Most gardens have a suitable niche for an arbour. These open-fronted retreats, furnished with a comfy seat, should be sited to give the best view of the garden, but also provide a focal point in their own right.

And if your garden provides vistas on all sides, then site a gazebo centrally. With its roof and open sides, it has a more summerhouse feel to it than an arbour.

For a completely weatherproof structure, a summerhouse is a delightful addition to a large garden. However, choose its size and style carefully to avoid creating an eyesore instead of a desirable focal point.

Although it's straightforward to make most of these structures yourself, you'll appreciate the time saved by using one of the commonly available self-assembly kits. You'll also need to anchor the structure in some other way. Metal frames may need anchor posts, or may be supplied with sufficient length to push the bottom 30cm or so into the soil. Anchors for wooden posts are made for any situation, suitable for driving deeply into the soil or concreting into position. A special type is made to bolt down to a flat surface.