what height is still considered uncritical - stack heights of up to 1.5 m are often unproblematic. And remember: the neighbor must be able to live with the view. By consulting with them and observing the boundary distances, you can ensure that your wooden shelter does not become a point of contention, but can be accepted by everyone.

(Note: You can find detailed information on legal aspects in our blog post "Legal aspects: What needs to be considered when building a wooden shelter in Switzerland?“.)

4 Practical and accessible: choose location according to use

Think about what you mainly want to use your shelter for at an early stage, as this will influence the ideal location. If you want to store firewood for the fireplace, it is worth choosing a location close to the house. Short distances save time and in winter you don't have to trudge halfway across the garden to add wood. A location that you can easily reach from the house with a wheelbarrow is ideal - this way, transporting the logs is not a feat of strength. Plan a small access aisle or path so that you can reach the wood safely even in snow or rain.

But perhaps you want the shelter to accommodate bicycles, baby carriages or garden machinery? Then a place near the driveway or garage is ideal, where the equipment can be quickly accessed and stowed away again. For families with children, it can be practical to have the shelter within sight of the house - so bicycles or toys, for example, can be kept under observation, but still protected from the weather.

Examples of the ideal location depending on use:

• Firewood storage: Directly on the patio or house wall (at a small distance) for dry storage and short transportation routes to the fireplace. Make sure that no avalanche snow can fall from the house roof onto the wood.

• Tool and bicycle shed: Close to the carport or garden gate to make it easy to park and unpark lawn mowers, bicycles, etc. Allow sufficient clearance width so that nothing gets scratched.

• Storage of toys & co.: Rather at the edge of the lawn, e.g. next to the playground area, so that toys can be put away quickly but the shelter does not get in the way of the children running around.

When choosing a location, also think about practical details: Do you need electricity in the shelter (e.g. for lighting)? Then a place near a power connection is advantageous. Would you like to install a lockable door to secure valuable equipment? Check that there is enough space to open the door and that it does not protrude into a path. By aligning it with its intended use, you can design the storage space in such a way that the wooden shelter perfectly complements your everyday life.

5. aesthetics and integration into the garden design

A wooden shelter should be functional - but it should also fit in visually with the garden. Therefore, think about how the shelter fits harmoniously into the overall picture. In a lovingly designed family garden, a bulky shed in the middle of the lawn is out of place. A location at the edge of the garden or next to existing structures is more suitable: for example, alongside a garage, behind the house or at the corner of the plot. There, the shelter can look discreet or even serve as a design element.

With a little creativity, the wooden shelter can be visually enhanced. One option is to use the side greenery: Climbing plants or a trellis at the back can transform the shelter into a green wall. It can also be used as a privacy screen - for example, a shelter filled with firewood can be placed on the patio to protect it from prying eyes and creates a cozy niche. Choose a design and material that matches the style of your garden. Natural wooden surfaces blend in with green surroundings, while modern metal and wood combinations can create chic accents.

Also think about the proportions: In a small garden, a delicate, open wooden shelter looks friendlier than a solid garden shed. Here, a modular system can help to adjust the size precisely. (Example: Our wooden shelter module can be configured in three depths and up to ten widths and thus offers tailor-made storage space - whether for a small corner or as a large-scale tool shelter). If, on the other hand, you have a lot of space, you can make the shelter as large as you like - so there may be room for a small workbench or a comfortable seat in the dry in addition to the firewood.

With the right placement and design, your wooden shelter will not only be practical, but also part of the garden decoration. Let yourself be inspired and make the shelter an eye-catcher: for example, by painting it the same color as the garden shed, adding decorative lanterns or seasonal decorations. This way, the shelter blends aesthetically into the garden and you create a Pinterest-worthy eye-catcher with real added value.

Have you already had experience with placing a wooden shelter in the garden? Which location tips have worked for you? We look forward to hearing your ideas!